Midwestern Ontario MPPs are once again speaking out against high hydro rates, warning hospitals and nursing homes will have to make cuts to pay for large increases in their hydro bills.
Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker says the hydro crisis is acute as electricity bills spiked by up to 40% last year for hospitals and long term care homes.
He says Grey Bruce Health Services saw its bill rise by $350,000 last year.
Windsor Regional’s hydro bill went up $700,000 and Sault Area Hospital’s bills went up 25%
Walker says instead of hiring much needed staff, or new mattresses , nursing homes across the province had to redirect $30-million to cover last year's increases.
Huron Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson says electricity costs have made lives harder for communities across Ontario, with legions, curling clubs and arenas in her riding having trouble keeping the lights on.
She says a local Legion branch has to fund-raise to buy a $40,000 propane furnace due to the high cost of electric heat.
And a local curling club expects to pay up to $5000 a month on electricity.
“Yet, this Premier calls it fairness and stability in the system,” he says. “I ask, what's so stable, what’s so fair about paying more for hydro hikes than feeding and bathing frail senior patients?”
“It’s a fact that their hydro rebate will never recover nor stabilize the billions that are being siphoned from public institutions because of hydro hikes,” says Walker. “The Liberals have so badly bungled the energy file that we will most certainly continue to see new increases on bills, and with that more cuts to beds, nursing staff, and growing wait lists,” he said. “The Liberals deny this, but who do you believe?
