Northern Ontario needs its own energy rate.
Without it, we may as well close up shop and tell big industrial business we’re not interested.
Plain and simple, we produce power in this region much more cost-effectively than our neighbours to the south. For the most part it’s clean and green.
The issue came to light last week when Cliffs Natural Resources made it abundantly clear that without concessions on energy costs, the likelihood of the company building a ferrochrome processing facility in the province is slim to none.
While provinces like Manitoba and Quebec are setting long-term industrial rates in stone, in some cases up to 50 years, Ontario seems to be going in the other direction.
Energy Minister Brad Duguid recently delivered the news that Ontarians can expect their energy bills to rise by 46 per cent over the next five years, as the province weans itself off coal and embraces alternative energy solutions like wind and solar power.
While they’re offering some relief, it’s not enough to encourage businesses to set up shop in the province.
The Liberals and Conservative mismanagment of the energy file has already killed the forest industry. If something isn’t done in a hurry, it will kill the mining sector in Northwestern Ontario before it has a chance to begin.
Without it, we may as well close up shop and tell big industrial business we’re not interested.
Plain and simple, we produce power in this region much more cost-effectively than our neighbours to the south. For the most part it’s clean and green.
The issue came to light last week when Cliffs Natural Resources made it abundantly clear that without concessions on energy costs, the likelihood of the company building a ferrochrome processing facility in the province is slim to none.
While provinces like Manitoba and Quebec are setting long-term industrial rates in stone, in some cases up to 50 years, Ontario seems to be going in the other direction.
Energy Minister Brad Duguid recently delivered the news that Ontarians can expect their energy bills to rise by 46 per cent over the next five years, as the province weans itself off coal and embraces alternative energy solutions like wind and solar power.
While they’re offering some relief, it’s not enough to encourage businesses to set up shop in the province.
The Liberals and Conservative mismanagment of the energy file has already killed the forest industry. If something isn’t done in a hurry, it will kill the mining sector in Northwestern Ontario before it has a chance to begin.
