Hands off

It was a seemingly innocuous paragraph at the end of an article listing items on council’s agenda for its July 23 meeting: “•authorization for the Fort Frances Power Corp. to prepare and deliver presentations on the matter of consolidation of Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) as proposed by the province.”
In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. The province’s proposal to consolidate so-called LDCs, such as the Fort Frances Power Corp., is an extremely important issue for town residents. At stake? Our hydro rates which, thanks to the historic 1905 power agreement, are the cheapest in Ontario.
FFPC chair Doug McCaig doesn’t mince words in warning of the potential impacts if area utilities have to consolidate—whether voluntarily or by legislation. And while the power agreement, upheld by a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in 1983, almost certainly isn’t in jeopardy (because it’s between the town and the company generating the power), a very real fear is that the premium rates we otherwise enjoy will be lost.
Mr. McCaig clearly is biased in his staunch defence of the FFPC, but there is no arguing its excellent track record and infrastructure. In short, why mess with a good thing? Consolidation may be the answer for some communities, but why should others have to follow that same path because of a decree from faraway Queen’s Park, which, as usual, fails to take regional differences into account?
As Mr. McCaig rightly noted, bigger isn’t necessarily better.
Town council obviously agrees, authorizing the FFPC to voice our concerns directly with the provincially-appointed panel undertaking a review of Ontario’s electricity sector. Residents can help, too, whether by writing letters of support to the minister of energy and local MPP Sarah Campbell, or perhaps circulating a petition.
However it’s done, the message has to get out: hands off our local utility unless there’s an iron-clad guarantee our low hydro rates will be protected.
Kudos to the FFPC and town council for their proactive approach to this issue. Raising a fuss after the fact is far too late.