Liberal Incompetence on the Energy File Costing Ontarians Billions

QUEEN’S PARK – This morning in the Legislature, Leader of the Official Opposition Patrick Brown grilled the Premier on how the Liberal Government’s mishandling of the electricity sector is costing ratepayers billions of dollars.

The Auditor General’s report highlighted that as a result of Liberal mismanagement, between 2006 and 2014, the people of Ontario have been overcharged $37 billion for electricity.  What’s more, ratepayers will continue to be overcharged another $133 billion dollars over the next 18 years – resulting in a total of $170 billion in unnecessary costs to ratepayers.

“After yesterday’s scathing report from the Auditor General many people on that side of the aisle have questions to answer,” stated Leader Patrick Brown to the Ontario Liberal Caucus.

Leader Patrick Brown added, “This Minister will have overcharged an average family $32,000 dollars more than they should have paid.  With that money a family could buy one of the last Windsor-made Dodge Grand Caravans this year.  It covers the cost of 4 years’ worth of tuition at the University of Ottawa – it could have put that household’s child through university with what they are being overcharged.”

Not only did the Liberal Government overcharge Ontario residents, it’s overspending on unnecessary programs as well.  The Auditor General revealed that electricity consumers will pay $9.2 billion more for under the Ministry’s current program than they would have paid under the previous program.

“This isn’t about the merits of renewable energy – this is about the political deals that cost the taxpayers,” Leader Patrick Brown continued.  “The Government could have had the exact same renewable energy program if they would have listened to the experts.”

“How does this Minister still have a job?  Will he save the Premier the trouble and resign?”