Society Secretary-Treasurer Laurie Reid and Staff Research Officer Nathan Jackson provided a presentation to the provincial Standing Committee on the Interior as part of a public hearing on Bill 214, Affordable Energy Act. The presentation accompanied the Society’s written submission.
The Society applauded the bill’s prioritization of nuclear power generation and encouraged the government to further expand Ontario’s publicly owned and operated nuclear fleet, with investments in new CANDU reactors. The Society recognized the bill as an important first step in building an electrical system that could power a transition to net-zero emissions. We encouraged the government to act urgently in the face of a climate crisis, and reduce its reliance on natural gas, particularly in the buildings sector and emission-intensive industries.
The Society raised concerns surrounding certain elements of the bill. We object to the bill’s repeal of language in the Electricity Act that specifically lists greenhouse gas emissions as a consideration in electricity planning. The Society believes strongly that the province’s long-term energy plan should acknowledge the detrimental impact of climate change and incorporate the reduction of carbon emissions as a stated goal.
Furthermore, the Society objects to the bill’s repeal of Sections 25.29 to 25.31 of the Electricity Act. This proposed amendment to the act would remove the requirement for government to consult with IESO technical experts in the process of preparing a long-term energy plan. The Society recognizes the valuable expertise of its members at IESO and opposes changes to the province’s energy planning process that paves the way for lobbyist influence above technical expertise.
The Society affirms the importance of public operation and ownership of Local Distribution Companies (LDCs) and their assets, and opposes the government’s recent steps to encourage the privatization and consolidation of LDCs. With major transfer tax reform previewed in the Fall Economic Statement, the Society is concerned that the government is pivoting towards privatization instead of publicly financing LDC infrastructure upgrades that will be necessary during the shift to electrification.
To view a video of the Society’s presentation to the standing committee, click here. To read the written submission, click here.
