are on the endangered species list,
and we need to work together to
The winter of
bring about change. We’re
encouraged by the numbers of
farmers from across the province who
our mild
want to join the PFO. Clearly there
will be strength in numbers.”
According to a release: The PFO
“is being created to respond to the
discontent
Of course, we will never reach a
going to pay for this” is a warning we
rapidly growing movement of
consensus on this issue, either. Our
routinely receive when we delight in
independent family farmers from
MP, Pierre Lemieux, has assured us
unexpected warm winter weather.
across Ontario who are involved in
You cannot get too far ahead of
that there is no reason to believe this
Evidently, we are tempting fate, or
the direct production and marketing
yourself.
nonsense that the Strong, Stable,
some omnipotent force, if we get too
of their food to consumers, and who
Like chipping away at a frozen
National, Majority Conservative
far ahead of ourselves.
want to have a strong voice as
snowdrift, which has been hardened
Government was ever remotely
No matter how severe or mild a
ecologically
sound
farmers.
by an accumulation of salt and gravel,
involved in this scam.
winter is, however, Old Man Winter
According to the PFO organizers,
we must approach the winter-spring
The opposition claims that this fraud
can wear a person down.
none of the current GFOs offer their
transition gradually, advancing slowly
is just typical of what the Tories will do
For example, you know that you
membership adequate advocacy on
but surely, or you might hurt yourself.
to grab power. OK, so the
have your fill of winter when somebody
issues that directly affect independent
As this is being written, the change
Conservatives have demonstrated
assesses your complexion and asks if
Ontario farmers, such as land owner
of seasons is tantalizingly nigh. An
contempt for Parliament and have bent
you have been sunbathing in southern
rights and direct access to consumers.
early March warm spell signals the
campaign financing rules. But, as they
climes.
The PFO vows to help family farmers
start of maple syrup season, snow
say in hockey, if you are not cheating,
You reply that, alas, you have suffered
take back their rights as farmers, for
banks are retreating, wind chill is less
you are not trying hard enough.
wind burn after spending too much
the good of agriculture and Ontario
of a factor and the snow blower has
Now nobody is suggesting that
time shoveling snow in the face of
consumers alike.” Check out
been tucked away for a full week. We
Lemieux has done anything wrong.
howling winds.
www.practicalfarmersontario.ca.
are also experiencing a solar storm.
Remember that in the last election, he
Also, unless you are flying south, an
Meanwhile, municipal politicians
Really, though we have had little
was returned to Ottawa with a huge
airport can be a depressing place in the
are trying to draw attention to a new
reason to complain about this winter,
10,000-vote margin over Liberal Julie
dead of winter.
study that confirms Eastern Ontario
so far.
Bourgeois.
You go to pick someone up at the
municipalities are struggling with a
This has been the third warmest
Although more people voted against
Ottawa airport and while you wait in
limited tax base, rising debt levels
winter in 65 years, according to the
Lemieux than for him, the affable and
the arrivals area, you are treated to a
and a growing need to invest in
people who know about such things.
photogenic member got 49 per cent of
steady stream of happy tanned people
infrastructure. The Eastern Ontario
Evidently, the Great White North
all ballots cast.
arriving from Mexico. Many of them
Wardens’ Caucus is initiating
has been feeling the effects of warm
Yet, the furor over the real or
are wearing silly T-shirts, grins, shorts
discussions at the federal and
American air that has been circulating
imagined scandal demonstrates that,
and straw hats. But you take some
provincial levels to find ways to
through these parts, preventing cold
even between election campaigns,
satisfaction when the sun seekers
address our region’s “unique
Arctic blasts from freezing our kippers,
many voters can feel passionate about
grimace as they glance outside and
concerns and issues over the long
and other vitals.
politics and the sanctity of our
realize that they have returned to the
term, while recognizing that all levels
Of course, we will never reach a
democratic process.
Great Frozen North.
of government face major financial
consensus on whether a mild winter is
Effective representation has spurred
The atmosphere has been rather warm
challenges.”
a good thing. For example, you may
a movement to create a new farm group
this winter on the political scene.
