March 28th, 2017
Horwath motion calls for hydro savings and a plan that fixes Ontario’s electricity system
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has introduced an Opposition Day Motion calling on the legislature to adopt the only plan put forward by any party that will fix Ontario’s broken electricity system and provide immediate relief for everyone.
The NDP plan will reduce hydro bills for businesses and families by up to 30 per cent, eliminate mandatory time-of-use pricing, end unfair rural delivery costs, and restore public ownership of Hydro One.
“The cost of electricity has gone up more than 300 per cent under the Liberals -- including 50 per cent just since Premier Wynne became premier -- but she has no plan to stop the price of power from rising,” said Horwath. “Once again, instead of looking out for the best interests of Ontarians, the premier is taking care of the political fortunes of herself and the Liberal party. Her phantom plan is nothing more than a borrowing approach that fails to fix the electricity system and it sticks Ontario families with a $40 billion bill.
“And the Conservative leader has no plan whatsoever.”
In addition to cutting hydro bills by as much as 30 per cent, the NDP plan, to be debated today, includes returning Hydro One to public hands – a move that will provide Ontario with an additional $7 billion that can be invested in schools, hospitals and the public services that people need.
“Instead of fixing the electricity system broken by her Liberal government and previous Conservative governments, Premier Wynne is determined to ignore Ontarians and to continue the disastrous sell-off of Hydro One,” said Horwath. “The premier has no intention of getting rid of time-of-use billing that hurts seniors on fixed incomes and punishes families for cooking meals at the supper hour.
“We need a solution for the broken system – not just a $40 billion band aid for Premier Wynne’s political problems.”
Horwath called on all members of the legislature to support her Opposition Day Motion and to commit to immediate electricity bill savings and a plan that fixes the root causes of Ontario’s broken hydro system.
