Now that our MPPs are finally back to work at Queen’s Park, the Ford government needs to make ending Canadian electricity separatism its first order of business. There’s been lots of talk from the Premier about breaking down inter-provincial trade barriers over the past few months. Now we need action.
Premier Ford can break down these costly and counterproductive barriers by directing the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to open up its procurement process for 9,100 megawatts (MW) of new electricity supply to renewable power projects in Manitoba, Quebec and the Maritimes. Manitoba and Quebec have the lowest electricity rates in Canada because they’re primarily powered with water power. Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have huge untapped wind power potential.
If we want to reduce our dependence on dirty imported American gas and high-cost (and high risk) American nuclear technology, we should work with our fellow provinces to create an efficient, resilient, renewable east-west electricity system that makes the most of our strengths right here in Canada.
A good way to start that process would be to direct Hydro One to upgrade its transmission links with Hydro Quebec to facilitate greater east-west electricity trade. Hydro One can upgrade an existing 20 km transmission link in Ottawa to increase our east-west inter-provincial electricity grid by 2,000 MW at a much lower cost than building American reactors.
By opening up Ontario’s procurement for new electricity supply to inter-provincial proposals, we can lower our electricity rates and protect Ontario by ensuring we have a reliable low-cost supply of clean power to supply our homes and our industries that is not at the mercy of erratic White House decision-making.
Please ask our provincial leaders if they will act now to end electricity separatism.