Question to Minister of Energy: Abitibi
2010-03-12 Post a Comment
Mr. Howard Hampton: My question is for the Acting Premier. A year ago, AbitibiBowater asked the McGuinty Liberals to allow that company to sell off their power dams in northwestern and northeastern Ontario. New Democrats oppose any sell-off.
While other paper mills have closed because they cannot afford to pay the McGuinty government's inflated industrial hydro bills, Abitibi's power dams generate electricity at very low cost, which has helped sustain three paper mills in Thunder Bay, in Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls, and over 2,000 jobs. AbitibiBowater is now at it again trying to sell those power dams.
My question is this: Are the McGuinty Liberals going to allow AbitibiBowater to sell off those power dams and put thousands of jobs at risk in Thunder Bay, Fort Frances and Iroquois Falls?
Hon. Leona Dombrowsky: To the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure.
Hon. Brad Duguid: I appreciate the question from the member. I know he has been involved in these kinds of issues for a long time.
This government is investing big-time, through our agency partners, in expanding our grid to ensure that we can gain access to a lot of the huge economic development opportunities in the north, in particular in the energy sector.
We're very committed to moving forward on projects in the north with regard to water hydro projects. We recognize it is one of the most economical ways to provide energy supply. When we work through these transmission expansions, we know it's going to open doors for communities in the north, opportunities and jobs in the north, as we expand these hydro projects. Certainly, we will be keeping an eye on the issue the member is raising as well.
The Speaker (Hon. Steve Peters): Supplementary?
Mr. Gilles Bisson: The supplementary question should be: Do you know where Iroquois Falls and Fort Frances are? Because the reality is, if you allow them to sell off those power dams, the cost of production will go up by $50 to $75 a tonne and that means the mill in Iroquois Falls, the mill in Fort Frances and the mill in Thunder Bay will be at risk of closure.
Our question is a very simple one: Are you going to block the sale of those dams? Because if you don't, they will not be able to compete with your hydro rates and those people will lose their jobs.
Hon. Brad Duguid: Again, I thank the member for the question. I say again that we're very committed to ensuring that all kinds of energy supply opportunities are opened up to the north that currently don't exist. We're in the process now of the single largest transmission expansion in the history of this province. That is going to open up doors to the north and in some cases even the Far North when it comes to hydro opportunities.
I'll certainly keep my eye on the issues that the member is raising. I'm pleased to do that. I appreciate the member raising that issue in this Legislature. We'll certainly be keeping our eye on it.