In response to our provincial election questionnaire, the Ontario NDP, the Ontario Liberal Party and the Green Party of Ontario are calling for the phase-out of gas-fired electricity generation.
The Ontario PC Party has not responded to our questionnaire.
According to the Ontario NDP:
“We support the phase-out of carbon-emitting gas-fired generation as soon as feasible, and see no justification for the Ford government’s short-sighted decision to expand gas power when other alternatives exist to keep Ontario’s lights on reliably and affordably.”
According to the Ontario Liberals:
“We agree with you that we need a clean electricity grid both to attract investment and create jobs, and also for the sake our health and clean air… We are also committed to not procuring any new gas-powered electricity and ensuring that the existing capacity only gets used as a backup in exceptional and emergency circumstances.”
According to the Ontario Green Party:
“Ontario should phase out gas power by 2035, except in exceptional and emergency circumstances totalling less than 88 hours per year.”
Here are the parties’ full responses:
Gas needs to go
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator is forecasting that pollution from Ontario’s gas-fired power plants will increase by more than 500% by 2030. By 2030, 25% of Ontario’s electricity supply will be produced by burning dirty fossil gas – up from only 4% in 2017.
Ontario can phase-out polluting gas power and lower electricity bills by investing in energy efficiency, wind and solar power, and energy storage.
Thank you for raising electricity issues in the election with your local candidates.