Provincial Government reverses course on some future wind energy projects

NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2016

Provincial Government reverses course on some future
wind energy projects

(Queen’s Park) – The Ontario Government is suspending the procurement of over
1,000 megawatts (MW) of new solar, wind, and other renewable electricity projects,
claiming this move will save $3.8 billion .

Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott says the Wynne Government is finally
admitting that their conscious and deliberate electricity policy decisions have directly
caused the skyrocketing hydro bills that many Ontario families and businesses
cannot afford.

“With this announcement, the Government is acknowledging their windmills and solar
energy projects are unaffordable. And, they’re admitting their past projects have put
massive, upward pressure on our hydro bills, stretching family budgets and costing
us jobs,” Mr. Arnott said. “Unfortunately, it’s too little, too late.”

Since losing what had previously been a safe Liberal seat in a by-election in
Scarborough-Rouge River on September 1, the Wynne Government appears to be
panicking when it comes to hydro rates. First, they prorogued the Legislature. Then
they promised to rebate the provincial portion of the HST on hydro bills, a paltry
reduction. Now they have cancelled further procurement of wind and solar energy
projects.

“Although the Government is trying to spin this as they always do, people need to
understand that they haven’t cancelled any existing contracts. They will be
continuing to build windmills across the Province based on previous approvals,” Mr.
Arnott observed. “No one is going to see their hydro bill go down as a result of this
announcement. In fact, hydro bills are expected to go up again on November 1.”

The news comes the same day as the Ontario PC Caucus are moving an Opposition
Day motion in the Legislature at Queen’s Park, condemning the Liberal electricity
policies, including the sell-off of Hydro One.
Since February, Mr. Arnott has been reading and tabling petitions signed by his
constituents, urging the Government to reverse course on its electricity agenda, and
take immediate steps to stabilize hydro rates.

“I want to thank everyone who is helping us gather signatures against ever higher
hydro bills,” Mr. Arnott added. “I am continuing to present the petitions in the
Legislature.”

Mr. Arnott’s hydro petition can be do wnloaded from his website at:
www.tedarnottmpp.com.

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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org