Horwath on attack against Liberals in northern Ontario debate; Hudak a no show

THUNDER BAY, Ont. - NDP Leader Andrea Horwath came out swinging at the first leaders' debate of the June 12 Ontario election campaign, calling the Liberal government corrupt and saying voters are fed up with their lies.

Horwath said Premier Kathleen Wynne was at the centre of the decision to cancel two gas plants to save Liberal seats in the last election, at a cost to taxpayers of up to $1.1 billion.

She used her opening statement at the debate in Thunder Bay to attack Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak for failing to show up, saying his absence shows his true feelings about northerners.

Wynne tried to strike a positive tone in the debate, saying she was convinced northern Ontario would once again become an economic driver of the province's economy.

She also blamed high electricity rates on the billions of dollars the government had to invest in Ontario's aging and long-neglected hydro system.

Hudak campaigned in Peterborough and greater Toronto area, saying it was unfortunate his schedule wouldn't allow him to attend the debate in Thunder Bay.

Former premier Dalton McGuinty was criticized for skipping the northern debate in the 2011 election.