Tim Hudak Will Unplug Dalton McGuinty’s Mandatory ‘Smart Meter’ Tax Machines

September 19th, 2011

http://votejoe2011.ca/feature/tim-hudak-will-unplug-dalton-mcguinty%e2%80%99s-mandatory-%e2%80%98smart-meter%e2%

ETOBICOKE — Today, Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak was joined by Karm Singh, Ontario PC candidate for Etobicoke North, Mary Anne DeMonte-Whelan, candidate for Etobicoke Centre, and Simon Nyilassy, candidate for Etobicoke-Lakeshore at the Return Trax Warehouse to announce he will unplug Dalton McGuinty’s mandatory smart meter tax machines that are causing family energy bills to skyrocket. A Tim Hudak government will let Ontario families decide for themselves what’s right for their households and their family budget, by ending the mandatory smart meter time-of-use pricing program.

Dalton McGuinty’s so-called smart meters unfairly force families to pay more on their home energy bills simply based on what time of day they do chores, when the kids use the computer for homework, or when families enjoy activities at home together. What’s worse, Dalton McGuinty has quietly approved charging Ontario families a new smart meter tax that will drive up bills even more.

On October 6th, Ontario families face a clear choice. They can choose four more years of Dalton McGuinty’s expensive energy experiments, energy tax hikes, and meddling in our daily lives – or they can choose a Tim Hudak government that will never tax families for daring to live a normal life. We will unplug mandatory smart meters, cancel Dalton McGuinty’s secret new smart meter tax grab, and deliver the home energy bill relief families deserve.

QUOTES:

“It is unfair for Dalton McGuinty to tell families how to run the most basic details of their lives – making grandmothers do laundry in the middle of the night, or making parents get their teenagers up and showered by 7 a.m. when higher hydro rates kick in.”
– Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak
“Unlike Dalton McGuinty, an Ontario PC government will never tax families for daring to live a normal life. We will unplug the mandatory smart meter tax machines to give families the relief they deserve, and ensure they have a final say over how they live their own lives.”
– Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak

QUICK FACTS:

• Dalton McGuinty has increased hydro rates by 84%, since he came into office, or over 150% for families, seniors, and small businesses with a smart meter.
• According to the Ontario Energy Board, the cost of installing so-called smart meters on Ontario homes and small businesses was $1 billion – or over $200 per Ontario household.
• Buried on a footnote on page 1-102, of volume 2a of the 2010 Ontario Public Accounts is a revelation that Dalton McGuinty’s Minister of Energy quietly approved a new tax called “Smart Meter Service Fees”. The Dalton McGuinty Liberals are already planning to collect $132 million from this new tax beginning in 2012.
• A Tim Hudak government will give families the tax relief they need by removing the HST and Debt Retirement Charge from home hydro bills, and removing the HST from home heating bills, providing $275 in annual relief.

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Hudak challenged on Ford’s falling poll numbers

CBC News Posted: Sep 19, 2011 6:51 AM ET

PC Leader Tim Hudak on Monday repeated his pledge to discontinue the mandatory smart meter program. (Canadian Press)

• Two polls that have emerged in recent days have suggested the once-popular mayor is losing support amid his quest to cut spending in order to bridge a budget gap estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Ford’s brother, Doug, is a high-profile city councillor who has endorsed Hudak, although the mayor has yet to endorse any provincial leader. The PC Leader also attended a massive barbecue held by Ford earlier this month and is counting on winning some seats in vote-rich Toronto in the Oct. 6 election.

“I think the Liberals have taken Toronto seats and Toronto voters for granted for far too long. Things are going to change,” Hudak said when first asked about whether he thinks his campaign is being hurt by Ford.

Gridlock has worsened, hydro and home heating costs have gone up and the Liberals “have done nothing about” violent offenders, despite having all but four seats in the city, Hudak said. The Tories currently don’t have any seats in Toronto.

When asked twice more about Ford, Hudak finally replied: “I know that Mayor Ford and council are going through recommendations [on service cuts] by the city manager. So the question is, how can the province be of assistance?

“And one of the best ways we can be of assistance is to fix a broken arbitration system that sees arbitrators thumbing their noses at the city, at municipalities, and at ratepayers.”

Hudak has railed against the arbitration system, which he has criticized for awarding excessive contracts and for being too opaque.

Smart meters must go, says Hudak

Hudak held the Monday media event to reaffirm his pledge to axe the mandatory smart meter program that he says forces seniors to do their laundry in the middle of the night.

Smart meters allow people to shift electricity-consuming chores to off-peak times when power rates are lower.

But too many families are unable to do that, so the system amounts to another tax, Hudak argued.

Hudak said people who like the idea designed to conserve power can choose to opt in.

He did not say what power would end up costing if the system is scrapped but says flat-rate metering would continue.

After his Toronto stop, Hudak is moving east and will campaign in Trenton, Prescott and Cornwall.

Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, meanwhile, started the day with a tour of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa.

Andrea Horwath of the New Democrats also began her day in Toronto, talking up her party’s pledge to fund 50 per cent of municipalities’ transit operating costs. That money, however, would only become available if municipalities freeze fares for a four-year period.

After campaigning in Toronto, Horwath heads to Ottawa, where she plans to mainstreet on Bank St. in the early afternoon.