On November 25, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party released a central document in its election platform, “The People’s Guarantee,” including a number of polices affecting the energy sector. With an election expected in June 2018 and the PCs leading in the polls, many observers will be reading the platform closely to assess potential implications.
The primary statements related to energy are as follows:
• remove the smart meter charge from hydro bills
• lower hydro bills by an additional 12% by sharing the government’s dividends from Hydro One with hydro ratepayers
• scrap the Green Energy Act
• strict enforcement of existing Green Energy Act contracts, seeking leverage to renegotiate or exit
• walk away from any committed capacity contracts that have cancellation benefits, mainly pre-notice to proceed contracts
• put an immediate moratorium on any new energy contracts
• rein in executive salaries at Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation
• restore local planning authority over renewable energy projects and force wind energy project operators to track bat and bird deaths
• reform the energy planning system to make it expert led and more transparent
• require the IESO to study and report on potential options to reduce the amount of hydroelectric power the province currently wastes
• reform the Ontario Energy Board
• proceed with market renewal; keep Pickering open until 2024; proceed with nuclear refurbishment
• ensure carbon pricing is listed as a separate item on natural gas bills
• cancel the Climate Change Action Plan, dismantle cap and trade, withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative
• opt Ontario into the federal carbon price regime
• return 100% of provincial carbon price revenue to Ontario taxpayers
• ensure businesses are not worse off as a result of transition from cap and trade to the federal carbon regime.