Queen’s Park – Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John Yakabuski is concerned
with the Liberal government’s failure to understand the fact that hydro
rates are too expensive for everyone in Ontario.
“The announcement this morning is an admission by the Liberals that their
own energy policies have failed” said MPP Yakabuski in response to Energy
Minister Bob Chiarelli’s announcement regarding the Low-Income Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP).
This program will provide roughly a $38 stipend every month to low-income
families.
“Everyone understands that low-income electricity consumers are struggling
in this province-almost everyone is struggling because of the Liberal’s
reckless energy policies,” MPP Yakabuski said. “While no one is arguing
that low-income families should not have more affordable rates, the people
who fall outside this group are struggling to pay these exorbitant hydro
fees as well.”
Ontarians have no faith in the Liberal government’s ability to execute this
new policy competently, he said. Their record over the last 12 years speaks
for itself, he added. Ontarians have watched the cancellation of the gas
plants costing over a billion dollars; they have witnessed the smart meters
fiasco result in almost double what it was supposed to cost at $1.9
billion; and they have seen the selling off of energy to our competitors in
neighbouring jurisdictions at a loss of about $1.3 billion last year.
“How much more bureaucracy will be needed to administer LEAP?” asked MPP
Yakabuski.
“According to Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli’s own numbers, the average
person’s hydro bill will go up $137 next year-people just can’t afford
that,” said the MPP.
The Minister admitted that with the removal of the Ontario Clean Energy
Benefit the average household will be annually paying $137 more in Hydro in
2016 than in 2015. Ontarians are in dire need of more affordable energy.
“In 2016, Ontarians are to be hit with a massive increase-it is a ticking
time bomb,” concluded MPP Yakabuski.
Hydro One Sale Proceeds Must Legally Be Used for Debt Payments
QUEEN’S PARK – Any money from the sale of Hydro One must be directed to the
province’s electricity debt, Jim Wilson, Interim PC Leader recently said in
the Legislature. The Electricity Act “prevents you from putting that money
toward anything but that $27 billion debt. Are you going to obey the law
or will you simply ignore it?” MPP Wilson asked the Premier.
MPP Wilson noted that when he was Minister of Energy the law was put in
place to ensure taxpayers wouldn’t be left having to pay off Hydro’s debt.
The debt of $27 billion translates into $5,400 per Ontario ratepayer that
would have to be found if the law wasn’t followed.
“Is the cost of new infrastructure going to become another expensive line
item on people’s hydro bills?” MPP Wilson demanded of the Premier.
Additionally, PC Energy Critic Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MPP John
Yakabuski noted that Hydro One profits are currently used to pay down
current stranded debt, but if any portion of Hydro One is sold, including
Brampton Hydro One, those profits will be reduced and the revenue stream
being used to pay down that debt will shrink. MPP Yakabuski charged that
the government will have to raise hydro rates to replace the lost money.
“What new taxes will the ratepayers of Ontario see on their bills in order
to pay off the debt that you seem to be ignoring?” he demanded. “When are
you going to tell ratepayers that hydro bills are going to continue to
skyrocket to pay down the electricity debt?”
