Growing number of Ontario municipalities oppose sale of Hydro One

Hydro One (Photo courtesy of Valley Heritage Radio Canada)

TORONTO — Some municipal politicians opposed to the Ontario government’s plans to sell Hydro One say the issue is hurting federal Liberals on the campaign trail.

More than one third of Ontario’s municipalities have passed resolutions opposing the Liberals plans to sell 60 per cent of Hydro One, with many complaining they were not consulted.

Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says federal Liberal candidates knocking on doors for the Oct. 19 election are hearing about the planned sale, “and not in a good way.”

Bradley says provincial Liberals consulted municipalities on everything from pit bulls to clotheslines, but never gave them a voice on the privatization of a public asset that turns over a dividend to taxpayers every year.

He rejects Liberal claims they campaigned on “asset sales” in last year’s Ontario election, saying you’d have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that meant selling Hydro One.

Katrina Miller of the Keep Hydro Public coalition says voters are wondering if Wynne would act in such a unilateral way, would Justin Trudeau act in a similar manner?

“She’s moving forward on an ill-fated, precedent-setting sell off that seems to be a fire sale, with no desire to listen to what anyone else is saying,” said Miller. “If she’s willing to do that, they question whether or not Justin Trudeau may be headed in the same direction.”