MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 19, 2009

Province-wide movement growing for green, secure and accessible electricity
Provincial Members of Parliament to hear from constituents in lobbying day of action

Wednesday May 20 marks the launch of a grassroots campaign with people across the province conveying priorities for ensuring a green, secure and accessible electricity future in Ontario to their MPPs, the Premier, Energy Minister and critics.

“Right now, important decisions are being made about the direction of Ontario’s energy strategy. This lobbying day of action is about highlighting choices that can be made in policy and regulatory decisions to ensure secure supplies of environmentally-friendly electricity that benefits Ontarians,” says Andrea Harden Donahue, Energy Campaigner with the Council of Canadians, the organization coordinating the action.  

“Ontario isn’t developing policy in a vacuum. Our government needs to account for international trade and investment agreements like NAFTA which have a big, although frequently overlooked impact on the production, distribution and export of electricity,” says Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. Greater privatization in the electricity sector and increased cross-border trade with the U.S., gives these rules new salience. This includes NAFTA’s infamous chapter 11, which allows companies from member countries to sue the Canadian government in trade tribunals over a regulation or government decision that is felt to affect their investment in conflict with NAFTA rights. Trew notes that trade rules and U.S. electricity sector regulations can undermine policy mechanisms that affect trade with the U.S. or the activity of NAFTA member country investors in Ontario’s market. Policies intended to ensure Ontarians benefit from increased renewable power generation and provincial energy security may be at risk.

There are viable options that mitigate these risks and help build a green energy economy. This includes further emphasis and support for public and community renewable power generation and affordable conservation and energy efficiency measures. Although frequently overlooked, electricity trade with neighbouring provinces such as Quebec provides an efficient and economical way to help meet renewable use goals and supply security. These should be priorities for the Ontario government, not more nuclear power.  

“I’m going to make sure to tell my MPP that a green, secure and accessible electricity future in Ontario does not include new nuclear developments,” says Fiona McMurran with the South Niagara Chapter of the Council of Canadians. “I don’t want the Ontario government signing a contract for two new nuclear reactors this summer.”  

View an online video encouraging Ontarians to lobby their MPPs for green, secure and accessible electricity on May 20 at: http://canadians.org/energy/issues/integration/index.html

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To interview Andrea Harden-Donahue or Fiona McMurran, please contact:

Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy Campaigner, Council of Canadians
Tel: 613-233-4487 ext. 240, Cell: 613-218-5800
Email: aharden@canadians.org