Electrical Costs in Northern Ontario
WHEREAS in the 2010 Budget the Ontario Government has recognized the need for a differential industrial rate for Northern Ontario (Northern Industrial Electricity Rate Program (NIERP), following repeated demands from NOMA, NOACC and others, and
WHEREAS the budget also proposed a new permanent Northern Ontario Energy Credit to help eligible low- to middle-income northern residents with the higher energy costs they face, and
WHEREAS these announcements are recognition by the Ontario Government that the north is a region in its own right and should be treated as such, and
WHEREAS these announcements are recognition by the Ontario Government that electrical prices are a problem for industry and consumers in the North, and
WHEREAS while the Energy Credit is permanent the NIERP is only an extension of a 1.9 cent forest industry rebate that is due to run out in the fall of 2010 and the NEIRP is to last until 2013, and
WHEREAS even with the 2 cent per kwh rebate, Ontario still has one of the highest electrical rates in those States and Provinces who are producers of pulp, paper and other wood products, and
WHEREAS the raw ore from the mines of Northern Ontario are at risk at being shipped to other jurisdictions where electrical rates are low for processing and job creation
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that NOMA continues to press the Government of Ontario for a permanent Northern Ontario Industrial Electricity Rate that ensures that the forest and mining industry can be competitive, and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT this resolution be sent to the following:
Premier of Ontario
Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
Minister of Economic Development and Trade
Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry
Ontario Energy Board
Ontario Power Authority
Area MPPs
Adopted April 2010
