Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield is accusing the Liberal government of knowing that non-compliant girders were installed in various parts of the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway prior to June 2013.
Hatfield says Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request suggest Glen Murray, Ontario’s transportation minister, knew for months that the girders used in the parkway were non-compliant .
“Premier Wynne said her minister took action to fix safety concerns with substandard girders on the Herb Gray Parkway in Windsor as soon as they were known,” Hatfield said in a statement. “But documents show that for months there were regular briefings of the minister's office about safety fears that were brushed under the carpet until the Liberals were facing by-elections.”
The NDP Transportation Critic says the minister’s staff were aware of issues raised by engineers, which included recommendations to both, not install and to remove the girders.
“When the Liberals thought people's safety was at risk, they looked the other way. When they thought Liberal seats were at risk, they suddenly reversed course because they feared media exposure. Premier
Wynne must answer for the cover up of this billion-dollar boondoggle,” he said.
But the MTO is calling the allegations “flat wrong”.
“He was first briefed by the Ministry of Transportation on June 19. Immediately following that briefing, he moved to ensure that no further girders would be installed. Between June 19 and his announcement of a review on Monday, July 22, the minister had five formal briefings with MTO and Infrastructure Ontario officials,” Patrick Searle, Murray’s press secretary said in a statement.
In November 2013, the province announced 500 Freyssinet girders which were determined to be non-compliant by an independent panel would be replaced at no cost to tax payers.
