Fedeli provides new documents – by Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles (North Bay Nugget – July 16, 2013)

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This is an aerial view of Ontario Northland Railway yards in North Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli provided new documents to Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk to consider in her special report on the sale of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission.

Fedeli said the Auditor General’s report is expected to be released by the end of this summer.

“Ministry of Finance documents from January of this year that I’ve unearthed through the Justice Committee’s investigation into the gas plant scandal prove what I’ve maintained from day one – that the Liberal fire sale will achieve no savings,” he said Tuesday.

“In fact, it could cost Ontario taxpayers $1 billion more than the Liberals said it would in their budget last year.” Fedeli said the government was steadfast is telling the public the sale of the ONTC would save taxpayers $260 million. “They weren’t listening to us, but their numbers were wrong,” he said. “We asked the Auditor General to get involved and prove who is right.

“There’s no hesitation, our numbers are right. I wanna ask how can this government go through with this sale? The budget will have to be changed and why would a party sell something to lose a billion dollars?”

Fedeli called a press conference in North Bay in June to reveal the Ministry of Finance documents that outline worst-case estimates for transitional funding to support the divestment process.

He said the government has stated they want to sell the ONTC to save money, however their own documents prove they now know any sale will cost the taxpayer $790 million, mainly due to labour and severance costs, benefits and pension liabilities.

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