April 30, 2024

An open letter to MP Rick Byers from the Grey Bruce Climate Action Network

OPEN LETTER — Dear Mr. Byers:

The members of the Grey Bruce Climate Action Network (GBCAN) along with associates listed as signatories request that, as our representative at Queen‟s Park, you vote against the Keeping Energy Costs Down Act, Bill 165. The Bill would overturn the December 2023 decision by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to end the subsidy for Enbridge to install gas lines in new housing developments.

The OEB decision is based on the fact that we are in an energy transition. Given that the number of gas customers will decline as customers switch to cleaner and less costly sources of heat, there are fewer customers to share the costs associated with expanding the gas network. It is entirely reasonable and within its mandate that the OEB make decisions within this new reality, avoiding the risk of stranded assets and of future hikes to customer bills. As the OEB states: “It is no longer appropriate to assume that the assets required for new gas customer connection will continue to be  used and useful‟ 40 years into the future.”

The OEB decision also encourages the move to heat pumps in new buildings, which would not only lower energy bills for new homebuyers, but also lower carbon pollution. Continuing the subsidy for new gas pipelines conflicts with municipal climate targets and plans. Natural gas, also known as methane or fossil gas, is a fossil fuel and causes approximately one-third of Ontario's greenhouse gas emissions. We wish to emphasize that municipalities cannot achieve their emission reduction targets without eliminating the use of methane gas for building heating!

In fact, nine municipalities have passed resolutions supporting the end of the gas subsidy, and several have banned any extension of gas, even as Green Development Standards are being legislated by municipalities, all of which end gas as the go-to for home heating. Recently Grey County formed a partnership with Dufferin and Wellington to develop GDS.

In addition, this legislation sets a dangerous precedent: this is the first time any government of Ontario has overruled a decision by the independent Ontario Energy Board. If the government does not heed the advice of its arm‟s length expert advisory bodies, citizens‟ confidence in its elected officials will certainly be eroded.

Therefore, we ask that you vote against Bill 165 on behalf of the constituents of Bruce-Grey Owen Sound.

We look forward to receiving your reply to gbclimateaction@gmail.com

Yours truly, (on behalf of GBCAN)
Joyce Hall
Bev Falco
Bryan Schenk
Luc Zandvliet
John Butler
Bev Falco
Leigh Grigg
David Walton
Kimm Culkin
Heike Reck
Anne Finlay-Stewart
Eric Saunders
John Anderson
Emma Allen
Nikki May
Joachim Ostertag
Ann Schneider
Pam Wilson
Rosemary Gosselin
Kathryn Thorup
Lesley Lewis
Bob Gray
Jackie Hoekstra
Anne Hofer Reid Dennison
Judith Wilson
Sibylle Walke
Jeanette Parry
Lloyd Wilson
Liz Zetlin
Judy Halpern
William Stilton
Judy Galliger
Heather Davidson
Sandra Thornton
Sue Near
Rob Spackman
Danuta Valleau
Lisa Clark
And the members of Climate Action Now Network, Town of Blue Mountains

 

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