QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath questioned Premier Kathleen Wynne over the issue of the Thunder Bay Power Plant during Question Period.
“Yesterday we learned that no price is too high for Liberals when it comes to courting votes in Mississauga and Oakville. I wouldn’t be surprised if the people in Thunder Bay are blowing a fuse today,” said Horwath.
“Can the Premier explain how her government can blow a billion dollars shuffling two power plants out of the greater Toronto area and not even have a penny left over to convert the Thunder Bay generating station to gas?”
Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro commented, “”Where has Andrea Horvath and the NDP been for the last 10 years? Where was Andrea Horvath and the NDP when I was fighting and securing the conversion of the Atikokan Generating Station? Her party was in favour of the closures. Political opportunism at its best.”
Thunder Bay Superior North MPP and Minister for Northern Development and Mines, Michael Gravelle states, “I continue to work closely with Energy Minister Chiarelli, my colleague Bill Mauro, and the Northwest Energy Taskforce to see that the best decision is made regarding the future of the Thunder Bay Generating Station”.
“I was pleased today in Question Period that Minister Chiarelli stated so clearly once again that he understands energy needs in Northwestern Ontario will significantly increase over the next couple of years; resulting in a need to ramp up energy capacity to meet the new industrial and mining operations we will see in the Northwest,” added Minister Gravelle. “As for the future of the Thunder Bay Generating Station, Minister Chiarelli reiterated that no decision has yet been made; I will continue to press hard to get that decision; as I will also press hard to see that it is the best decision. We are on the cusp of some exciting new mining and forestry developments in Northwestern Ontario and I am determined, both as MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North and as Minister of Northern Development and Mines, to see that those energy needs are met so we can continue to take advantage of the new jobs and economic growth that will result”.
