[KWPeace-groups] Meeting Nov 24 on Hydro One privatization

[Eleanor Grant]

Catherine Fife MPP is hosting another Community Meeting on Thurs Nov 24 to
Keep Hydro Public.
Waterloo Rec Complex at 6 pm - note the early hour - 6 pm.

Here is the tweet she sent

Catherine Fife (@CFifeKW) tweeted:

#KeepHydroPublic Community Meeting in #kwawesome next Thurs, Nov 24 at the
Waterloo Rec Centre https://t.co/ndc52kuze0 #onpoli #Hydro #onlab
(https://twitter.com/CFifeKW/status/799352665989935104?s=03)

Please tell your networks!

Below is a speech I gave to Kitchener city council in 2015, asking them to
pass a resolution against privatizing Hydro One as apx 200 municipalities
have done.  They refused to discuss it at the time; I would like to see
others bring it before them again.

Eleanor Grant

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Eleanor Grant" <eleanor7000 at gmail.com>
Date: 2 Jul 2015

> This is the 5-minute presentation I made to Kitchener city council on the
subject of the privatization of Hydro One, on

> 2015 June 29.
>
> -----------------------
>
> Mayor Vrbanovic, Councillors & Staff, fellow citizens -
>
> We've all seen the inspiring pictures of the night when Berlin was
electrified in 1910.  The banners over King St proclaimed POWER FOR THE
PEOPLE.
>
> Adam Beck - a staunch Conservative by the way - fought for hydroelectric
power to be a public asset - Why?  Because he wanted businesses across
Ontario to have equal access to affordable power.  Later he worked hard to
get homes and farms electrified as well.  Since the days of Sir Adam Beck,
we've all come to see Ontario Hydro and its successors as a sacred trust
and a source of pride.
>
> If we were to lose public ownership and control over Hydro One, the
potential impact on Ontario's cities and our local distribution companies
could be enormous.
>
> You may have seen our MPP Daiene Vernile's column in the Kitchener
Citizen, which outlines the government's position for privatization.  She
states that by retaining a 40% share, Ontario could somehow prevent the
outcomes we all fear: skyrocketing rates, shares becoming resold and
consolidated in foreign hands, and loss of all regulatory influence.  Ms
Vernile's arguments don't add up, to my mind anyway.
>
> Let's look at the possible impacts on Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro.  What if
KWH had to start paying a lot more for transmitted power?  If our Hydro
bills soared, would we have any recourse?  Suppose that this Council, or a
future one, wished to bring in a local power generation policy, could we be
sued under the WTO?  How great would the pressure be to let private
interests buy up KWH?  How would the new "Hydro Ombudsman" that Ms Vernile
speaks of, be able to protect us against such forces?
>
> If we don't know the answers to these questions and more, then we need
time to do the necessary due diligence.  We need to ask the Province not to
go ahead with this privatization plan at this time.
>
> I have received endorsements from the leadership of several local groups:
the Waterloo Regional Labour Council, Grand River Environmental Network,
and the Council of Canadians, who will be bringing the issue of Hydro One
before Guelph Council soon.  I've also received support from former
Councillor Jean Haalboom, and from Councillor Zyg Janecki who happens to be
in Sask tonight.
>
> I urge you to look into the questions I raised above with some urgency.
The first IPO of 15% of Hydro One is already being prepared.  There's no
time to lose.
>
> Please let the Ontario government know that the people of Kitchener still
want "Power for the People" to be a continuing reality, and not a distant
memory.
>
> ---------------------
>
> Since the clerk's office had twice refused to register me as a
delegation, I had only 5 minutes to speak and no standing on the agenda.
>
> After my presentation, Councillor Yvonne Fernandes tabled a motion,
seconded by Coun Frank Etherington, similar to the motion on Hydro One
adopted by the city of Oshawa.  But Council voted not to debate or vote on
her motion.
>
> I hope this isn't the end of the story ...
>
> Eleanor Grant
> Waterloo
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