Sparks fly over Hydro debt
Lalonde blames former Conservative
richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
Premier Mike Harris and current PC leader
H AWKESBURY
Tim Hudak for the monetary misery.
“The current government is keeping with
The Ontario Hydro debt has sparked the
its strong record of responsible fiscal
latest charged exchange between
management for Ontarians. The debt
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Liberal M.P.P.
retirement charge was slapped on every
Jean-Marc Lalonde and Progressive
Ontarian’s energy bill in 1999 as a result of
Conservatives.
the Harris-Hudak government’s failed
Ontario PC energy critic John Yakabuski
restructuring of the electricity sector. From
called on Premier Dalton McGuinty to “come
1999 to 2003, the Hudak and the PC
clean on why Hawkesbury families will be
government actually added to the stranded
charged until 2018 for a debt that should be
debt - it rose by $1 billion over those four
on track to be paid off next year.”
years - from $19.4 to $20.5 billion,” states the
Accompanied by GPR Conservative
Liberal M.P.P. “In contrast, through strong
candidate Marilissa Gosselin, Yakabuski
fiscal management, the McGuinty
called for a forensic audit “to explain why
government has steadily reduced the
Ontario families paid $7.8 billion of a $7.8
stranded debt - by about $1 billion in each of
billion debt, but Dalton McGuinty plans to
the last six years. The stranded debt is
charge them $1 billion a year for an additional
currently $5.7 billion lower than it was in
six years.”
2003.”
Lalonde counters that the Liberals are
He adds that this decrease means that the
fiscally responsible while the Tories, who
annual interest costs on the debt retirement
“messed up” while in power, cannot be
charge have been reduced by $408 million.
trusted with public coffers.
The Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation
Yakabuski, M.P.P. for Renfrew-Nipissing-
(OEFC) is projecting stranded debt to be
Pembroke, blames the Liberals of former
paid down by another $1 billion in 2010-11.
Premier David Peterson for the burden. “The
To date, $7.8 billion has been collected under
Debt Retirement Charge is a dedicated
the Debt Retirement Charge, and $5.7 billion
revenue stream to pay off the $7.8 billion
has been used to pay down the principal.
residual stranded debt – a debt stretching
Hydro debt has decreased by $6.1 billion,
back to the Peterson era. The amount the
down to $14.8 billion, as of March 31, 2010.
Photo Richard Mahoney
Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation has
“The balance, $2.1 billion has gone towards
PC energy critic John Yakabuski and Conservative candidate Marilissa Gosselin at a
collected since May 1, 2002, is $7.8 billion
a number of other costs, including interest
hydro station in Hawkesbury.
and the debt was scheduled to be paid off by
on debt and the unnecessary cost of the
meet demand. They even haphazardly
2012. At a time of historically low interest
Hudak-Harris government’s rate freeze -
much better today than it was just a few
placed diesel generators in some cities as a
rates, the McGuinty Liberals now say the
over $1-billion as a result of their failed
years ago when we were reliant on imports
way to keep up. Our partnership with
debt will not be paid until as late as 2018,
experiment at deregulating.”
to meet demand - in 2003 we were a net
neighbouring jurisdictions allows all of us to
with no explanation why the date keeps
Says Lalonde: “Hudak even admits they
importer of power, paying $400 million,”
benefit by each being able to reliably manage
getting pushed back or where the money is
messed up,” referring to this Hudak quote: ”I
maintains Lalonde.
“The Hudak-Harris
our systems - it would be three times more
going.”
think we paid a price for our energy policy in
Tories can’t be trusted to manage our energy
expensive to power down our base-load
“Hawkesbury families need to know why
the previous government. Because we went
system - they left us with too little supply to
power.”
the McGuinty Liberals will continue to charge
and made a 180-degree turn.”
meet demand and had relied on imports to
them $1 billion a year, plus HST for a debt
Lalonde comments, “We are transforming
that should be on track to be paid off next
our energy system away from dirty coal and
year. Hawkesbury families are rightly
towards clean, renewable power. It’s because
Caution urged as burglars strike
concerned that this is looking like a
of the investments we’ve made in the system
permanent tax grab,” he states.
after the days of neglect under the Tories.”
newsroom@eap.on.ca
“Although the McGuinty government
In 2010 Ontario was a net exporter of
Police are looking for your help. If you
H AWKESBURY
expects hard-working Hawkesbury families
power, receiving a net benefit of $300 million,
have any information about break-ins in
to pay this charge every month for an extra
exporting $500 million and importing $200
Prescott County, please call Crime Stoppers
six years, they don’t want to tell Hawkesbury
million.
at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or call the
A series of break-ins has prompted the
families what they’re doing with this money,”
“This accounts for instances where we
Hawkesbury O.P.P. at 613-632-2729. Persons
Hawkesbury Ontario Provincial Police
states the Conservative member.
had excess supply. Our supply situation is
giving tips that lead to an arrest may be
detachment to remind the public to be
eligible for a cash reward. Crime Stoppers
vigilant when it comes to protecting their
HAWKESBURY EXPO FOIRE COMMERCIALE & AGRIGOLE COMMERCIAL & AGRICULTURAL FAIR Le 16 et 17 avril / April 16 & 17
does not subscribe to Call Display. Your call
belongings and properties.
will stay anonymous and your presence
Officers are investigating burglaries by
won’t be needed in court.
crooks who broke into Prescott County
Tips can also be sent via text message
residences, garages and sheds in December.
and e-mail. For more information visit the
Money, jewellery, tools, electronics and
National Capital Crime Stoppers’ website at
computers are popular items among thieves.
www.CrimeStoppers.ca .For more
The Hawkesbury OPP want to remind
information on how to protect your property,
you to secure all valuables and property and
visit the crime prevention section of the OPP
to lock your cars, sheds, garages and
website at www.OPP.ca.
residences.
Woman charged with assault
newsroom@eap.on.ca
A LEXANDRIA
Complexe sportif Robert Hartley Complex 70 % des kiosques déjà loués 70 % of the boots already rented.
A woman has been charged with assault after Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Ontario
Provincial Police officers investigated a domestic dispute on MacLeod Crescent in
Alexandria February 2.
The investigation revealed that a man and his 41-year-old wife were involved in an
altercation that resulted in the man being attacked physically.
The woman, who faces two counts of assault, is scheduled to appear March 11 in
Cornwall court.
LOUEZ VOTRE ESPACE RENT YOUR SPACE
O.P.P. auxiliary group recruits
Pour information s.v.p. appelez Raymond Bougie
For information please call 613 632-1305 613 363-1432 613 632-9883
newsroom@eap.on.ca
H AWKESBURY
The Ontario Provincial Police Auxiliary Program is looking for volunteers to assist
with a variety of duties at the Hawkesbury O.P.P. detachment.
Guy Léonard Garry Wilson
For more information, e-mail Nicola.Musacchio@ontario.ca or visit www.opp.ca.
To qualify you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 years of age,
have an Ontario Grade 12 diploma or equivalent, a Class G driver’s licence with a good
record, have no criminal record for which a pardon has not been
granted, be certified in first aid and CPR.
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