But bringing on renewable energy does not come without a toll. According to the plan, “residential and small business electricity bills are forecasted to increase by 3.5 per cent annually over the next 20 years.”
But, the previous week in their fall economic statement, the same government predicted that electricity rates would rise by 46 per cent over the next five years.
The Long-Term Energy Plan reiterates the government’s pledge to take 10 per cent off monthly electricity bills for families, farms and small businesses starting Jan. 1, 2011.
As time-of-use billing rolls out across the province and Muskoka, a move that critics predict will raise home hydro bills, the government has backtracked on setting the off-peak period, changing it from 9 p.m. to 7 p.m. This will increase the lower rate period by two hours a day.
Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner called the plan shortsighted and fiscally irresponsible.   “Both the Liberals and Conservatives are proposing the highest cost and highest risk strategy to keep our lights on: investment in new nuclear capacity,” he said.  

The Green Party recommends a priority on investment in conservation and energy efficiency.   “Presenting a realistic strategy for the residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka to use less electricity is a simple step forward to addressing our energy problems,” said provincial Green Party candidate and Port Sydney resident Matt Richter.

Richter would like to see Ontario prioritize community power projects that are locally owned and locally planned.   “Consider the controversy surrounding the Bala Falls project,” he said. “And how different the scenario could have played out if the entire community were part of the process.  Either the project would have been cancelled a long time ago, or with unanimous support, the direct social and financial benefits would belong to the residents.  To quote a resident from the Danish island of Samsoe when speaking of a locally owned windmill project, “When the corporation owns the windmills, windmills are ugly.  When the people own the windmills, windmills are beautiful.”

Who is correct?
There are scores of points that have affirmed Burk’s Falls position (proximity to an essential service, impact of population growth, loss of potential business investment, and the list continues).  However, the government relied on one determining factor: Money. And their quick fix, first step focused on eliminating services that Burk’s Falls deserves to save $1.8 million to help Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC) out of their deficit. Burk’s Falls has been used as the scapegoat to bailout a much larger problem, which is the Provincial Government’s mismanagement of our tax dollars.

Consider that in 2004, Burk’s Falls’ health care services were included in the Ontario Health Care budget which stood at $29 billion.  Today, the Ontario Health Care budget has increased to $42 billion, yet health care services in Burk’s Falls have been decimated.  Nearly a 50% increase in funding has resulted in a decrease of services.  How is this possible?

I question the illogical choices and ineffective results that our Provincial government has recently made.  Following are but a few examples: The disastrous spending of $1 billion on e-health; The contradictory provision of financial assistance to auto manufacturers in need, while slashing health care services; The unnecessary establishment of the Localized Health Integrated Network that pays staff well over $10 million to inform how cuts to health care can proceed; The ill-conceived introduction of an Ontario Health Premium (tax) that has evidently resulted in less health care; The bizarre notion to hike taxes (HST) on products that promote health (e.g. bicycles, vitamins).  The list could truly continue in the format of an entire special section for this newspaper. 

From an economic, environmental, and social point of view it simply makes sense to reinstate our health care services.  If our riding’s voice accepts the cuts to Burk’s Falls, our complacency will reward the incompetence of how our Provincial Government handles our money, thereby leading the way to further inferior funding for health care in Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Parry Sound, and all communities between.  Hopefully, we recognize that our current problems are more a lack of management rather than a lack of tax dollars.  Early in the New Year, the powers that be will return to present the MAHC deficit recovery plan.   This will be your opportunity to get involved, share concerns and solutions, and show your support for communities like Burk’s Falls.  

Matt Richter
Parry Sound-Muskoka
Provincial Green Party Candidate