Hydro Rate Increases Hurt Northern Ontario
QUEEN’S PARK – On May 1st, Ontarians experienced an additional rate increase on their hydro bills, with annual energy costs for the average family going up by $37.56.
Following Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown’s most recent visit to Northern Ontario, he used Question Period to highlight the impact the rate increase will have on the region.
“Last week I was in Thunder Bay and I heard from Mayors and Councillors that raising hydro rates are crippling Northern communities,” said Brown. “The government refuses to acknowledge that when winters are longer, and when natural gas heating isn’t an option, the North relies on hydro to keep warm.”
On his tour, Patrick Brown met with business leaders and job-creators in the region who are being forced to shut down parts of their plants during peak-rate periods to keep their costs sustainable.
“When will this government stop crippling the families and business of Northern Ontario with their ‘Made in Toronto’ hydro rates?” concluded Brown.