New Democrats have launched a campaign to stop the province from privatizing electricity, arguing that for-profit electricity will be a disaster for consumers.
Electricity is just as essential as oxygen.
The Tory government of Premier Mike Harris is in the process of deregulating Ontario's electricity system, assuring voters that competition among profit-seeking utilities will keep rates down. New Democrats say the opposite and point to skyrocketing rates in California and Alberta to prove they are right. The government has called for further review before final approval of a competitive electricity market. Hampton says the Waterloo Region is at risk because its high-tech industry needs a stable power supply.