Ontario's Progressive Conservative cabinet and MPPs are pictured on the first day of the legislature since Doug Ford's government was elected in June. MPPs returned to the legislature on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

TORONTO — The first piece of legislation from Doug Ford’s government kneecaps the independence of Hydro One by giving the provincial cabinet a veto over executive compensation.

Tabled in the legislature on Monday afternoon, the 26-page omnibus bill also cancels the White Pines wind farm and legislates an end to the York University strike.

Dubbed the Urgent Priorities Act, it was introduced by Energy Minister Greg Rickford. No one from cabinet was available to speak to journalists after the bill was introduced.

Cabinet control over Hydro One compensation

In a statement attributed to Rickford, the government said the portion of the bill covering Hydro One would “improve transparency and accountability” at the utility.

The government says it gives the cabinet a veto over a new “compensation framework” for Hydro One’s chief executive and board members. The new framework will be created by Hydro One in consultation with the province and the five other large shareholders and then be subject to approval by cabinet.

[READ MORE: Ford government agrees to stop bashing Hydro One]

Ontario has a minority stake in Hydro One shares with 47 per cent control. Once the utility’s merger with Avista is finalized then Ontario’s ownership will dip to 42 per cent.

The bill will also change the rules so the Ontario Energy Board cannot take executive compensation into account as a cost when setting consumer rates for hydro. It also requires Hydro One to start publishing total executive compensation, something already done through its annual management circular.

It will also force the utility to publish any planned changes to compensation 30 days before it seeks cabinet approval for the changes.

Finally the government says the act would also give the province and Hydro One immunity from civil liability.

Corporate governance researcher and York University associate professor Richard Leblanc (who was critical of Hydro One compensation prior to the election) heralded the changes.

“The pay and governance reforms in the Hydro One Accountability Act are very wise and address many of the shortcomings of the previous Board and executive pay structure and lack of transparency of Hydro One,” Leblanc said in an email.

Cancelling wind farm in minister’s riding

The omnibus bill also cancels a contract to build nine wind turbines in Prince Edward County. The White Pines wind project has been in the works for nearly a decade and was supposed to finish construction by September.

Last week, when the government announced the coming legislation, House Leader Todd Smith said cancelling the project wouldn’t cost taxpayers anything. But the act sets out a formula for reimbursing the company for development, employment termination, and decommissioning costs, minus other revenue like insurance proceeds.

The company said it couldn’t comment on the bill until Tuesday.

[READ MORE: Cancelled wind farm to cost Ontario ratepayers $100 million plus: Company]

The company, wpd Canada, said it was shocked by the news and had planned to sue for compensation for a more than $100 million investment. Smith has previously said the province would block the company from suing.

The causes of action that the company can no longer take are set out in the bill. They include anything related to the enactment of the bill or the ending of contracts.

The release says the White Pines contract and any regulatory permits and approvals would be terminated retroactive to July 10, 2018.

Back-to-work legislation at York University

The bill will also end the strike at York University which has been dragging on since the beginning of March.

The government says it would provide a “mechanism” to reach new collective agreements.

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