By Chris Thompson, The Windsor StarOctober 30, 2009
?For his sins David Caplan resigned, and I want to know if Dwight Duncan is going to do the same thing,? said Thornhill Progressive Conservative MPP Peter Shurman.
?By rights he should.?
Caplan resigned earlier this month in the wake of the eHealth scandal involving sole-source contracts and excessive spending.
Shurman questioned Duncan at Queen?s Park Thursday about the $80 million power plant built into the Caesars Windsor parking garage, which is currently under interim outside management granted to a firm in September without a tender.
In July Premier Dalton McGuinty announced an end to untendered contracts.
?I?ve looked at the premier?s July 20 news release and it doesn?t say sole source contracts may be set aside,? said Shurman at Queen?s Park.
?Has a list of excuses for breaking the premier?s word been made available to the public??
Buttcon Energy built and operated the energy centre until September when it launched a $355-million lawsuit against Ontario Lottery and Gaming. Buttcon claimed it had signed a contract to own and operate the centre for 18 to 38 years.
?There is a commercial dispute going on between the OLG and the private company involved,? Duncan said.
?The matter is before the courts, it?s inappropriate for me to comment on the details of this dispute.?
The energy centre is now operated under an interim agreement with H. H. Angus and Associates, but Shurman charged that the centre is not generating power, but is instead ?producing air-conditioning and heating for the casino.?
Shurman charged that the government is paying $15,000 a day on an untendered contract to operate the centre.
Duncan said steps were taken in advance of the new policy to insure that the energy centre could continue operate on an emergcy basis during the legal dispute.
?It is possible that was signed well in advance of the new policy as part of the response that would be dependent on the actions by the courts.?
Duncan said the government is undergoing a tender process to find a permanent operator for the centre.