Energy Minister Glenn Thibeault has promised a host of new measures to ease the burden of hydro costs on families and businesses. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says she can chop hydro bills up to 30 per cent, building on the Liberal government’s new rebate of the 8 per cent provincial HST on electricity. Horwath slammed the Tories and their leader for not having a specific plan to cut hydro rates with the next provincial election due in 16 months. “That would be very difficult,” Thibeault said of the NDP pledge to cut rates up to 30 per cent in rural areas and as much as 20 per cent in urban centres. The official added that the NDP plan to use the province’s remaining Hydro One dividends to buy back shares would gobble money now earmarked for health care and social programs.

Source: thestar February 27, 2017 16:47 UTC