Kingston’s Next Member of Provincial Parliament
Last Friday, Kingston and the Islands, along with the rest of Ontario, learned that their next date at the polls would fall on the 12th of June. The surprise announcement came after NDP Leader, Andrea Horwath, declared her party’s opposition to the budget (view it here) proposed by the Liberals. Horwath specifically stated:
This budget is not a solid plan for the future, it’s a mad dash to escape the scandals by promising the moon and the stars. I have lost confidence in Kathleen Wynne and her ability to deliver. Let me be clear, we will be voting against this budget. It is time to go to the people and have them make a decision.
This leaves Kingston and the Islands in somewhat unfamiliar territory, as our long-standing MPP, John Gerretsen, has retired from politics. And thus, even if Kingston continues to remain a Liberal stronghold, we will have a relative newcomer representing us at Queen’s Park.
From the outset there are a host of substantial and controversial issues to weigh as we ponder who to vote for. Such local considerations include the eventual fate of Kingston’s secondary schools and the possible relocation of a gaming facility to the Limestone City. Provincial-wide issues range from the $80-million gas plant scandal to job creation, and from taxes to transit funding. Of course, I would be be remiss if I did not mention Bill 115, the Putting Student First Act.
In the weeks to come, we’re aiming to connect with each of the local candidates in order to learn more about their position on key issues and vision for Kingston and the Islands. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, we want to gauge your preliminary thoughts about who Kingston’s next MPP could be. Accordingly, this week’s poll asks:
If you had to vote today, which provincial candidate/party would you support?
- Mary Rita Holland (NDP) (62%, 85 Votes)
- Sophie Kiwala (Liberal) (23%, 31 Votes)
- Mark Bain (PC) (7%, 9 Votes)
- Undecided. (6%, 8 Votes)
- Robert Kiley (Green) (3%, 4 Votes)
Total Voters: 137
Loading ...In the $80-million wake of the gas plant scandal, 87 percent of readers who were polled confirmed that the debacle would influence how they voted in a provincial election. Has enough time passed since last fall for Kingstonians and Ontarians alike to forgive or forget? And what about the high cost of the election itself – $79.2 million in 2011? Who will voters see as being responsible for forcing this costly trip to the polls? What local issues are you most concerned about? Mark your ballots and drop off your thoughtful comments about the candidates, parties and key issues below.
Photo by Sharron Drummond.
I'm annoyed at the PC for generally being against most things that I believe in. I'm annoyed at the Libs for providing funding to get rid of KC and QE. I'm annoyed at the NDP for forcing this unnecessary and costly election. I'm annoyed at the Greens for not getting it together. Bring back the Rhinoceros Party!
NDP at fault for risking a PC provincial government. Don't split the vote!
You that voted Liberal are idiots. Its just science.
NDP for sure, Liberals are on the way out and the PC's are absolutely nuts.
NDP didn't force this election; Wynne is just clever. She knows people in our democracy hate having to vote (which is its own problem) and so she made a budget that was, according to every major newspaper, fantastical. In other words, it sounded nice but no opposition party in their right minds could allow it to go forward…as a result the Liberals actually forced the election and were clever enough to make it look like the NDP.
Its time the Liberals of this province stop voting on tradition, realize that most of that tradition is scandal, and give the orange another shot. Mostly because we need change, and the Tories are the type of change no one needs or deserves.
Well said Anni. That is some important information people should be made aware of. Not only was the Liberal budget unrealistic but it promised 70 new plans, which they did not even live up to 3 promises from last year. So how can anyone have confidence that they would live up to all those new promises.
I'm tired of all the Liberal scandals and Kathleen Wynne's unrealistic budget. I'm glad Andrea Horwath pulled a plug on this corrupt government. NDP all the way.
Relevant excepts from the October 2013 report Auditor-General's Report re: the Oakville Power Plant Impairment value, and the estimated replacement capital asset value of the Napanee Plant.
With the Oakville plant, .., about two-thirds of the costs of cancellation, as well as any savings, have yet to be incurred.
Figure 6: Differences Between the OPA’s and Our Estimates of Oakville Plant Cancellation Costs
OPA estimate—$310 million
Auditor General estimate—$675 million
There is considerable uncertainty when dealing with future events, and cost and savings estimates are based considerably on judgment.
4.3 COSTS OF OAKVILLE PLANT CANCELLATION AND NAPANEE PLANT SETTLEMENT
As shown in Figure 2, we estimate the cost of cancelling the Oakville plant and settling with TCE on the Napanee plant to be $675 million.
With the Oakville plant, in contrast, about two-thirds of the costs of cancellation, as well as any savings, have yet to be incurred.
3.0 Summary
We estimate that the decision to cancel the Oakville power plant and build a new plant in Napanee may cost the public $675 million (see Figure 2), with $40 million being paid by taxpayers and $635 million being paid by electricity ratepayers.
4.3.1 Costs Incurred
Cash Payment to TCE for Gas Turbines—$210 Million
Cash Payment to TCE for Sunk Costs—$40 Million
Legal and Other Professional Fees—$3 Million
Cash Payment to TCE for Gas Turbines— $210 Million
We were able to determine from the documentation we reviewed that about $36 million of the $210 million the OPA paid covered costs incurred while the OPA and TCE were negotiating having TCE build a peaker plant in the KWC area (see Section 4.2.2).
The supplier of the turbines charged $15 million in penalties for having to suspend manufacturing between October and December 2010 while the decision to locate a potential peaker plant in the KWC area was pending…
Costs associated with the modifications totalled $21 million.
I don't really like the ONDP but I'll probably vote for Holland. The Ontario Liberals haven't made any friends in Kingston lately.