In a stunning backtrack, Dalton McGuinty announced today that he is abandoning his plans for off-shore wind farm projects. This is the latest admission by the McGuinty government that their expensive energy experiments have completely failed.
In April 2010, the McGuinty Liberals unanimously voted against an Ontario PC motion that called for a moratorium on wind farm projects until an independent, comprehensive study of the health and environmental impacts could be completed. Rather than simply admit the Ontario PCs were right all along, McGuinty tried to sneak his backtrack past Ontario families. While both McGuinty and Duncan held press conferences today, neither announced this backtrack publicly but rather quietly announced it in a late day press release.
The McGuinty Liberals have long ignored the inability of Ontario families to pay for their expensive energy experiments. Only in an election year and when McGuinty’s Energy Minister faced growing local opposition did they backtrack. The McGuinty Liberals are out of touch with the priorities of Ontario families.
QUOTES:
“This is Dalton McGuinty’s latest backtrack on his failed expensive energy experiments. These experiments are doing nothing but driving up hydro bills for Ontario families and seniors, and now even Dalton McGuinty recognizes it.” --John Yakabuski, PC Energy Critic and MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
“We called on the McGuinty government to hold off so these decisions could be based on actual science. While we’re pleased he’s listening to us now, his backtrack today is based purely on political science. This is the latest example of McGuinty Liberal election-year desperation.” --John Yakabuski, PC Energy Critic and MPP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke
QUICK FACTS:
On April 29, 2010, the McGuinty Liberals unanimously voted against the following Ontario PC motion: “I move that the Legislative Assembly of Ontario calls for a moratorium on all wind farm projects until an independent, comprehensive study of the health and environmental impacts of wind farms is completed and Premier McGuinty restores the planning authority governing them to municipalities and local boards.”
In July 2010, Dalton McGuinty backtracked on microFIT prices for some solar projects, reducing them from 80.2 cents per kWh to 64.2 cents – a 20% reduction to farmers and rural Ontarians who had participated in the program in good faith.
Under Dalton McGuinty’s watch, hydro rates have increased by 75 percent – or over 100 percent if your so-called smart meter has been activated. Worse yet, bills are going up further 46 percent within five years according to Dalton McGuinty’s own lowball estimate.
CONTACT: Christine Bujold
christine.bujold@pc.ola.org
