Tony Zwig: paid access, lobbyists and secret deals

When Doug Ford visited Bala on February 27, 2018, he said: “This project stinks of political interest and insider deals”. Here are some examples that he was right:

• As shown here, between 2010 and 2015 the proponent hired three lobbyists to influence senior Ontario government Ministry staff to provide environmental approval for Tony Zwig’s proposed Bala project and to object to Bala’s Mill Stream generating station from being allowed to draw the additional water they were requesting (as this would reduce the revenue to Zwig’s proposed project).
   
• In the past 13 years, Tony Zwig made six donations totalling $17,500 to the Ontario Liberal Party, these were all in the 14-month period ending in November 2012 which is when the government was considering issuing final environmental approval for the proposed Bala project – and this approval was issued exactly two months later. We have first-hand information that these golf tournaments and expensive dinners provided direct access to Premier Kathleen Wynne, government Ministers and other senior political staff. As Zwig has not made any political donations since, clearly he got what he wanted and paid for from the Liberal government of the day. So these payments were timed like a bribe and produced results like a bribe.
   
• As shown here, over the past few weeks the proponent has hired three lobbyists. We have first-hand information that Doug Ford and his government have recently been told they would be sued for $100M if they try stopping the proposed Bala project.

It is shameful that Ontario’s previous Liberal government could be so influenced by secret insider deals and “donations”. We look forward to Doug Ford’s goverment for the people.