Manitoba NDP pledges hydro rate freeze
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/08/2023 (956 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
With Manitoba on the brink of a provincial election, the NDP has committed to freezing hydro rates for an entire year if it clinches victory.
“The cost of living continues to rise, but your hydro bill doesn’t have to,” NDP leader Wab Kinew told a press conference in Winnipeg on Tuesday morning. He said that hydro rates have surged by a staggering 20 per cent since 2016 under the current administration, placing an undue burden on many Manitobans’ finances.
Manitoba Liberal leader Dougald Lamont said that Kinew’s party doesn’t have much credibility on the Hydro file.
“The NDP is putting back money from Hydro that they took in the first place,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “Manitobans have faced electricity rate hikes and Hydro workers have faced cuts and freezes because the NDP and PCs were bleeding Hydro hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
“You can’t trust the people who broke the system to fix it.”
PC spokesperson Cliff Cullen echoed Lamont’s concern about the NDP’s record when it comes to the provincial electrical utility.
“Wab Kinew’s temporary fake freeze today will cost you more tomorrow, and distracts from his party’s failures: The NDP tripled Manitoba Hydro’s debt and nearly bankrupted the corporation, costing Manitobans billions that they’re still paying off today,” Cullen told the Sun.
He emphasized the PC party’s energy roadmap, which he touts as a comprehensive long-term plan aimed at ensuring Manitoba Hydro’s financial sustainability while keeping electricity bills affordable. He claimed that only the PCs are committed to making life more affordable for Manitobans today and in the future.
Dougald Lamont, Manitoba Liberal Party Leader (File)
Local voters gave the idea of a hydro rate freeze mixed reviews.
“The idea of a freeze does sound appealing,” Brandon-based marketing consultant Funmilola Omole told the Sun. “However, I’m also considering the potential implications beyond that initial year. Will there be a catch-up period afterwards? Will the freeze ultimately lead to more substantial rate hikes down the line?”
Childcare assistant Rae Antonovitch echoed her support for the NDP’s proposal, but also struck a note of caution about the plan.
“I agree with the NDP, but let’s see how far it goes,” she said. “And let’s see if they actually do it.”
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