Posts Tagged ‘Dwight Duncan’
Ontario Clean Energy Benefit – Wind Concerns Ontario Questions What’s ‘Clean’ About McGuinty’s Vote Buying Hydro Rate Cut
Wind Concerns Ontario Questions What’s ‘Clean’ About McGuinty’s Vote Buying Hydro Rate Cut
Toronto – Dalton McGuinty’s crass attempt to kill two birds with one stone by cutting Hydro bills by 10% and calling it the ‘Ontario Clean Energy Benefit’ makes it clear that his Liberal government is following the leaked Sussex Strategy document plan to ‘confuse’ the issue of cost of renewable energy projects in Ontario. Instead of scaling back multi billion dollar investments in ineffective, unreliable and unwanted industrial wind turbine projects to permanently cut hydro bills and the deficit, the government is instead doubling down, adding one billion dollars a year to Ontario’s debt annually, in an attempt to paper over this shameful record.
“What’s clear is the government and industry are desperate to change the channel on the true cost of the multi-billion dollar investments in expensive and unreliable wind power have had on hydro bills and is following political advice by Sussex Strategy to try to ‘confuse’ the cost of renewable energy for voters.” John Laforet, President of Wind Concerns Ontario said referencing the leaked document that called on Wind Industry partners and governments to ‘confuse’ voters on the costs of renewable energy.
Hydro bills have risen 75% in the seven years since Dalton McGuinty became Premier. According to Sussex Strategy’s leaked wind industry document hydro bills expected by the renewable industry and government insiders to rise another 39% by 2012. Hydro One alone will cause every Ontarians electricity bill to rise by over 12% by 2012 directly as a result of Green Energy Act related grid upgrade expenses approved by the Ontario Energy Board in August 2010.
“Dalton McGuinty, Liberal Strategists and Wind Industry Lobbyists low opinion of voters has them failing to recognize that voters won’t be ‘confused’ into thinking massive investments in wind and other renewable energy aren’t the cause of painful rate increases, totaling 75% since McGuinty came to power.” John Laforet added. “The message has already gotten through to voters that Dalton McGuinty’s pet projects mean more to him than the well being of Ontario families. Wind Concerns Ontario will continue driving that message home to folks across this province. The ‘Ontario Clean Energy Benefit’ won’t stem the anger, solve the problem or spare the Liberals in 2011.”
Wind Concerns Ontario represents fifty three grassroots community organizations in over thirty one counties across Ontario that oppose irresponsible wind energy development and have vowed to target vulnerable MPPs on this issue in the 2011 provincial election.
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For more information contact:
John Laforet,
President Wind Concerns Ontario
john.laforet@laforet.ca
Video of Dwight Duncan on OLG Windsor Energy Centre Scandal
I have to say, you know it’s bad news when you have so many scandals your scandals begin to overlap to the point that the media frankly can’t adequately cover them all. This is the current state of the Dalton McGuinty Ontario Liberal government at Queen’s Park.
This entry is about the OLG deciding (or being decided for) to build a power plant to power the casino in Minister Duncan’s riding. Don’t ask me why, I see this as being epically stupid too. The fall out has been pretty grim, and the government is refusing to release any details to the opposition on this file (I guess they aren’t allowed to expose more than three scandals at a time). Minister Duncan has handled the situation so well the Province is being sued for $355 million by the developer/operator of the plant in addition to what the former CEO is suing for over wrongful dismissal. I don’t think there is anyone else involved in the deal who could sue that isn’t already.
Why the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission decided it was in the business of building power plants in the riding of the Minister responsible for OLG is beyond me, especially considering it was the old Minister (George Smitherman who dropped this responsibility like it was hot once the odeousness of scandal started creeping up from the basement) who was all into the building of unnecessary energy projects.
That being said – I think we now know why Minister Smitherman dropped this like he did eHealth before it when things got messy.
Anyways – I’m not going to make this too heavy. Here is a video that shows Minister Duncan working out an answer to some of this in the legislature. If you’re still confused after watching (and you’ll probably be laughing at how ridiculous or crying at how irresponsible these people are) there are links below to media stories on it.
Duncan takes heat over $81M, OLG-owned power plant in his riding – Hamilton Spectator
Opposition questions $81M price of OLG power plant – Toronto Star
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