TORONTO - Ontario spent nearly $7 million on consultants who helped a Liberal government-appointed panel to recommend selling a majority of Hydro One and changes to beer sales.
The premier's office says having the consultants' technical expertise makes the government "confident" that the panel's recommendations are "evidence-based and in the best interest of Ontarians."
Former TD Bank CEO Ed Clark was tapped by the Liberals to lead the panel, which earlier this month recommended the hydro sale and reforms to beer sales.
Several firms including KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers and McKinsey and Company were paid a total of about $6.8 million for advice to Clark's panel.
The NDP is against the planned sale of 60 per cent of Hydro One and Leader Andrea Horwath says the consultant prices show it's great for Bay Street but wrong for Ontarians.
Progressive Conservative critic Vic Fedeli says that figure may be the last the public hears surrounding Hydro One.
He says as soon as even one share is sold, Hydro One ceases to be a Crown agency and will no longer be subject to oversight from Ontario's ombudsman or access to information laws.
