I strongly object to the…

I strongly object to the proposed amendments to the Ontario Energy Board Act as outlined in Bill 165.
Bill 165, which seeks to overrule the Ontario Energy Board's Decision and Order EB-2022-0200 (December 21, 2023), will have the effect of:
· Expanding natural gas infrastructure into new developments throughout the province at a time when we should be doing everything possible to reduce our use of fossil fuels;
· Forcing all gas ratepayers to share the cost of new gas infrastructure, leading to increased gas bills for all Enbridge customers for many years to come;
· Serving as a disincentive for developers to switch from gas to more affordable, more energy-efficient but equally dependable alternatives for all household heating needs;
· Potentially leaving new homeowners with the expense of replacing their gas-fuelled appliances if gas appliances become obsolete or if they are penalized through market or regulatory forces;
· Leaving all of Ontario's remaining gas customers to pay for new gas infrastructure as a costly stranded asset as homeowners switch to other energy sources;
· Delegitimizing the Ontario Energy Board, which was created in 1998 in order to "deliver public value through prudent regulation and independent adjudicative decision-making" and whose Decision and Order EB-2022-0200 was arrived at after a year-long process with extensive consultations, as is meticulously explained in a 147-page report; and
· Contravening the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, which states that the people of Ontario have the right to a healthful environment, and which recognizes the common goal of the protection, conservation and restoration of the natural environment for the benefit of present and future generations. The long-term perpetuation of gas infrastructure during a climate crisis when the burning of fossil fuels should be discouraged is surely counter to the intent of the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights.
This government is aiming to quickly build 1.5 million new homes in Ontario. The energy infrastructure built into them today will affect our environment far into the future. It is critical that the public is well informed by a reputable, independent third party on the environmental and financial impacts of this legislation.

The purpose of Bill 165, as described in the Environmental Registry of Ontario is to:
. Ensure fair and informed hearings at the Ontario Energy Board;
. Ensure Government sets energy policy, not the regulator;
. Protect future homebuyers and promote affordable housing;
. Maintain customer choice with respect to energy options for homes and businesses; and
. Support the Government’s mandate to rebuild Ontario’s economy as we keep costs down for people and businesses and build the homes our growing province needs.

The proposed amendments to the Act will achieve only one of the above purposes. They will ensure that a politically motivated Government sets energy policy rather than a knowledgeable, independent agency whose primary function is to protect the public from policies that are counter to their best interests. Rather than protecting home buyers from rising prices and enhancing the energy choices available to homeowners, they will discourage adoption of less-expensive, less polluting forms of heating and give gas consumers no choice but to continue paying hidden charges to support new gas infrastructure for the distribution of a product which should, in fact, be phased out as quickly as possible.