WINDSOR, Ont. — Premier Dalton McGuinty is defending an untendered contract involving an $81-million energy centre that was built to power a casino in Windsor.
He says his government took the right steps "under the circumstances" because it had to keep the lights on at the casino.
McGuinty says he's ended the practice of giving out contracts without competitive bids, but handing a sole-sourced deal to a consulting firm to operate the Windsor Energy Centre was a special case.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, who represents a Windsor riding, has come under fire in recent weeks for the soaring cost of the energy centre, which he admits came in way over budget.
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The Opposition has suggested that the plant, which was commissioned by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., amounts to political pork-barrelling, which Duncan denies.
The plant, whose ownership is currently the subject of a lawsuit, provides heating and cooling to the Caesar's Windsor casino.
Buttcon Energy Inc., which operated the plant until recently, has filed a $355-million lawsuit against the OLG.
Angus Consulting Management Ltd. is currently operating the plant in the short term.