Beaches-East York Federal By-Election Questionnaire

Question: Should the Government of Canada implement policies and programs to triple Ontario’s renewable energy by 2050 to lower our electricity bills, increase our energy security, phase-out gas power and create good jobs in every Ontario community?

Liberal: No response
PC: No response
NDP: Yes (full response – PDF)
Green: Yes (full response – PDF)
CFP: Undecided (full response – PDF)
PPC: No (full response – PDF)

If you live in this riding, it’s important to ask candidates questions about how they will keep energy costs low while addressing climate change. Here are some questions you might want to ask at the door, at all-candidates meetings and at campaign events.

Background

Last year more than 90% of the world’s new electricity generation capacity was renewable, mostly solar and wind.

Ontario recently contracted for 13 new solar and wind projects, ranging from solar agrivoltaics projects in southern Ontario to a major new wind project near Thunder Bay. The average cost of electricity from these new renewable facilities is 8.9 cents per kWh.

At 8.9 cents per kWh, wind and solar are:

– 30% lower cost than Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) price of nuclear energy in 2026;

– 60% lower than OPG’s proposed price for its nuclear energy in 2027; and

– Up to 70% lower than the cost of electricity from a new nuclear reactor.

The wide geographic distribution of these wind and solar projects is in stark contrast to Ontario’s nuclear power facilities, which are concentrated in just two municipalities – the Region of Durham and Bruce County. By investing in solar, wind and energy storage, we can produce lower cost electricity, while stimulating economic development and creating good jobs all around the province.

By investing in renewable energy we can also increase our energy independence and security by reducing our need to import enriched uranium and fossil gas from the U.S. to keep our lights on.

Falling costs for wind, solar and battery energy storage systems have created a golden opportunity for Ontario to shift to low-cost, flexible and quick-to-deploy renewable energy. The result will be lower electricity bills, a more competitive economy, increased energy security and resilience, good new jobs in every Ontario community, and immediate progress in reducing climate damaging emissions.

For more information, please see our new report: It’s Time to Triple Ontario’s Renewable Energy.