“The provincial government has chosen to prioritize Enbridge’s profits over the people of Ontario. It’s shameful.” – Environmental Defence
A Statement on Ontario’s Passage of Bill 165 – Doug Ford Government’s So-Called “Keeping Energy Costs Down Act”
Statement from Keith Brooks, Programs Director for the Canada-wide citizens organization, Evironmental Defence
Posted May 15th, 2024 on Niagara At Large
Toronto, Ontario – Bill 165, the so-called Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, is an affront to good governance and an insult to Ontarians who are grappling with an affordability crisis.
Contrary to the Bill’s ironic name, this piece of legislation will raise energy costs for nearly 4 million households in Ontario and saddle new home buyers with higher energy costs by making gas heating the default, instead of nudging home builders to install highly efficient heat pumps.
The move to overrule the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) and concentrate decision making power in the hands of the Minister is irresponsible and could have far-reaching consequences, leading to significant costs, all of which will be borne by Ontarians.
The provincial government has chosen to prioritize Enbridge’s profits over the people of Ontario. It’s shameful.
With wildfire season almost upon us, this government is bending over backwards for a fossil fuel company.
This is irresponsible and represents a failure to act on climate change. Burning more gas will only add more fuel to the fire and lead to more extreme weather events like the wildfires we all experienced last year. While other jurisdictions are working to phase out gas heating in new homes, Ontario is undermining an independent regulator to guarantee that new homes are built with gas furnaces.
Additional Information:
In addition to undoing the OEB’s December 21st decision, the Keeping Energy Costs Down Act also proposes to change the Leave to Construct process that included oversight by the OEB for any pipeline project over $2 million or above. Under the proposed legislation, the provincial government is moving to exempt pipeline projects that cost between $2 million and $10 million from OEB oversight. In other words, the OEB will no longer be determining if applications for pipelines up to $10 million are in the public’s interest.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry, and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate, and healthy communities.
An Afterword from Niagara At Large reporter/publisher Doug Draper –
A majority of Niagara Regional Councillors declared a “Climate Emergency” in 2021. But are a majority of Regional Councillors prepared to take the actions and make the decisions one would expect from them in an emergency?
As if to openly mock their 2021 declaration of a “climate emergency”, a majority of Niagara Regional Councillors recently voted not to join other municipalities in Ontario in urging the Ford government not to overrule a December 2023 decision by the Ontario Energy Board to stop using our tax dollars to subsidize the construction of any more gas pipelines to newly built homes.
In a vote of 14 to 12, a motion tabled by Pelham Regional Councillor Diana Huson at a March 21st council meeting, asking the Ford government not to overrule a December 21 Ontario Energy Board (OEB) decision was turned down.
Here is Pelham Regional Councillor Diana Huson’s March 21st, 2024 motion –
WHEREAS, residents are struggling with energy bill increases and need relief;
WHEREAS, natural gas is no longer the cheapest way to heat homes because electric heat pumps are now much more efficient, can provide all heating needs even in the cold climates, and result in far lower energy bills over the long term compared to gas heating;
WHEREAS, natural gas is methane gas, which is a fossil fuel that causes approximately one-third of Ontario’s GHG emissions, and must be phased out because it is inconsistent with all climate targets, while heat pumps result in the lowest GHG emissions and are consistent with a zero-carbon future;
WHEREAS, the Ontario Energy Board (“OEB”) decided to end a subsidy for methane gas pipelines to be built in new construction developments, effective 2025, finding that this would lower energy bills for existing gas customers and improve affordability for new homebuyers;
WHEREAS, the OEB decision will help lower energy bills and encourage heating systems that are consistent with climate targets and plans;
WHEREAS, the construction of new methane gas pipelines, which have 60-year lifetimes, should not be subsidized because they are inconsistent with the Region’s climate targets and will result in higher carbon emissions, higher energy bills, higher future decarbonization retrofit costs to get off fossil fuel heating, and a continued financial drain as dollars leave the province to pay for fossil fuels extracted in other jurisdictions;
WHEREAS, A majority of Niagara Regional Councillors declared a “Climate Emergency” in 2021. But are a majority of Regional Councillors prepared to take the actions and make the decisions one would expect from them in an emergency?
WHEREAS, Niagara Region declared a climate emergency in 2021;
WHEREAS, the Niagara Region has taken a number of steps to acknowledge and prioritize projects, programs, policies and initiatives to show leadership in addressing climate change by incorporating climate changes objectives into our Official Plan, joining the Partners for Climate Protection Program, developing the Niagara Climate Change Action Network, holding an annual Climate Change Summit and in developing the Niagara Climate Change Municipal Community of Practice. 737
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
1. That the Region of Niagara SUPPORTS the decision of the Ontario Energy Board to end the gas pipeline subsidy; and
2. That Region Chair BE DIRECTED to send correspondence to the Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, expressing Regional Council’s support for the OEB and requesting that their decision stand; and
3. That the Regional Clerk BE DIRECTED to circulate this motion to the President of Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Colin Best; Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford; Minister of Energy, Todd Smith; Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy and all Ontario Municipalities requesting support for the proposed changes
Here are the names of Regional Councilors who voted for and against –
Those who voted YES to Huson’s motion include– St. Catharines Regional Councillor Haley Bateman, West Lincoln Regional Councillor and Mayor Cheryl Ganann, Pelham Regional Councillor Diana Huson, Fort Erie
Regional Councillor Tom Insinna, St. Catharines Regional Councillor Laura Ip, Grimsby Regional Councillor and Mayor Jeff Jordan, Pelham Regional Councillor and Mayor Marvin Junkin, Niagara-on-the-Lake Regonal Councillor Andrea Kaiser, St. Catharines Regional Councillor Tim Rigby, Port Colborne Regional Councillor and Mayor Peter Secord and West Lincoln Regional Councillor Albert Witteveen.
Those who voted NO to the motion include – Welland Regional Councillor and Mayor Frank Campion, Welland Regonal Councillor Pat Chiocchio, Port Colborne Regonal Councillor Fred Davies, Lincoln Regional Councillor and Mayor Sandra Easton, Lincoln Regional Councillor Robert Foster, Wainfleet Regional Councillor and Mayor Brian Grant, St. Catharines Regonal Councillor Brian Heit, Fort Erie Regional Councillor and Mayor Wayne Redekop, Grimsby Regional Councillor Michelle Seaborn, St. Catharines Regional Councillor and Mayor Mat Siscoe, St. Catharines Regional Councillor Sal Sorrento, Thorold Regional Councillor and Mayor Terry Ugulini, Thorold Regional Councillor Tim Whalen, Welland Regonal Councillor Leanna Villella and Niagara-on-the-Lake Regional Councillor and Mayor Gary Zalepa.
(Any councillors not mentioned did not vote on the motion because they were absent from this meeting.)
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