September 13, 2016
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The following is a statement by Ontario PC (Progressive Conservative) critic for environment and cap-and-trade, Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson, on premier Kathleen Wynne's cap-and-trade shell game:
"Ontarians are not fooled by Wynne's most recent shell game. In the Throne Speech (Sept. 12), the Liberal government disingenuously promised a rebate equal to the provincial portion of the HST from Ontario electricity bills, beginning Jan. 1, 2017.
"There was a glaring omission, though. What was not mentioned in the Throne Speech is that on the very same day Ontarians see this so-called rebate on their bills, their costs will be going up due to the Liberal cap-and-trade scheme. These hidden costs will be realized on gasoline, natural gas, and, you guessed it, electricity. This is in addition to electricity rates going up on Nov. 1 which will render the new rebate a wash.
"Sadly, when pressed on the issue in the legislature, the Liberals merely congratulated themselves for a band-aid solution that does nothing to address the true underlying drivers of high energy costs in the province. We will continue to see Liberal mismanagement of the energy file, expensive energy contracts we don't need, and a cash grab cap-and-trade scheme.
"What's even more outrageous is the fact that the government plans on legislating the rebate to be included as an item on electricity bills. Meanwhile, the government is hiding cap-and-trade costs from Ontarians by refusing to include the new fees as a line item on home heating bills.
"It is time for the government to acknowledge the energy crisis in this province. Real action is needed, not empty gestures in the wake of a tough by-election loss.
"Ontarians are not fooled. They know energy prices will only continue to rise under this government's watch. The premier cannot hide or subsidize her way out of the mess she has made on energy; Ontarians will continue to pay more due to her mismanagement."
You can view Thompson's question here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwV-M8eH0q8
In a separate statement, Thompson said the Throne Speech is nothing but a desperate attempt by a tired, out-of-touch government to save face after an embarrassing loss in the Scarborough-Rouge River by-election.
"The premier's efforts to hit the reset button are falling flat with Ontarians, and it has become clear that she is only willing to listen when she has something to lose.
"Ontarians and the PC party have been claiming for years that electricity rates are at a crisis point, but our concerns have repeatedly been ignored until just last week, after residents in Scarborough-Rouge River decisively elected a Progressive Conservative MPP.
"Today's commitment to repair our damaged energy sector is nothing but empty rhetoric. The premier has had 13 years to do something, but only chose to act when it served to benefit herself and her Liberal party. It is painfully clear that all the premier is doing is trying to win favour with Ontarians before she has to face them again in another by-election. If she was serious, she would've repealed the Green Energy Act.
"As the representative for Huron-Bruce, I'm aware of the challenges families are facing in paying their hydro bills. A petition I've circulated has gathered more than 5,000 signatures, and acts as a testament to how tired Ontarians are of the mismanagement of the energy file, resulting in increased electricity rates.
"I want to assure everyone in Huron-Bruce that one of my top priorities this session will be pressing the Liberals to take more substantive measures to really assist rural Ontarians with their energy bills.
"If they were serious about caring for rural Ontario and reducing red tape, the Liberals should take immediate action. An excellent first step would be supporting my Private Member's Bill, an initiative designed to truly support the long-standing partnerships between Ontario farmers and Certified Crop Advisors."
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