Investigator testifies on gas plant evidence tampering

(Updated)

At Queen’s Park Thursday — Premier Kathleen Wynne says testimony at a hearing into the cancellation of a pair of gas plants confirms she is not the subject of a police investigation into cover ups.

The committee probing the gas plant cancellations got the chance to question an OPP detective about the documents released in court last week — the information to obtain, or ITO, as the police document is called. The detective said it was the first time he ever had to testify about evidence while the investigation was ongoing. Detective Constable Andre Duval told the committee former premier Dalton McGuinty’s chief of staff is the focus of the OPP investigation.

Liberal MPP Steven Del Duca: “Explicit in the PC reference regarding the current premier’s office, that OPP and anti-racket are investigating Premier Wynne. Are these in the ITO?”

“Detective Constable Duval of the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch: “No. It’s centred on Mr. David Livingston only.”

He says the investigation could still come up with other suspects. But the premier said she was vindicated by the testimony: “The detective made it clear that my office is not under investigation.”

The OPP found that 24 computers from the former premiers’ office had been accessed by a special password that could have allowed someone to delete files. It was used between February 6th and March 20th of last year, but police don’t know exactly when on most of the computers.

NDP MPP Jagmeet Singh: “Wynne was sworn in on February 11th and many people said Faist told people this was a transition and that’s why he needed access to the computers.”

PC MPP Lisa MacLeod: “How can you say without a shadow of a doubt, that no computers were wiped under the Wynne administration? Are you calling the OPP liars?”

Ontario Government House Leader John Milloy answered: “I know the member likes to stay up late watching Ellery Queen, but lets leave this to the OPP.”

MacLeod responded: “Thanks, I have a Netflicks program for the Minister — ‘Orange is the New Black’. I hope you look good in orange.”

Duval says it will be months before forensic investigation on the computers is complete. Meanwhile, Peter Faist is slated to testify at the committee next week. He is the IT expert who allegedly did the deletions — his girlfriend was McGuinty’s deputy chief of staff. Neither agreed to be interviewed by the OPP. Faist has moved to B.C. and it’s not clear if he’ll show up next week but his lawyer has been in touch with the committee.