Activists against a privatized Hydro One rallied Saturday, warning the public about what they believe is a provincial plan that will ultimately lead to skyrocketing hydro bills.
Dozens of local hydro customers teamed up with the Keep Hydro Public coalition for a rally inside St. Paul’s United Church. The meeting was part of the group’s campaign to stop hydro privatization.
Campaign members urged the community to contact their MPPs and voice concerns about their belief that hydro costs would continue to rise once more shares were sold.
Activist Jules Tupker said an electronic poll revealed 87 per cent of Thunder Bay citizens are opposed to the sell-off.
“We want to make sure that members of (Queen’s Park) know that they should be representing us and they are not representing us at all in their decision,” Tupker said.
“We hope they go back to legislature and tell (Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne) that what they are doing is inappropriate.”
Dozens of coalition members were asking the public to hand out flyers and pamphlets, which featured the faces of local MPPs Michael Gravelle (Lib., Thunder Bay – Superior North) and Bill Mauro (Lib., Thunder Bay – Atikokan).
Despite the coalitions concerns, Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle assured the public that the hydro rates will not increase.
“I made the case to the organizers that rates will not be going up as a result of that broadening ownership,” Gravelle said during an interview with tbnewswatch.com following the rally.
“The decision on rates is made by the Ontario Energy board.”
However, Gravelle did say that as an MPP it is his responsibility to ensure the voice of his constituency will be heard.
