Liberals Pressure Protects Farmers From Rates

ST. THOMAS, ONT. -- - The Ontario Ministry of Energy buckled to pressure from the Liberals and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and extended rate caps to cover all farmers, says Liberal Agriculture Critic Steve Peters.

On December 23, 2002, the Tories quietly changed the regulations on caps on electricity rates. This left thousands of farmers paying for Ernie Eves' mismanagement of Hydro," said Peters. "After intense pressure from the OFA and the Liberals, Ernie Eves' changed his mind again and, thankfully, all of Ontario's farmers will now be protected. This is yet another clear example how the Eves Tories have been making hydro policy on the fly."

Ron Bonnett, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture wrote the Minister of Energy in early January to raise urgent concerns about the government's price plan.

A section of regulation had been quietly removed protecting all those who employ fewer than 50 employees from Ernie Eves' skyrocketing hydro rates.

The OFA noted that: "As a result nearly 10,000 farms will be thrown back into the market along with a similar number of small businesses. This change was not thought out and showed no regard for the interests of these farm and small business customers. This change shows no thought for the assurances we received when we pressed senior Ministry officials for assurances earlier in December."

The OFA also noted that under the Eves regulatory change: "Half of Ontario's dairy farms, most greenhouse operations, most farm cold storage for fruits and vegetables and almost all poultry and pork producers as well as many farms with grain dryers and elevators will not get price protection."

"I'm proud to have stood side-by-side with Ontario's farmers to ensure that all farmers are protected from Ernie Eves' bungling at Hydro and his skyrocketing Hydro rates," says Peters.