Tories, NDP blast Bruce cost overruns

TORONTO, ONTARIO - The $300 million cost overrun in the Bruce nuclear station refurbishment is an indictment of the Liberal government's energy plan, critics warn.

In the wake of recent revelations in the Star that the price tag for overhauling two reactors near Lake Huron is rising, the opposition parties expressed alarm.

So far, what had been proposed as a $2.75 billion project is now expected to top $3 billion with electricity consumers footing about $150 million of the additional costs.

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory said he doesn't buy Energy Minister Gerry Phillips's explanation for why the project is already 10 per cent over budget when it's just over half completed.

"I see the minister says the reason for the cost overrun is in part because they decided to speed up the process. I think when you see the government acknowledging that their timetable... is responsible it indicates what I've said all along: These people have no plan for energy," said Tory.

"They're dithering on decisions they should be making faster. They're speeding things up that cost the taxpayers and others a lot more and they have no plan," said Tory, who supports nuclear power, which accounts for about half of Ontario's electricity.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton, who opposes any expansion of Ontario's nuclear capacity, said the Bruce debacle is "another example that (the) Liberal electricity plan of ‘go nuclear, go big’ means ‘go very expensive.’"

"There will be more cost overruns at the Bruce. This is not the end. This is the beginning," said Hampton. "Ten per cent at this stage is quickly going to grow to 20 or 30 per cent by the end of this contract."

Related News

thermostat

B.C. electricity demand hits an all-time high

VANCOUVER - BC Hydro says the province set a new record for peak electricity demand on Monday as temperatures hit extreme lows.

Between 5 and 6 p.m. on Dec. 27, demand for electricity hit an all-time high of 10,902 megawatts, which is higher than the previous record of 10,577 megawatts set in 2020.

“The record represents a single moment in the hour when demand for electricity was the highest yesterday,” says Simi Heer, BC Hydro spokesperson, in a statement. “Most of the increase is likely due to additional home heating required during this cold snap.”

In addition to the peak demand record on…

READ MORE
commercial take out sign

Ontario unveils new tax breaks, subsidized hydro plan to spur economic recovery from COVID-19

READ MORE

site c protestors

Site C dam could still be cancelled at '11th hour' if First Nations successful in court

READ MORE

power grid

Texans to vote on funding to modernize electricity generation

READ MORE

transmission towers

California Legislators Prepare Vote to Crack Down on Utility Spending

READ MORE