MPP Bailey to Liberals: Scrap Plan to Privatize Hydro One, Focus on Lowering Hydro Rates Instead

(Queen’s Park)- On Wednesday, Sarnia-Lambton MPP, Bob Bailey, called on the Liberal Government to scrap their plan to give up control of Hydro One and instead focus their attention on lowering hydro rates in Ontario.

“This government’s energy policy is an outright failure, now you are prepared to give away control of a Crown asset, Hydro One, which will lead to even higher energy rates and saddle ratepayers with billions more in debt,” said MPP Bailey during debate.

“All members of this legislature need to be focusing on how we can lower hydro rates….Mr. Speaker, I call on this government to rip up its half-baked plan to give away control of Hydro One and instead focus on lowering energy rates for Sarnia-Lambton,” added MPP Bailey.

As part of the 2015 Provincial Budget, Premier Wynne and the Liberal Government have laid out their intention to sell off the province’s majority share in the Crown corporation Hydro One in order to raise money for transit projects, like subways, in the GTA. The Liberal Government’s intention to funnel the proceeds of the sale of Hydro One to transit projects violates the Electricity Act which requires any money from the sale of assets to go towards paying down Hydro One’s existing debt of $27 billion.

On May 1, 2015, the Liberal Government increased Ontario’s time-of-use rates by 15%. On November 1st, rates will increase again by 10%, and on January 1st, 2016, the Liberal Government will be removing the 10% Clean Energy Benefit that is currently applied to bills, raising bills once again. The Liberal Government’s current Long Term Energy Plan shows a steady increase in hydro rates until the year 2032.

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