While I am supportive of…

While I am supportive of actions to enhance electricity infrastructure, I am opposed to the continued erosion of the oversight by Ontario Energy Board and development of additional gas pipelines.

The government’s' mandate to rebuild Ontario’s economy on the premise of expansion of fossil fuels is false. Fossil gas is one of the most costly sources of energy, is not considered sustainable, and is one of the worst contributors to the climate crisis through methane emissions. Clean energy jobs will be the way of our economic future. Increased electrification is the path we should be on. This better supports the incredible investments being made to EV and EV batterie production. Further expansion of gas use will be more expensive.

The government is stating that the OEB’s decision to say no to amortizing the cost of further gas pipeline infrastructure for new builds is ‘rash’ and ‘could cost’ new homeowners thousands more dollars to purchase a home. The OEB decision highlights the additional gas pipeline and hook up costs will not improve the affordability of homes. The OEB doesn’t wish to have amortization of the costs for fossil gas to be tacked on for the consumers for the next 40 years and states after more than a year long process of consultation with energy experts, financial research, and publishing thousands of pages of reports to this effect, that Enbridge and developers should have to pay to provide a service from which it will reap immense profit. The OEB is looking out for Ontarians.

Alternative heating/cooling options such as air heat pumps drastically reduce energy billsand almost eliminate greenhouse gasses.

Any Bill providing a fossil gas choice is providing more costs to the homeowner down the line when fossil gas is no longer available, viable or permitted. Millions of consumers around the world and in Canada, including Ontario, are moving away from methane-heavy fossil gas because of the climate damage it does but also because of the health issues it silently bestows on its consumers, especially children. The government should be safeguarding the public while being a leader of clean energy, clean homes, clean communities and clean economies.

Moreover, while this ERO notes that Indigenous communities can raise any Duty To Consult concerns during a project, this ERO limits that DTC to jobs costing between $2 million to $10 million. On average, 1 km of gas pipeline costs over $1 million. This undermines UNDRIP and Indigenous communities have already voiced this concern. This ERO also refers to Schedule 35 of the Electricity Act whereby Indigenous concerns will be balanced with the ‘impact on existing electricity consumers’ and ‘the impacts on Ontario's electricity distribution and transmission utilities and other stakeholders’. This basically translates that DTC can be overruled at any time.

Bill 165, Keeping Costs Down Act, and this ERO have been tabled on the premise that it will help Ontarians by keeping their energy bills low, ‘to ensure fair and informed decision-making at the OEB to foster affordable communities’. This Bill and ERO 019-8562 will increase costs for homeowners and taxpayers and undermines our economy, our democracy, our health and the global climate.