The NDP used a resident of Nipissing as an example to show that Premier Kathleen Wynne is failing Ontarians over hydro issues. The party’s energy critic, Peter Tabuns, says Krysta Meecham-Robertson has a fixed monthly income of $800. Tabuns told Wynne that the Liberals’ failure to take action on soaring electricity prices wipes out more than half of Meecham-Robertson’s monthly income. The New Democrat says each month Meecham-Robertson spends $450 on hydro. Tabuns says the woman already takes advantage of the Ontario Energy Support Program and the Rural Rate Protection program. But he adds the measures are far from enough because each month Meecham-Robertson has to choose between putting food on her table or pay the hydro bill. Tabuns challenged the Premier to present a detailed plan to clean up the mess her party helped create. Tabuns also wants Wynne to stop with the political posturing. The NDP recently released a plan that proposes to cut hydro bills by up to 30 percent. The party would also buy back that part of Hydro One the Liberals sold to the private sector. Tabuns says the New Democrat have several immediate steps to keep rates down as well as long-term proposals. He adds the NDP plan will bring in an extra $7 billion in dividends that can be put toward health and education.
