ONTARIO ENERGY MINISTER MAY PAY THE PIPER

On a personal basis I feel sorry for Ontario Energy Minister, Chris Bentley. He's caught in the Oppositions' cross hairs for disgusting actions taken by the Liberal government. Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys the story "Energy minister could face jail time". This is of course due to the allegation that he is contempt of parliament (legislature). He had been ordered by the speaker of the House to produce documents arising from the Liberal government's cancellation of two gas plants prior to the last provincial election. This he did at the last moment yet the opposition believe that he's held a large amount of documents back.

Clearly the Liberals are paying the price of a scandal of their own making. They used taxpayers money to pay out construction and other costs for one of the gas plants already under construction. It's an idiotic move to waste taxpayers money in such a fashion but it goes beyond idiotic when the purpose is as the opposition have suggested "a seat saver program" for the Liberals, at the public's expense. Minister Bentley is learning the hard way that whether you're new to a portfolio or not, you inherit any ongoing and unfolding scandals. Jail time for him alone is not proper. Perhaps jail time for the decision makers in this unfolding mess is; but don't hold your breathe waiting for that to ever happen.