At CGA’s flagship event, the Energy Nexus and Annual Technical Conference in October, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification, the honourable Stephen Lecce, delivered a keynote address emphasizing the critical role natural gas plays in meeting the province’s energy needs. Minister Lecce highlighted how natural gas ensures reliability and affordability for Ontarians, whether it is heating homes during cold winters, supporting food security through agricultural operations, or contributing to electricity generation. His remarks underscored the importance of natural gas as a cornerstone of Ontario’s energy mix, vital for maintaining economic stability and enhancing the quality of life for Canadians.
Watch full speech:
Some excerpts from the speech:
….We understand the value of natural gas and we also recognize that there was a decision made some months ago, the Ontario Energy Board made a determination that essentially asked families to pay, residential customers or small businesses, to pay 100% of costs of new natural gas connections upfront, something that we have previously paid over 40 years and the government acted swiftly with the overwhelming commitments to not impose thousands of dollars, like we’re talking about $44,000 increase for your child that’s trying to purchase a home…,it’s our problem as a country if we stand idle and allow these sorts of stealth taxes to be imposed on homes in Ontario for our kids and new Canadians and anyone who aspires for home ownership.
…. And the overarching priority for our government is affordability, keeping in mind in 2018….we were elected on a mandate of affordability. This is a big priority for the families we serve, for industry and small businesses, and it’s a priority for our premier and for our government today.
So, we are proud of the work you’re doing, we’re proud of the workforce that actually delivers this to our families and to our business, and I just want to reaffirm to you our commitment to work with this sector, as we continue to deliver affordable, reliable energy for the people of Ontario.