QUEEN’S PARK—Today, the Ontario PC’s highlighted the true cost of Dalton McGuinty’s energy experiments to Ontario families. Yesterday’s Fall Economic Statement revealed that energy rates are going to skyrocket 46 percent in five years. This bad news for families and businesses means hydro bills are on course to double from the time Dalton McGuinty came into office.
In reality, the McGuinty government’s own update shows that more than half of this increase is due to their expensive energy experiments like the sweetheart Samsung deal, unsustainable subsidies to energy developers, and their smart meter tax machines. The high cost of energy is one of the largest expenses for households and businesses across Ontario.
Today, the McGuinty government announced they will finally release their overdue long term energy plan next week. The Ontario PC’s will reject any plan that does not put consumers first, provides families, businesses and municipalities with choice and treats energy as economic policy – and not a social program.
QUOTES:
“We now know that the Green Energy Act is responsible for more than half of the increase in hydro rates. The McGuinty government would like to confuse families and the media into thinking the skyrocketing costs are unavoidable. But families and businesses are not fooled.” - Norm Miller, MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka, PC Finance Critic
“Dalton McGuinty has had seven years now to come up with a plan. Instead, they’ve dabbled in expensive energy experiments and schemes that have shuttered plants and chased jobs from our borders. Now families are being handed the bill." - Norm Miller, MPP Parry Sound-Muskoka, PC Finance Critic
QUICK FACTS:
- In 2003, typical family bills were $87 a month. After Dalton McGuinty’s 46% price hike, families will be paying $166 a month by 2015, using current Ministry of Energy projections.
- As a result, Ontario families will see their yearly hydro bills skyrocket by more than $624 a year, over and above what they are paying today. And even this represents a low-end of estimate compared to private-sector forecasts.
- When the Green Energy Act was passed, the Liberals claimed it would only increase bills by 1%. In April, Energy Minister Brad Duguid claimed McGuinty’s energy experiments would only add $5 to the bill.
- As a result of Dalton McGuinty, both the debt and hydro bills will double.
CONTACTS: Christine Bujold 416-325-1330
