Refusing to let go of the $1.1 billion power plant scandal, Progressive Conservatives are pressing for a former Dalton McGuinty staffer and her computer-savvy boyfriend to testify before a legislative committee.

Conservative MPP John Yakabuski called on Premier Kathleen Wynne to use her new majority power to ensure Laura Miller and Peter Faist tell MPPs anything they know about deleted documents in the former premier’s office.

“If Perry Mason found out that there were two eyewitnesses to the case, they would be heard,” Yakabuski said in the legislature’s final question period before its summer break.

Wynne had poured cold water on that idea after the June 12 election and was even cooler to it Thursday, saying it’s time for the committee to stop hearing witnesses and write its report on lessons learned in the cancellations of two plants in Mississauga and Oakville before the 2011 election.

“You are not Perry Mason, but your performance was worthy of Perry Mason,” the premier retorted to Yakabuski in a reference to the famous TV defence lawyer from decades ago.

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Both Miller and Faist had offered to testify before the legislature’s justice committee in May, but their appearances were short-circuited when both the Conservatives and New Democrats refused to support the minority Liberal government’s spring budget, forcing the election in which voters returned the Liberals to power with a majority.

Ontario Provincial Police have alleged that former McGuinty chief of staff David Livingston obtained a special computer password that enabled the holder to wipe clean computer hard drives, and claimed it was given to Faist, a non-government employee and former Liberal contractor who is the partner of Miller, once a deputy to Livingston.

Livingston is the subject of an OPP investigation into breach of trust. Livingston has maintained he did nothing wrong, as have Miller and Faist. No charges have been laid.

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With the legislature’s belated summer break continuing until October 20, the justice committee is not expected to meet until then at the earliest.

While opposition members enjoyed a majority on the committee under the minority government, upon its return there will be six Liberals, two Conservatives and one New Democrat.

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