Business Secretary Pierre Fitzgibbon on Sunday accused the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) of waging a “misinformation campaign” in one of its petitions, urging Quebec to cap electricity tariffs quickly.
Posted at 11:49 am
” [Cet organisme] is currently running a disinformation campaign about the electricity price increase. With Bill 2, we capped the rate increase for Quebecers at 3%. Claiming otherwise than in the email below is wrong,” Mr Fitzgibbon pounded home in a tweet.
He was responding to an FCC petition circulating online, which alleges that “certain groups are pressuring the Legault government to keep hydro tariffs high to limit your energy use.” “You cannot afford a disproportionate increase in your bill.[…|MinisterPierreFitzgibbonmustunderstandthatyourefusetoincreaseyourelectricitytariffsby64%”isalsoreadthere[…|LeministrePierreFitzgibbondoitcomprendrequevousrefusezquevostarifsd’électricitéaugmententde64%»peut-onaussiylire[…|MinisterPierreFitzgibbonmussverstehendassSiesichweigernIhreStromtarifeum64%zuerhöhen“istdortebenfallszulesen[…|LeministrePierreFitzgibbondoitcomprendrequevousrefusezquevostarifsd’électricitéaugmententde64 % »peut-onaussiylire
Struck to the core, Quebec FCC director Nicolas Gagnon almost immediately retorted to the minister on social media. “The misinformation campaign is a bit strong. We’re just making sure the government will go ahead with their bill. Because yes, there are groups that reject price caps. And SME prices will increase by 6.4%,” he claimed.
At Québec solidaire, economic critic Haroun Bouazzi used the exchange to reiterate that Mr Fitzgibbon had nonetheless “decided to raise hydro prices for Quebecers when they are already higher than production costs”.
“They turn it into a hidden and particularly unfair tax, since the less wealthy households pay more in proportion to their income,” accused Solidarity Councilor Maurice-Richard, who was elected in the last parliamentary elections.
3% … for residential purposes
It is worth recalling the facts in this case. If passed, Bill 2 would limit Hydro-Quebec’s residential rate increase to 3%. Several other employers’ organizations, including the Federation of Quebec Chambers of Commerce and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, have asked for this measure to be extended to businesses. Otherwise, the latter will suffer a 4.2% to 6.4% increase in their electricity bill.
The legal text also aims to remove the obligation for Hydro-Québec to accept all supply requests from companies and less than 50 megawatts (MW). Power requests from 5 MW can now be rejected. The state company demanded such a measure because it was overwhelmed with group projects with a total electricity requirement of 23,000 MW. This corresponds to 13 hydroelectric power plants like La Romaine.
On Saturday, La Presse reported that Marc Tanguay’s Liberals are now calling on François Legault to relieve “superminister” Fitzgibbon of the new responsibilities he was given after the election.
The director concerned has had a difficult week after admitting he had not read the Hydro-Québec Act, even as he is busy finding a replacement for Hydro-Québec President and CEO Sophie Brochu. SMEs have also made a virulent exit, accusing the government of compounding their problems in the face of inflation.
As Quebec prepares to appoint a replacement for Sophie Brochu, who is set to leave Crown Corporation on April 11, Liberals are urging the government to elect someone who will not be a “yes man” and retain hydro- Quebec will improve.
“You need someone who has a solid track record as a manager, who cares about communication and transparency, and is willing to answer questions. At the head of Hydro-Québec there is no need for a yes man, that is important,” says Marc Tanguay in this sense.
With Tommy Chouinard, La Presse