The Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-10-05, Page 3Ontario Liberal government hopes
to save from cutting energy contracts
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 1
Earlier this month, after a stinging
byelection loss in Toronto, the Liberals
moved to soften the blow of rising
power rates, announcing rebates on
the provincial portion of the HST on
power bills and more relief in rural
areas where transmission costs are
higher. That came less than a year after
the government scrapped a 10 -per-
cent subsidy, worth more than $1 bil-
lion ayear, it had been paying on elec-
tricity bills to offset clean energy costs.
Despite Tuesday's move, Thi-
beault said the Liberals aren't
walking away from green energy
and will look for affordable, clean,
reliable energy in future.
"We are not shutting the door on
the importance of renewable energy
in our province at all, he said.
But opponents of Ontario's green
energy program said Thibeault isn't
going far enough, while supporters
suggested Ontario is blowing a
major opportunity.
"This is exactly the wrong time to
put the brakes on renewable energy,"
said Keith Brooks, programs director
at Environmental Defence.
Deployment of wind and solar
power is soaring around the world
while costs plummet, he said.
"If we want to be part of that we have
to continue to support the industry at
home. Now is not the time to back
away. It's time to double down'
Robert Hornung, president of the
Canadian Wind Energy Association,
said the industry was shocked and
disappointed by Ontario's move.
While the government believes
the power isn't needed, Hornung
said Ontario will face higher power
demands as it moves to meet its cli-
mate change targets.
"It represents a bit of a lost
opportunity," he said.
When Ontario does recognize it
needs more electricity, wind
energy will be an obvious choice,
competing with any other source of
new power, Hornung said.
Jane Wilson, president of Wind
Concerns Ontario, a coalition of
groups opposed to wind energy,
predicted last week the govern-
ment would have to halt the green
energy procurement program in
the face of rising electricity bills.
Tuesday, she said the government
should go a step further and cancel
contracts where companies have
failed to meet their obligations.
"With rising electricity bills and
energy poverty at a 'crisis' point in
Ontario, it would have been inde-
fensible for the Wynne government
to continue the Large Renewable
Procurement process," Wilson said.
Lisa Thompson, Conservative
MPP for Huron -Bruce, home to
some of Ontario's largest wind farm
projects, said the halt to procure-
ment won't save anybody money
on their electricity bills.
"What we saw today was just a des-
perate ploy from an energy minister
trying to help stop the premier's popu-
larity that is in an absolute free -fall.
This is just a desperate ploy to give a
cushion to land on," Thompson said.
Thompson said the moves were
inspired by the Liberals losing the
Scarborough -Rouge River byelection.
"Now they are pulling out Band-
aids but the good people of Ontario
can't be fooled," she said.
John Laforet, principal at Broad-
view Strategy Group, a communi-
cations company that has been
hired by groups opposing wind
farm development, said the gov-
ernment had to make the move.
"It was the easiest of a lot of
uncomfortable decisions they are
going to have to make. This will not
lower anyone's electricity bill, but it
will prevent it from getting any
higher related to these projects,"
said Laforet, a former Liberal riding
president who turned against the
party over wind farm development.
How We Got Here
2003:
Liberals elected; vow to close
dirty coal-fired power plants.
2009:
Green energy law passed, takes
away local control over projects.
Some contracts pay 10 times
what consumers pay for power.
2010:
Multi -billion -dollar green energy
deal signed with Korean indus-
trial giant Samsung.
2011:
Backlash takes down Lib-
eral ministers in two South-
western Ontario ridings.
2014:
Coal-fired plants shut down,
years later than planned.
2015:
Auditor general reports Ontar-
ians have paid $37 bil-
lion more than market prices
for power over eight years.
Ontario reaches 2,300 oper-
ating wind turbines.
2016:
Contracts awarded for another
300 megawatts of wind
power, process begun to buy
another 600 megawatts.
Government scraps 10 -per-
cent subsidy on power
bills, but eight months later
announces other relief.
Tuesday: Large renewa-
ble energy buys suspended;
smaller projects continue.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 3
iroy Patterson/Editor
Lucknow Central Public School marked its Terry Fox Run on Sept. 28, 2016, which saw students take in an assembly
on the Canadian hero before heading out for a tour of the village and back. The students excitedly bolted from the
school grounds to get a head start on the run, following a briefing on safety from teachers. See more photos inside
and online at lucknowsentinel.com
Lucknow Sepoy Manor 'now complete'
following new wing and backyard renos
Troy Patterson
Editor
Lucknow's Sepoy Manor recently
celebrated the grand opening of its
north wing and its fifth anniversary in
the community.
Owner Kayla Howald said the com-
munity has welcomed the seniors
community with open arms in recent
years, with the north wing that was
completed in 2015 expanding the
facility from 16 to 25 rooms, with both
single and double occupancy rooms.
"We've had quite a long wait list and
room to grow, so we saw it was a good
time to expand," said Howald.
Sepoy Manor has updated its
kitchen, made its dining room larger,
and completed its backyard construc-
tion and landscaping, which with the
renovations complete "finishes the
�u
building:'
Howald said they get a lot of sup-
port from the community, with musi-
cal entertainers visiting, a daily exer-
cise program, church program,
outings to Cobblestone Pub, Village
Pizzeria and the 'Miller Mall' Holy -
rood General Store for ice cream.
"We're very lucky we live in such a
caring community, she said.
They've also taken residents to area
farms to see animals, as well as
advancements in technology like the
robotics now used in dairy farming, as
many residents are former farmers
from the region.
In terms of the need for seniors
communities, Howald said both
retirement living and long term care
facilities are growing in need as time
passes.
The grand opening event featured
LUCKNOW LANCERS
2016/17 HOME SCHEDULE
Troy Patterson/Editor
Lucknow's Sepoy Manor recently
held an open house to celebrate the
opening of its north wing, backyard
renovations, and fifth anniversary of
the seniors community.
many different snacks, champagne for
seniors and nice weather for residents
to enjoy.
OCTOBER
4 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15TH @ 7:30PM vs ELORA ROCKS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22ND @ 7:30PM vs CLINTON RADARS
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29TH @ 7:30PM vs SHALLOW LAKE CRUSHERS
NOVEMBER
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH @ 7:30PM vs PETROLIA SQUIRES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19TH @ 7:30PM vs MAPLETON-MINTO 81'S
' SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26TH @ 7:30PM vs SAUGEEN SHORES HAWKS
DECEMBER
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH @ 7:30PM vs DURHAM THUNDERCATS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17TH @ 7:30PM vs RIPLEY WOLVES
*** Lancer Alumni /Minor Hockey Night in Lucknow ***
' JANUARY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7TH @ 7:30PM vs SHELBURNE MUSKIES
4, SATURDAY, JANUARY 14TH @ 7:30PM vs HURON EAST CENTENAIRES
*** LancerSponsorAppreciation Night ***