Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Kathleen Wynne Defends $9.2 Billion Cost Of Ontario Government's Green Energy Program

The Canadian Press, 10 Dec, 2015 11:06 AM
    TORONTO — Premier Kathleen Wynne is defending the $9.2 billion extra that Ontario electricity ratepayers must fork out for the Liberal government's green energy initiatives.
     
    Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk says consumers are paying that much more for 20-year wind and solar power contracts signed by the Liberals with private generators than they would have under the old procurement system.
     
    The auditor also found Ontario pays three-and-a-half times the price for solar power than the average in the United States, and twice as much for wind power.
     
    Wynne says there's a cost to eliminating coal-fired generation and to adding more clean, renewable energy into the mix, and she believes people should celebrate the fact Ontario has a good, reliable power supply.
     
    She also says getting out of coal has reduced greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, and will help lower health-care costs associated with pollution, especially for kids with asthma.
     
    Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown says Wynne missed the point of the auditor's report, which was that Ontario could have reached the same green energy goals without the extra $9.2 billion cost. 
     
    "I think the government has mishandled this so badly, and because of political interference and mistakes, every Ontarian will pay $12,000 more for electricity," said Brown.
     
    Wynne, who just returned from the climate change talks in Paris, said Ontario is ahead of the curve on climate change, noting Alberta will take 15 years to stop relying on coal to generate electricity.
     
    "You only have to look at other jurisdictions that are struggling with air quality, with particulate matter in their air, with families that don't feel they can let their kids play outside," she said. "I know we weren't in those serious straits, but the face is we have reduced our pollution in this province."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Alberta To See Modest Growth In 2016 Despite Low Oil Prices: Conference Board

    Alberta To See Modest Growth In 2016 Despite Low Oil Prices: Conference Board
    CALGARY — The Conference Board of Canada says Alberta should see modest economic growth next year despite persistently low oil prices.

    Alberta To See Modest Growth In 2016 Despite Low Oil Prices: Conference Board

    Victoria Police Chief 'Humiliated Beyond Words' For Twitter Messages To Subordinate's Wife

    Victoria Police Chief 'Humiliated Beyond Words' For Twitter Messages To Subordinate's Wife
    Frank Elsner says an investigation that concluded last week found there was no inappropriate relationship, but he takes full responsibility for engaging on social media.

    Victoria Police Chief 'Humiliated Beyond Words' For Twitter Messages To Subordinate's Wife

    Indo-Canadian Wrestler Arjun Gill Wins Chance To Feature In Rio Olympics

    Indo-Canadian Wrestler Arjun Gill Wins Chance To Feature In Rio Olympics
    At the young age of 22, Arjun Gill has proven himself to be a fantastic wrestler, winning gold in wrestling at the Commonwealth Games 2014 held in Glasgow, Scotland.

    Indo-Canadian Wrestler Arjun Gill Wins Chance To Feature In Rio Olympics

    Two Montreal Men Die After Third-Floor Balcony Railing Gives Way

    Two Montreal Men Die After Third-Floor Balcony Railing Gives Way
    MONTREAL — Two Montreal men are dead and another is in critical condition after the railing of a third-floor apartment balcony gave way early Sunday morning.

    Two Montreal Men Die After Third-Floor Balcony Railing Gives Way

    Catherine McKenna Named As One Of 14 Facilitators Of Paris Climate Conference

    Catherine McKenna Named As One Of 14 Facilitators Of Paris Climate Conference
    The group was created to assist French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius, the conference's president.

    Catherine McKenna Named As One Of 14 Facilitators Of Paris Climate Conference

    Delta Police Warn Of Possible Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine After Overdoses

    Delta Police Warn Of Possible Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine After Overdoses
    DELTA, B.C. — Delta Police say two people have been treated in hospital after using cocaine and inadvertently overdosing on fentanyl.

    Delta Police Warn Of Possible Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine After Overdoses