Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof recently told Premier Kathleen Wynne to stop hurting small businesses in Northern Ontario that are buckling under soaring hydro bills. A leaked document from the Liberal cabinet shows projections of hydro rates in the Fair Hydro Plan are set to skyrocket after the first four years. Vanthof says camping is a big part of the culture in the North, and one of the beautiful places to take your trailer is the River Valley Park. Vanthof mentioned the story of Tony DeBoer and his family who own River Valley Park, and have operated it for many years, but are being squeezed by hydro costs.
Vanthof says their hydro bill went up by $2,400 in 2016, for the same amount of power. He asked the Premier why the government has ignored the plight of struggling small business owners like Tony. In response, Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault rose and spoke about the Fair Hydro Plan that would reduce rates by 25% if passed by the summer, and took a shot at the opposition parties for delaying the process.
Vanthof says the May 24th weekend, sometimes referred to as the May Run weekend, is one of the most anticipated rites of passages in Northern Ontario. He says River Valley Park is a place where northern families have come for years to relax and enjoy nature in a quiet country way. Vanthof says they are also struggling to pay their own bills, and camping at the park is getting harder and harder for them. Vanthof finished by asking how much is their hydro, and Tony’s power bills, going to go up as a result of the government’s hydro borrowing scheme.