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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-05-20, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Hydro One protesters have had enough "You "are forcing them to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table." Lynda Hillman-Rapley Postmedia Network As the Ontario govern- ment gets set to plant a "for - sale" at publicly -owned Hydro One, the front lawn of Queen's Park sprouted pro- testers last Wednesday. It drew a mixed crowd of people concerned about a number of hydro issues including what the sell-off of a majority stake in Hydro One might mean for the province and electricity prices, and also the impact of wind turbines on rural communities and bills. The bottom line was a fear that electricity would become increasingly unaffordable. ':..Hundreds gathered out- side Queen's Park to express their frustration with the Liberal government's unaf- fordable hydro rates," said Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. People came from across the province, including Huron -Bruce to tell the government that enough is enough." Thompson joined by Huron -Bruce constituents Norma Schmidt (Tiverton), Patti Kellar (St.Joseph) and Susan Muller (Crediton) out- side Queen's Park last Wednesday at the Hydro Rally that attracted hundreds from across the province. She says Ontario currently has the highest hydro rates in Canada. Muller organized this local trip, joining other communi- ties saying,"Hydro One: Enough is enough." Stop complaining and do something, says Muller on her social media site as a prompt for people to join her at Queens Park to protest the latest hydro rate increase. She says the groundswell began in northern Ontario and social media has seen it spread across the province. On this bus were local peo- ple from Clinton, Dashwood, Zurich and Exeter. Thompson agrees saying, "Since the Liberals formed the government, hydro rates have tripled, rising by $1,000 per year for the average home- owner. If you don't qualify for the low-income supplement, your hydro bill increased another $205 per year starting as of May 1st," she says add- ing, "This government has put Ontarians in a situation where they are choosing between heating or eating. The Liberals failed Green Energy Act and disastrous energy policies have led to the most expen- sive electricity in the country, ea orthhuronex . ositor.co it is unacceptable." Just home from the rally, Kellar said there were stories from all walks, "small busi- ness owners, cottages not lived in where property own- ers were charged 49 cents for electricity and over $25 in distribution costs" Kellar's sign read 'Monu- ments to Stupidity Under Construction'. "I believe most of those present were well aware the situation in rural Ontario. They realize it is costing us more for energy that we can no longer afford and Industrial Wind Turbines protected by the flawed Green Energy and Economy Act of 2009 are a large part of that cost" She said she felt, at this rally, that she was "preaching to the converted." The gathering was addressed by key speakers including new Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown, and Andrea Horwath of the NDP. Kellar told Postmedia Net- work there were a lot of Con- servative and NDP members present. "NDP (members) were booed by many for there lack of understanding of the impact of the Green Energy Act on Rural Ontario. No Liberals came out despite being asked to in Question Period. She explained there were many speakers includ- ing MPPs Jack MacLaren, Randy Hillier, Vic Fedelli, Lisa Thompson, Parker Gal- lant, as well as speakers for Wind Concerns Ontario, the organizers of the event. Kellar said some of the stories could have been any- one from any town, "People who were impacted severely by their hydro bills, a single mother of five who was working two jobs and staying up to do her laundry at 4 am and determining her kids shower time before 6 am. The message for many was Heat or Eat." "There was no where near the amount of people who showed up for the sex ed cur- riculum," she said referring to the concerns from Ontario parents who do not want their children taught sex education at school. "I guess because Toronto really doesn't care. After all, they have Toronto Hydro. Which I suspect is no where as mismanaged as Ontario Hydro. Over $10,000 complaints to the Ombuds- man and rising. We just can't make this stuff up" Energy Minister Bob Chi- arelli: "Certainly, hydro rates Contributed Patti Kellar from St. Joseph expresses her concern regarding hydro costs. Protesters rally at Queens Park last week telling those at the political helm that they have had enough of the rising hydro costs. are a very topical issue. We understand that the invest- ments we made to take a dirty and unreliable system and make it clean and relia- ble are putting pressures on Ontario families, particularly electric heat in rural areas. But to help families with their energy bills, we announced further price mitigation measures in our budget ... removing the debt retirement charge by the end of this year ... saving the average family $70 per year on their hydro bills, and the ... Ontario Electricity Sup- port Program for low- and modest -income families ... There were blackouts and brownouts across the prov- ince of Ontario under (the Progressive Conservative) administration." PC MPP and energy critic John Yakabuski: "People are here today to tell you that they cannot afford energy at 16.1 cents kWh — or what you dismissively call 'a