As you can see, there are many
save on heating costs, but all this rain
in Ontario. The founding meeting for
As this is being written, “Pierre
who have many concerns.
and freezing rain make for dangerous
the Practical Farmers of Ontario will
Poutine” and the “robocalls scandal”
On the bright side, seed displays
driving. A lack of snow makes our
be held March 31 in Peterborough.
are still in the news. In case you have
have popped up in stores. If you are
daily routine less arduous, but a nice
“It’s about time Ontario’s family
been in Mexico, “Pierre Poutine” is the
reading this, it means you have
thick blanket appeals to the many who
name of the person allegedly responsible
farmers have a choice that meets their
survived the Ides of March and
love the great outdoors.
for using phone gadgetry to mislead
needs,” said Steve Dick, an organic
another solar storm. Now we can
Plus, there are many who believe
voters about poll locations during the
livestock farmer from the southern
look forward to St. Patrick’s Day and
that everything balances out. “We are
last federal election.
part of the province. “Family farms
the arrival of spring, eventually.
Ontario Energy Board Commission de l’énergie de l’Ontario
NOTICE OF APPLICATION ENBRIDGE GAS DISTRIBUTION INC. RATES FOR 2013
EB-2011-0354
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. (“Enbridge”) filed an application on January 31, 2012 with the Ontario Energy Board under section 36 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, 1998, S.O. c.15, Schedule B, for an order of the Board approving or fixing rates for the sale, distribution, transmission and storage of natural gas, commencing January 1, 2013. The Board’s decision on this application may have an effect on all of Enbridge’s customers. The Board has assigned the application File No. EB-2011-0354. Enbridge has applied to the Board for new rates for 2013 to be set on a cost of service basis using a forecast of 2013 costs. If the application is approved as filed, the total bill for a typical residential customer consuming 3,064 m 3 per year would increase by $34 per year, or 3.2%. For a typical commercial customer consuming 22,606 m 3 per year, the total bill would increase by $186 per year, or 2.8%. How to see Enbridge’s Application To see a copy of the application, go to the Consumer page of the Board’s website and enter the case number EB-2011-0354 in the “Find an Application” box. A copy can also be seen at the Board’s office and at Enbridge’s office at the address indicated below or on its website http://www.enbridgegas.com/ratecase/. Comment If you wish to give your opinion on the proceeding to the Board members hearing the application, you are invited to send a written letter of comment to the Board no later than 30 days after the publication or service date of this notice. A complete copy of your letter of comment, including your name, contact information, and the content of the letter, will be provided to the applicant and the Hearing Panel. All letters of comment will be placed on the public record, which means that the letters can be seen at the Board’s offices and will be available on the Board’s website. Before placing the letter of comment on the public record, the Board will remove any personal (i.e., not business) contact information from the letter of comment (i.e., the address, fax number, phone number, and e-mail address of the individual). However, the name of the individual and the content of the letter of comment will become part of the public record. Please address your letter of comment to the Board Secretary at the address below, and reference file number EB-2011-0354 at the top of your letter. Observe If you do not wish to actively participate in the proceeding but you do wish to receive documents issued by the Board, you may request observer status. Your written request must be received by the Board no later than 10 days from the publication or service date of this notice. All letters requesting observer status will become part of the public record, which means that the letters can be seen at the Board’s offices and will be placed on the Board’s website. Before placing the request for observer status on the public record, the Board will How to Participate
remove any personal (i.e., not business) contact information from the request (i.e., the address, fax number, phone number, and e-mail address of an individual). However, the name of the individual and the content of the request for observer status will become part of the public record. Intervene If you wish to actively participate in the proceeding (e.g. submit questions, file argument), you may request intervenor status from the Board, no later than 10 days after the publication or service date of this notice. Instructions for requesting intervenor status are available on the Board’s website at www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/participate. Everything an intervenor files with the Board, including the intervenor’s name and contact information, will be placed on the public record, which can be seen at the Board’s offices and on the Board’s website. If you do not have internet access, please call 1-888-632-2727 to receive information about this proceeding and how to participate. IMPORTANT IF YOU DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE HEARING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS NOTICE, THE BOARD MAY PROCEED WITHOUT YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY FURTHER NOTICE IN THE PROCEEDING.
ADDRESSES
THE BOARD: Ontario Energy Board P.O. Box 2319 27th Floor 2300 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4P 1E4 Attention: Board Secretary Filings: https://www.errr.ontarioenergyboard.ca E-mail: boardsec@ontarioenergyboard.ca Tel: 1-888-632-6273 (Toll-free) Fax: 416-440-7656
THE APPLICANT: Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
500 Consumers Road Toronto, ON M2J 1P8
Attention: Norm Ryckman, Director, Regulatory Affairs E-mail: EGDRegulatoryProceedings@Enbridge.com
Tel: 416-495-5499 Fax: 416-495-6072
ONTARIO ENERGY BOARD Original Signed By
DATED at Toronto, March 2, 2012
Kirsten Walli Board Secretary
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