Let’s get Toronto on the gas plant phase-out train

The Government of Ontario is proposing to reduce spending on public health, education, social, environmental and energy conservation programs by approximately $1.9 billion per year. At the same time, the Government  is planning to borrow $4.3 billion per year to continue the previous government’s artificial 25% rate cut for electricity consumers. Is subsidizing electricity prices really more important to the people of Ontario than protecting public health or investing in our children’s future?

A Better Alternative

Ontario can avoid the need to cut spending on public health, education and social programs by reducing electricity costs by $1.9 billion per year by doing a deal with Quebec for low-cost water power.

Quebec is the fourth largest producer of water power in the world; it has the lowest electricity rates in North America and a large and growing electricity surplus available for export. By closing the high-cost Pickering Nuclear Station and importing Quebec power, Ontario can reduce its electricity costs by $1.1 to $1.4 billion per year.

By cancelling the re-build of three of the Darlington Nuclear Station’s four reactors and importing Quebec power, Ontario can reduce its electricity costs by as much as an additional $2.3 billion per year.

Combined, these savings would far outstrip the savings the government is anticipating from its spending cuts.  Read our factsheet for all the details.

Sign the petition below to express your support for cutting hydro costs by making a deal with Quebec
instead of cutting valuable public services.