Auditor General confirms McGuinty’s Energy Policy is killing jobs
Media Release
Jim McDonell, MPP
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said the Auditor General’s scathing annual report confirms what the Ontario PC Caucus has been saying all along. The McGuinty government’s expensive approach to energy - especially its rich FIT subsidies, permanent Debt Retirement Charge, and energy exports – is actively killing jobs in Ontario’s broader economy.
Toronto - December 6, 2011 - Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak said the Auditor General’s scathing annual report confirms what the Ontario PC Caucus has been saying all along. The McGuinty government’s expensive approach to energy - especially its rich FIT subsidies, permanent Debt Retirement Charge, and energy exports " is actively killing jobs in Ontario’s broader economy.
In his report, Auditor General Jim McCarter revealed Dalton McGuinty ignored repeated warnings from his own energy advisors that his approach to renewables - such as the FIT program and Samsung deal - is too expensive and would increase energy bills for job creators and families alike. The auditor also confirmed that consumers have paid more than enough to cover the $7.8-billion Debt Retirement Charge (DRC), but the government continues to charge it on hydro bills while keeping the remaining debt a secret. Finally, over the last six years, Ontario consumers paid $1.8 billion to New York and Quebec to take away the province’s excess energy.
Hudak said to create permanent private sector jobs, we must treat energy as an economic fundamental and not a social program. Hudak called on Dalton McGuinty to end both the unsustainable FIT program and Samsung deal, and to tell consumers why they continue to pay the DRC on their hydro bills.
“The Auditor General has once again given this government a failing grade on his annual report card. What’s more, this report confirms what the Ontario PC Caucus has been saying all along. This government’s approach to energy is too expensive and is killing jobs.”
, said Tim Hudak, Ontario PC Leader
“While the government’s current approach to energy might be creating some temporary jobs, it’s killing thousands of permanent private-sector jobs in the broader economy. To reverse Ontario’s jobs crisis, we must treat energy policy as economic policy and end the FIT program that is driving up energy bills for entrepreneurs and job creators,” added Hudak.
“We can no longer afford to ignore the energy crises in Ontario. This is a self inflicted problem and it is time to listen to the people.," said Jim McDonell, MPP Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry.
QUICK FACTS:
“Studies in other jurisdictions have shown that for each job created through renewable energy programs, about two to four jobs are often lost in other sectors of the economy because of higher electricity prices.” (Auditor General’s 2011 Annual Report, Page 112).
“The Green Energy and Economy Act, 2009 was expected to support over 50,000 jobs, about 40,000 of which would be related to renewable energy. However, about 30,000, or 75%, of these jobs were expected to be construction jobs lasting only from one to three years.” (Auditor General’s 2011 Annual Report, Page 112).
“We estimated that from 2005 to the end of our audit in 2011, Ontario received $1.8 billion less for its electricity exports than what it actually cost electricity ratepayers of Ontario.” (Auditor General’s 2011 Annual Report, Page 112).
8,402 Stories & Growing Daily...
To date OurHometown.ca has posted a total of 8,402 stories! News, sports, hockey, lifestyle, opinion and more!
