THUNDER BAY -- Ontario's premier calls halting the conversion of the city’s coal-fired plant to natural fuel the responsible thing to do.
Dalton McGuinty visited the city Thursday on his way to a fundraising event for MPP Michael Gravelle (Lib., Thunder Bay – Superior North).
McGuinty spoke to local media about the decision to nix conversation of the Thunder Bay Hydro Generation Station, reassuring residents that their power needs will be met.“We had a whistle blown by the energy experts in this matter by saying ‘hey guys ,let’s have a pause and look at the possibility of $400 million savings,’” he said.
“We would like to see some evidence of that. It would be reckless on our part to proceed in the face of that advice. I know Minister of Energy Chris Bentley is taking a long hard look at it so we can get it right.”
McGuinty said meeting Northern Ontario’s power needs transcends political stripes and that no matter what the region’s energy requirements the economy will be looked after.Last month McGuinty announced he would step down as premier and admits this could be his last visit to the city before he sheds his title.
The premier said as he leaves office he believes the lasting impacts on the city will be its infrastructures, from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to the new law school.
But the biggest impact will be the starting of the Ring of Fire development.
“(The Ring of Fire) is as big as life,” he said.
“We’re talking about thousands of jobs. One of the things I like to brag about in southern Ontario is that we have one of the biggest mining sectors in North America. No one does it better than us and it’s growing in leaps and bounds. It is the new frontier for us but we have to do it intelligently and as thoughtfully as we can.
“There’s always some impatience. That’s a good thing. There’s always an element of frustration. That’s understandable. But we have to work with the private sector because they are the people who are going to make the investments. We’ve got to work with our First Nation communities.”
