OPP investigate Ontario Liberals over allegations that documents were destroyed

Ontario Provincial Police have launched a criminal investigation into the Liberal government over allegations involving a proposed wind turbine project.

Trillium Power Wind Corp. has alleged in a lawsuit against the provincial government that officials destroyed documents relevant to its case, which stemmed from the government's cancellation of a Lake Ontario wind project.

OPP Det.-Supt. Dave Truax says police began an investigation in the last couple of weeks after Trillium made a complaint.

Trillium lawyer Morris Cooper alleges the documents were destroyed around the same time as emails are alleged to have been deleted in relation to the Liberals' cancellation of two gas plants.

In that case former premier Dalton McGuinty's chief of staff and deputy chief of staff have been charged with breach of trust and mischief.

The Liberal government says it was not aware of any Trillium-related investigation until today, but that it will co-operate fully.

A spokesman for Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli says the government takes its record-keeping obligations very seriously.

"We're committed to being open, accountable, and transparent," Dan Moulton wrote. "Under Premier Wynne, we have new rules in place, including mandatory record-keeping rules and staff training and a new Accountability Act, which prohibits the wilful deletion of records, and creates a penalty."