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

[Sharon Sommerville]

Hi Eleanor,

Thanks for the heads up on the meeting.  I have noted the early start and
plan to be there.

Your presentation was excellent, btw.

Sharon

On Sat, Nov 19, 2016 at 4:02 PM, Eleanor Grant <eleanor7000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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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>
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