The Canadian Press
Allison Jones
TORONTO–Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath is calling on the Liberal government to table legislation for its hydro bill reduction plan on Monday, saying it’s short on details and “warrants one heck of an explanation.”
The legislature is not sitting this week for March Break, but Horwath said Ontarians need to see the planned legislation as soon as possible.
“People deserve to see it in black and white so they can debate it and so the legislature can debate it, too,” she reasoned.
“Don’t hide the details, don’t delay, don’t come to the legislature just before it rises this summer with a last-minute bill, ultimatums, and no time for committees, experts, and the people of Ontario to take the time they need to examine the bill,” Horwath stressed.
“Put this $40-billion phantom plan on paper and let’s have a real debate about what’s best for Ontario’s future.”
The government indicated the legislation won’t come as quickly as Monday.
“We will introduce legislation this session, with time for debate and public hearings at committee, ensuring real relief for Ontarians and a way to ensure greater fairness in our electricity system this summer,” Energy minister Glenn Thibeault said in a statement.
Premier Kathleen Wynne announced earlier this month that people will receive an average 25-percent cut to their electricity bills starting this summer–17 percent in new reductions plus an eight-percent rebate that came into effect Jan. 1.
Rates also will increase no higher than inflation for the next four years.
But the plan ultimately will cost ratepayers about $25 billion more in interest, the government has said.
The plan will take part of the global adjustment charge off bills for the next 10 years, but the cost isn’t being eliminated–it’s being deferred to future ratepayers, racking up interest on that debt in the meantime.
The fact that billions of dollars ultimately will go to bankers and not be spent on schools or roads “warrants one heck of an explanation,” Horwath said.
Both opposition parties doubt the Liberal government’s math and say the extra interest costs could be as high as $40 billion.
“Let’s just say I have a healthy amount of skepticism when it comes to any numbers that Liberals provide,” noted Horwath.
She also said it’s not clear if it will apply to medium-sized businesses, but the Liberals have said the 25-percent reduction won’t.
Half-a-million small businesses and farms will qualify, but all other businesses except the largest manufacturers and industrial customers only will see a reduction of between two and four percent, government officials have said.
On one thing, however, the NDP and Liberals can agree: “The Conservatives have no plan at all,” Horwath said.
Progressive Conservative leader Patrick Brown has said he will announce a plan “soon.”
The NDP has proposed an alternative plan to lower hydro bills by 30 percent, but the Liberals say while their relief will kick in within a few months, the NDP’s proposed savings wouldn’t take effect for a long time.
The New Democrats’ plan calls for ending mandatory time-of-use pricing, reducing the delivery charge for rural customers, renegotiating power contracts, and returning Hydro One to public ownership.
The Liberal plan also contains a delivery charge reduction for some rural customers, removing the charge entirely for on-reserve First Nations’ customers, and expanding a low-income support program.
