Ontario Hansard - 23-November2004

Ms Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): The price of electricity is a very important thing to the people of my community. Many people live on limited incomes. This government's energy policy will have a serious impact on many of the people in my riding of Haliburton-Victoria-Brock.

A large part of my constituency doesn't have access to natural gas as an alternative. They're forced to rely on electricity to heat their homes. Increases in electricity rates are especially difficult for seniors and others living on fixed incomes to bear.

Your energy policy and the higher electricity rates that are part of it will have a serious impact on Karen Shearer Layton, who resides in Dunsford. She and her husband are both retired and live on fixed incomes. Her hydro bill last March was over $600. Since then, Hydro has estimated her bill at approximately $100 per month for the months of June and July, in the middle of the hot season.

She is certainly not alone, but there is something that sets her apart from many of her friends and neighbours, many of whom have bills just as large as hers. She took the time to collect signatures from other people who have the same concerns about the high hydro rate and she sent them to me in order to give them to the Premier. I have those here today with me, and on behalf of Karen and the 92 other people who signed, I'm going to send them across the floor so they can be delivered to the Premier.