MPP Randy Hillier asked Minister Duguid how much less the MaRS appraisals should be considering the loss in leasing revenue between research space and standard office space. While the appraisal valued the building at $303 Million, the rates were based off of market value for research space, which MaRS cannot fill. However, renting the space to Government bureaucrats would be done at a substantially lower rate, diminishing the resale value of the building significantly. 

MPP Randy Hillier continues his questioning of the Minister of Infrastructure over the ongoing MaRS scandal. Following the release of 700 documents released a month after requested, Hillier asks the Minister if he has any concept what a business case actually is, and why one was never done.

One week ago I was attacked by zombies right here in my home town of Perth. I’m generally on guard for these types of attacks while I’m in Toronto or at the Legislature, but was caught completely off guard  in Perth. You can see what I'm talking about by clicking here!

Randy Hillier continued to question Minister Duguid over the ongoing scandal plaguing the MaRS Phase 2 Project. Hillier brought to light concerning details that despite the Government being aware of the contractual details between MaRS and ARE since 2011, the Government ignored them until this year costing taxpayers $65M and an additional $4.1 Million thus far in interest payments. 

Randy questioned Minister Duguid on why the Government, who claims to be open and transparent, allowed their Committee Members on the Standing Committee on Estimates to vote against three different motions requesting documents be provided to the Committee. The motions requested the loan agreement between Infrastructure Ontario and MaRS, the contract the Government is now purchasing between Alexandria Real Estate and MaRS for $65 Million, and the original business case that MaRS would have submitted to the Government when requesting the $224 Million loan. 

MPP Randy Hillier questions Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid before the Standing Committee on Estimates regarding the $309 Million bailout of the MaRS Phase 2 Project. 

QUEEN’S PARK - Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington, questioned Minister Michael Coteau (Tourism, Culture & Sport) about whether or not he had any grasp of his responsibilities as Minister, today and yesterday while his Ministry appeared before the Standing Committee on Estimates.

Read Randy's letter to Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin regarding the overwhelming number of complaints against Hydro 1 and their hydro usage readings. 

The original letter to the Ombudsman contains the private consumer information of several constituents. 

(QUEEN’S PARK) Randy Hillier, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington, responded to the Government’s Speech from the Throne, with both his concerns of their agenda, as well as his commitment to the constituents of his riding.

Published in the Ottawa Citizen on 29 April 2014.

By Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Ontario’s pit bull ban is a cynical effort, even for politicians who excel at such sorcery.