MPP Arnott calls Liberal plan to phase out natural gas “foolish”

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2016

MPP Arnott calls Liberal plan to phase out
natural gas “foolish”

(Queen’s Park) – The Liberal Government’s leaked plan to phase out natural gas as a source of
home heating is very foolish and would only make life more expensive for Ontario families, says
Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

“The idea of phasing out natural gas as a home heating source is one of the most foolish
suggestions I’ve heard in a long time,” Mr. Arnott said. “And that says something, coming from a
Liberal Government that has initiated a long list of bad ideas since 2003.”

Last month, the Government’s 57 page Climate Change Action Plan, labeled “Cabinet Confidential,”
was leaked to the Globe and Mail. The document revealed that the Liberals were proposing to
phase out natural gas as a source of home heating. Under the proposed plan, beginning in 2030, all
new homes would be heated using electricity or geothermal systems. According to the Globe story,
this would be expanded to all buildings before 2050.

“Have they forgotten that we have winter every year? That it’s cold out in the winter and people
need to heat their homes?” Mr. Arnott asked. “Home heating is not a luxury item that people can
choose to do away with. You can’t just take away one of the cheapest and most reliable sources of
heat that millions of Ontario families depend on.”

Approximately 76% of Ontarians rely upon natural gas to heat their homes. It has been estimated
that the phasing out natural gas would cost Ontario families roughly $3,000 more each year just to
heat their homes.

“It appears that the Liberals want Ontario home owners to get off natural gas. Instead they want
people to convert to electricity to heat their homes,” pointed out Mr. Arnott. “However, their
mismanagement has caused Ontario’s hydro rates to skyrocket. Now the cost of electricity is
unaffordable for many of our families.”

Ontario PC Leader Patrick Brown challenged the Government on the issue in Question Period on
June 1, specifically asking Premier Kathleen Wynne to confirm the accuracy of the leaked
document. The Premier pointedly avoided answering the question.

“Whether it’s the Liberals’ planned phasing out of natural gas home heating, hydro bills that keep
going up, or their Cap and Trade plan, life keeps getting more and more expensive for people
across the province,” Mr. Arnott concluded. “They need to wake up and start listening.”
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org