MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka Norm Miller is pleased power is ensured for the province.
Miller and 71 other MPPs voted Bill 67 into law that will now prevent any work stoppage at Ontario Power Generation despite workers being in a strike position.
“I am sorry I had to cancel a number of meetings in the riding this week but it was urgent we pass this legislation to ensure our power supply this winter,” said Miller. “OPG produces 51% of Ontario’s electricity and we could not risk having any of their facilities shut down during the heart of winter.”
MPPs were called back to Toronto to deal with the emergency legislation as it became apparent a work interruption might have affected the province’s power supply within two weeks.
The Independent Electricity System Operator concluded that without OPG’s hydro, nuclear and other generators operating Ontario would not have the electricity needed to meet consumer demand resulting in brownouts and blackouts around the province.
Lakeland Power is part of the IESO and supplies electricity to Muskoka and Parry Sound.
“I want to thank Minister of Labour Laurie Scott and Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines Greg Rickford for bringing forward this legislation to keep the electricity on for all the people in Parry Sound-Muskoka and across Ontario,” said Miller.
Ontario Power Generation’s 6,000 workers have been without a contract since March and came into a legal strike position earlier this month. All matters in dispute will now be referred to a neutral mediator-arbitrator for a fair dispute resolution process.