Job losses in Erin underscore failure of Liberal electricity policies, says MPP Arnott

(Wellington-Halton Hills) – The recent news that Central Wire Industries is stopping manufacturing in its Erin plant due to the high cost of hydro is proof that the Liberal Government’s hydro policies are costing Ontario jobs, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

“This is disappointing news for our community, and devastating news for the workers and their families,” Mr. Arnott said. “We have been saying for years that high hydro rates are killing Ontario jobs. The 20 jobs lost in Erin are yet another example of the impact of the Liberals’ repeated mismanagement of our electricity system.”

Paul From, President and CEO of Central Wire Industries, directly attributed the decision to cease manufacturing operations in Erin to the high cost of electricity. He pointed out that that hydro rates in Ontario are more than twice what the company is paying in their U.S. facilities.

Mr. Arnott, who launched a petition against the Liberal electricity policies in January 2016, reached out to Mr. From when the news broke to see if there was anything he could do to help.

While the Liberals have boasted about their 25% cut to hydro rates, Mr. Arnott says the move is a short-term stop-gap measure which will ultimately put even more upward pressure on hydro rates.

“In order to finance these cuts, the Government has extended the cost of electricity generation contracts over a longer period of time. That means we’re going to be paying billions more in the long run,” he pointed out.

Mr. Arnott believes that the Liberal Government needs to be held to account.

“The Liberals need to take responsibility for the mess they’ve made and be held accountable for it,” he concluded. “Their deliberate policy decisions have caused Ontario’s hydro rates to skyrocket.”

– 30 –

Ted Arnott, MPP

Phone: 519-787-5247

Email: ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org