Ontarians’ protests about hydro are making a difference

TorontoSun.com
Oct. 24, 2016
By Anthony Furey

“I don’t know if there is any grade lower than an F,” reader John Scrimshaw writes in, “but I’m sure it would apply to most if not all of those involved in the energy portfolio.”

The many hundreds of Ontarians who’ve written to complain about rising hydro bills agree. There is a critical mass of action happening in this province right now. People are making their voices heard.

On Nov. 23, there’s going to be a large day of action rally at Queen’s Park at noon. There have been recent rallies in Hamilton. There are various groups on Facebook organizing to share their complaints and activism. This Wednesday evening, the PC Party is hosting a town hall meeting at the Scarborough Civic Centre. The list goes on.

But does it all matter? That’s what some cynics are asking me. You bet it does.

“We just need the political will to do something about this,” Ottawa Councillor George Darouze told me. He hand-delivered a petition with more than 9,000 actual signatures complaining about the high rates his rural part of Ottawa pays. “We just need the political will to do something about this. The decision from the energy board - it’s a political decision.”

Darouze is referring to how last week the Ontario Energy Board announced there wouldn’t be a rate increase this November for the first time in years. There’s no doubt this is a political choice in response to all the anger that’s out there. And the whole reason Wynne agreed to a rebate on the HST on hydro bills is also because of political agitation. So let’s get even more action on this file by keeping the pressure on.

“I’m optimistic because we’re all together screaming and addressing our concerns to the government,” says Darouze.

This is going to be the last daily piece in my hydro headaches series. I’m incredibly grateful and humbled to everyone who has shared their stories and all the details in their bills. I read every letter and listened to every voicemail. Your story matters and your family matters. Thank you for sharing it.

I’ve heard from non-partisan residents, NDP and PC supporters, and even Liberal supporters. Everybody has had enough.

MPPs have read these stories in the legislature and shared them with constituents. Thousands of people have posted them online. Even more people are writing letters to the premier on the issue. (By the way, you can complain directly to her at kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org or https://correspondence.premier.gov.on.ca.)

I’m not finished with this subject though. Far from it. Along with my colleagues at the Sun, we’re going to be writing more features on both short-term and long-term solutions to get us out of this mess.

Public service matters. Yet with rising costs caused by lousy political decisions, the politicians have created a cynical system where the public serve them and their agenda. Hardworking Ontarians are paying for the costs of mismanagement and green energy schemes.

There’s something seriously broken with the system when family schedules and budgets are turned upside down trying to handle out-of-control bills caused by government meddling. Enough is enough.