QUEEN’S PARK – Tim Hudak and Energy Critic Vic Fedeli today released the first in a series of Ontario PC Paths to Prosperity white papers, designed to get the job creation and investment fundamentals in our province right.
“Ontario must tackle its deficit problem and its economic growth problem simultaneously,” Hudak said. “We must reduce the size and cost of government – but we can’t cut our way to prosperity. We need policies that will encourage growth and job creation, not slow them down.”
Fedeli said high on the list is affordable energy, as a cornerstone of economic growth: “So we consulted widely on the future of Ontario’s power sector – from energy developers and pension plans to sector experts both in and outside government, and think-tanks.
“The result is this first Paths to Prosperity white paper, which identifies the strongest ideas we heard for bringing energy prices under control for entrepreneurs, industry and consumers alike.”
Hudak said that the paper explores ways to return government to its proper, limited role in the sector: “The government’s role is to conduct long-term planning and ensure strong, independent regulation – but power must be provided by companies competing to offer the best price using the most efficient technologies.”
Paths to Prosperity: Affordable Energy is built around a series of ideas for significant change in who owns the electricity sector, a return to competitive bidding for power generation and ways to save consumers money.
“All of these proposals speak to the fundamental challenge Ontario is facing today – that jobs are fleeing the province,” Hudak emphasized. “We are at a turning point. Urgent action and big ideas are needed to grow our economy and balance the budget.” Hudak said that the Paths to Prosperity series is one way he is executing on a commitment, made immediately following the last election, that he and the Ontario PC Caucus would focus like a laser beam on jobs and the economy.
“After Drummond – and certainly following the 2012 budget – it’s clear that the current government is out of ideas and unwilling to make the bold changes we need,” Hudak said. “We are prepared to come forward to fill that void with credible new ideas. Ontarians won’t settle for anemic economic growth – and neither will we.”
Paths to Prosperity: Affordable Energy can be downloaded at www.ontariopc.com