cup of coffee.' You are forcing them to choose between heating their homes or put- ting food on the table." NDP Leader Andrea Hor- wath: The NDP have put up a website — youpaytheprice. ca — for all those opposed to the Hydro One sale, which she predicts will force up hydro prices. "There you can contact your MPP, you can contact Kathleen Wynne, you can download a petition, you can download literature that you can share with your friends and neighbours." LRC'H You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN 21 Jarvis St., Seaforth Rector The Rev. Karine Snowdon Rectory 519-482-9071 Church Office 519-527-1522 Sunday May 24 Day of Pentecost Worship at 9:30 am Wear red,yellow or orange! Everyone Welcome EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Pastor Steve Hildebrand Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura Worship May24th 10:30 am Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. For more information view our web site www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com & Like us on Facebook An Affirming Congregation ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Welcomes You 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-345-2972 Sat. Mass 5 pm • Sun. Mass 9 am ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN Sun. Mass 11 a.m. FR. BRIAN McCOLL TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE PLEASE CALL THE HURON EXPOSITOR 519-527-0240 BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Rev. Mark Kennedy Sunday Worship Service 11 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 9:45 a.m. Tuesday Evenings Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High 6:30 to 9 p.m. Boys & Girls Club 7 p.m. Wednesdays 7 p.m. Men's & Women's Bible Study (\ EVERYONE WELCOME FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Rev. Rob Congram Lorrie Mann - Organist Sunday Worship May 24th,11.00 a.m. i Sunday School ALL WELCOME 0- Nursery Provided as Needed ea orthhuronex . ositor.co it is unacceptable." Just home from the rally, Kellar said there were stories from all walks, "small busi- ness owners, cottages not lived in where property own- ers were charged 49 cents for electricity and over $25 in distribution costs" Kellar's sign read 'Monu- ments to Stupidity Under Construction'. "I believe most of those present were well aware the situation in rural Ontario. They realize it is costing us more for energy that we can no longer afford and Industrial Wind Turbines protected by the flawed Green Energy and Economy Act of 2009 are a large part of that cost" She said she felt, at this rally, that she was "preaching to the converted." The gathering was addressed by key speakers including new Ontario PC leader Patrick Brown, and Andrea Horwath of the NDP. Kellar told Postmedia Net- work there were a lot of Con- servative and NDP members present. "NDP (members) were booed by many for there lack of understanding of the impact of the Green Energy Act on Rural Ontario. No Liberals came out despite being asked to in Question Period. She explained there were many speakers includ- ing MPPs Jack MacLaren, Randy Hillier, Vic Fedelli, Lisa Thompson, Parker Gal- lant, as well as speakers for Wind Concerns Ontario, the organizers of the event. Kellar said some of the stories could have been any- one from any town, "People who were impacted severely by their hydro bills, a single mother of five who was working two jobs and staying up to do her laundry at 4 am and determining her kids shower time before 6 am. The message for many was Heat or Eat." "There was no where near the amount of people who showed up for the sex ed cur- riculum," she said referring to the concerns from Ontario parents who do not want their children taught sex education at school. "I guess because Toronto really doesn't care. After all, they have Toronto Hydro. Which I suspect is no where as mismanaged as Ontario Hydro. Over $10,000 complaints to the Ombuds- man and rising. We just can't make this stuff up" Energy Minister Bob Chi- arelli: "Certainly, hydro rates Contributed Patti Kellar from St. Joseph expresses her concern regarding hydro costs. Protesters rally at Queens Park last week telling those at the political helm that they have had enough of the rising hydro costs. are a very topical issue. We understand that the invest- ments we made to take a dirty and unreliable system and make it clean and relia- ble are putting pressures on Ontario families, particularly electric heat in rural areas. But to help families with their energy bills, we announced further price mitigation measures in our budget ... removing the debt retirement charge by the end of this year ... saving the average family $70 per year on their hydro bills, and the ... Ontario Electricity Sup- port Program for low- and modest -income families ... There were blackouts and brownouts across the prov- ince of Ontario under (the Progressive Conservative) administration." PC MPP and energy critic John Yakabuski: "People are here today to tell you that they cannot afford energy at 16.1 cents kWh — or what you dismissively call 'a cup of coffee.' You are forcing them to choose between heating their homes or put- ting food on the table." NDP Leader Andrea Hor- wath: The NDP have put up a website — youpaytheprice. ca — for all those opposed to the Hydro One sale, which she predicts will force up hydro prices. "There you can contact your MPP, you can contact Kathleen Wynne, you can download a petition, you can download literature that you can share with your friends and neighbours."