Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault has only been the Energy Minister for just over two months but he knows the new cabinet position brings with it a lot of heat.
The opposition is slamming the province for the skyrocketing hydro prices which they claim are now the highest in all of North America, including Hawaii.
“I have launched a petition calling upon the Wynne government to come to their senses and stop their failed energy policies that have driven electricity costs to unaffordable levels, forcing many Ontarians to choose whether to heat their homes or buy food for the family table,” Nipissing M.P.P. Vic Fedeli stated in a release earlier in August.
Thibeault says look at the Rubik's Cube for a clever analogy.
“So when I say I’m going to do something to help small business and we can lower rates for small business then I turn the top part of the Rubik's Cube and now we are increasing rates for residential customers and industrial customers. If I say I am going to do something for industrial customers then other rates go up,” said Thibeault during a funding announcement today at the Discovery Museum.
“So we’ve got to find ways to ensure we can keep our system reliable, clean and affordable.”
The Minister says there are some positive things happening with businesses that are taking advantage provincial programs.
Thibeault says for example, the Copper Cliff Curling Club was paying $10,000 in hydro per month with their global adjustment but weren’t aware of the Save On Energy Program.
Thibeault explained that the Curling Club took out a loan and invested in their facility and now they are seeing savings.
“They dropped their bill from $10,000 to $2,000 a month so I want to make sure that every program we offer that as many small businesses know how to take advantage of them as well as our residents. If there are programs that are not working for these people then I need to hear that and then I need to find ways to fix that, so there’s lots to do,” added Thibeault, who is a Sudbury area M.P.P.
Thibeault realizes programs aren’t the only solution.
“It’s been two months and three weeks since I’ve been the minister and I’m not saying that lightly, there’s some issues that I understand that we need to address, especially that I am a Northern M.P.P. and that I am a Northern member and that I understand that many of these businesses have some differences in pricing relating to what they are seeing in southern Ontario but it’s right across the province in terms of the issues I want to address and I think that’s why the Premier has put me there and to say that I’m working on it,” said Thibeault.
“I know some people want to see that quicker and it’s something I am aware of and looking to address.”
