Wind energy company accuses PC government of aiding Liberal `cover up´
(The Star Food)

A wind energy company suing the province of Ontario for $500 million over the axing of offshore projects is accusing Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government of continuing a Liberal “cover up.�Trillium Wind Power Corp. says Queen’s Park is thwarting the politically sensitive case by blocking access to potentially relevant documents as the firm seeks compensation for four projects that were never built. A trial has twice been delayed in an action that dates to 2011, when Liberal Dalton McGuinty was premier and the province announced a pre-election moratorium on offshore wind projects pending further study of their environmental impacts.The government has previously argued Trillium had no legal agreements with the province for its proposed offshore wind developments, including a 420-megawatt effort in Lake Ontario near Kingston, and was merely an “applicant of record.�Trillium is now seeking court approval of a motion to force the government to search 52 computer hard drives from the McGuinty premier’s office for any documents related to the offshore decision, which the company says was based more on “political science� than natural science, over fears offshore wind opponents would vote against the Liberals. Trillium lawyer Morris Cooper said the province is also proposing the company — which has no other projects after being “destroyed� by the offshore wind moratorium — post a bond it cannot afford towards the government’s legal costs for the lawsuit to proceed.“It’s as if Mr. McGuinty has not left the building. That’s what it feels like,� Cooper told the Star.The Ministry of the Attorney General, headed by cabinet minister Caroline Mulroney, declined specific comment on the issues raised by Trillium and issued a general statement Monday.“We are reviewing the case and will respond accordingly once a motion record has been served,� ...