More than two dozen concerned citizens attended Monday night’s city council meeting in what was billed as a rally to urge council not to appeal the recent Ontario Energy Board (OEB) decision that nixed a potential deal between the city, Hydro One and Orillia Power.
Dael Morris, who spearheaded an online petition aimed at stopping the deal, was one of eight speakers who spoke out about the pact. Like others, she said the matter should have been the subject of a referendum.
“I’m here to remind you that Orillia Power is owned by the community ... and it has been our legacy for the past 120 years,” said Morris. “With all due respect, our electrical utility is not yours to sell.
“You have no right spending our precious taxpayers’ dollars to the tune of $1-million (accrued in legal fees to date) to try to sell it out in a backroom deal,” she said in chiding council. “Now that the OEB has denied the sale, you may not use more of our money to try to appeal the OEB order.”
She went on to say she has lost confidence in Mayor Steve Clarke and council for their pursuit of this deal.
“I don’t think I’m the only one in this room that has lost confidence in the mayor and council and indeed (the) Orillia Power CEO who should be representing our interests as shareholders not selling our asset out behind our backs without our consent.”
Frank Kehoe, who made several submissions to the OEB in an attempt to halt the potential deal, said “Hydro One on God’s green earth could never compete with Orillia.” He spoke about the province’s massive debt, Hydro One’s debt and dysfunction and pleaded with council to keep Orillia Power.
He ran through a long list of manufacturers, whom he said were attracted to Orillia due, in part, to low power rates, that have since shut down. He said low power rates and accountability are more important than “whatever pet project you might have had (thanks to) the money you thought you were going to get” from this deal.
That was a sentiment echoed by Janel Perron, who said jurisdictions around the world have forgotten what a public utility is all about.
“This asset was a public asset,” he said. “The people of this city paid for that asset and you were not elected to mess with that.”
He said the utility is not-for-profit. “It was intended to generate stable, reliable, affordable electricity, which is a necessity for citizens, businesses and other public entities.”
Former city councillors Maurice McMillan, Patrick Kehoe and Linda Murray also spoke against the deal. Kehoe referenced voluminous evidence from the Ontario Ombudsman and the province’s Auditor General that highlighted the debt and issues that have plagued Hydro One.
Murray suggested the city is in legal quicksand. She said Orillia Water Light and Power was born out of a referendum in 1913. In 1916, she said, there was an opportunity to sell the utility. At that time, “there was a referendum and, by a large majority, it failed. People didn’t want to sell it.”
She said there is legal precedent that says the only legal way to sell the utility is via referendum.
Two people spoke in favour of the deal and in support of council.
“I’m convinced the decision to sell the distribution (component) to Hydro One is in the best interest of Orillia,” said Cliff Whitfield, who noted he was “chagrined” by comments from others suggesting otherwise. He said he and many long-time Orillians “support” council’s efforts “to try and bring about this particular change that would bring tremendous economic benefit to Orillia.”
Citizens spoke as part of the public forum that concludes all council meetings. Each person has a maximum of five minutes to speak; the forum cannot extend longer than 30 minutes.
Prior to the open mic opportunity, Clarke announced the city would hold a “special public council meeting” to provide information about the potential deal “and the impact it can have on our community.”
He said it would allow citizens to ask questions. “I think we’re all better served when we can provide as much information as possible to our citizens and this is a chance to do so and allow people to ask questions and we encourage everyone to come out,” he said.
The date for that meeting has not yet been set.
