There`s little doubt that the high cost of hydro will be a major issue in next year`s provincial election. So it`s no surprise that the issue continues to be raised during Question Period at Queen`s Park by the Progressive Conservatives and the New Democrats. The NDP are the latest to bring up hydro and Gilles Bisson who represents Timmins-James Bay was the messenger. Bisson told the House that people are frustrated. He says they`ve done what the Liberals have asked of them to lower consumption but still their bills continue to rise. Bisson cited the Sylvain family in Kapuskasing that is off the grid and heats their home with wood because it has no access to natural gas. “The Sylvains only use hydro as a back-up if the fire goes out,“ Bisson told the Legislature. “Their Hydro bill used to be $275 a month but when it started rising, they began consuming even less and switched to LED`s and still their bill kept going up. Their bill this month was $375.“ Bisson called on the Liberals to admit that their Hydro policy has failed and it`s time to stop talking about it and find a solution.
Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault ignored Bisson`s call to admit failure and claimed just the opposite. Thibeault said the Liberals have built a system people can rely on because blackouts and brownouts are a thing of the past. Thibeault admits more can still be done and the Liberals will find ways to help families in Ontario. The energy minister says with time the cost of energy can come down if more people conserve because we won`t need as much energy and won`t have to spend more money on building more generation. In the meantime, Thibeault told Bisson that Liberal policies have had a positive effect on healthcare. He says by phasing out coal, the province has saved $4.3 billion in health. `We`ve seen a 23 percent reduction in air pollution deaths and a 41 percent reduction in air pollution hospitalization, “Thibeault said.
