Comments on: My Position on the Proposed Merger http://mayorsblog.guelph.ca/2008/09/25/my-position-on-the-proposed-merger/ Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:22:56 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: commentator http://mayorsblog.guelph.ca/2008/09/25/my-position-on-the-proposed-merger/#comment-419 commentator Sat, 14 Feb 2009 08:46:53 +0000 http://mayorofguelph.wordpress.com/?p=389#comment-419 FYI,,,,from the Barrie Examiner - Feb 13/09 Energy minister touts Ontario's new green plan Says utility mergers will help province Large, strong electrical distribution companies will help power the province's new Green Energy Act, George Smitherman told a Barrie crowd yesterday. "They will develop more renewable energies and create a culture of conservation in our province," Ontario's energy and infrastructure minister told a crowd of hydro workers at the Army Navy & Air Force Club. Through the Green Energy Act, the province hopes to create 50,000 new jobs from green-energy projects such as wind turbines, solar panels and biofuel plants. It's expected to be unveiled next month. Smitherman was speaking to about 350 employees of the newly merged PowerStream-Barrie Hydro, the first staff get-together since the Jan. 1 amalgamation. Ontario's deputy premier also reminded yesterday's crowd that it was the province which encouraged the merger, a union which created the secondlargest electrical utility in this province. Utility companies in Ontario had until Oct. 17 to buy each other out or merge to get a provincial transfer tax holiday, a savings of 33 per cent on any transaction. Barrie Hydro's merger with PowerStream was approved by city council in September. "The consolidation is a consolidation in which two strong utilities came together to create one that is even more powerful," Smitherman said. Owned by the municipalities of Vaughan, Markham and Barrie, PowerStream- Barrie Hydro now has 315,000 residential and business customers in Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Bradford-West Gwillimbury, Beeton, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan. Utility officials say that for now, customers will continue to pay the current distribution rates. But in three-to-five years, Barrie customers are expected to see lower rates. FYI,,,,from the Barrie Examiner – Feb 13/09

Energy minister touts Ontario’s new green plan

Says utility mergers will help province

Large, strong electrical distribution companies will help power the province’s new Green Energy Act, George Smitherman told a Barrie crowd yesterday.

“They will develop more renewable energies and create a culture of conservation in our province,” Ontario’s energy and infrastructure minister told a crowd of hydro workers at the Army Navy & Air Force Club.

Through the Green Energy Act, the province hopes to create 50,000 new jobs from green-energy projects such as wind turbines, solar panels and biofuel plants. It’s expected to be unveiled next month.

Smitherman was speaking to about 350 employees of the newly merged PowerStream-Barrie Hydro, the first staff get-together since the Jan. 1 amalgamation.

Ontario’s deputy premier also reminded yesterday’s crowd that it was the province which encouraged the merger, a union which created the secondlargest electrical utility in this province.

Utility companies in Ontario had until Oct. 17 to buy each other out or merge to get a provincial transfer tax holiday, a savings of 33 per cent on any transaction. Barrie Hydro’s merger with PowerStream was approved by city council in September.

“The consolidation is a consolidation in which two strong utilities came together to create one that is even more powerful,” Smitherman said.

Owned by the municipalities of Vaughan, Markham and Barrie, PowerStream- Barrie Hydro now has 315,000 residential and business customers in Alliston, Aurora, Barrie, Bradford-West Gwillimbury, Beeton, Markham, Penetanguishene, Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham and Vaughan.

Utility officials say that for now, customers will continue to pay the current distribution rates. But in three-to-five years, Barrie customers are expected to see lower rates.

]]> By: Brian Holstein http://mayorsblog.guelph.ca/2008/09/25/my-position-on-the-proposed-merger/#comment-333 Brian Holstein Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:07:37 +0000 http://mayorofguelph.wordpress.com/?p=389#comment-333 It was a refreshing sight to watch all members of council debate this issue around the horseshoe in a professional manner. People will argue about the outcome, but to me the delight was watching 13 elected people being able to debate an issue without micro-managing, without inuendos being called across the horseshoe. Almost every councillor had an opinion and that opinion was clearly articulated by each. It's wonderful to have a professional group of people debating ssues in public, rather that reaching foregone conclusions behind closed doors. It was a refreshing sight to watch all members of council debate this issue around the horseshoe in a professional manner. People will argue about the outcome, but to me the delight was watching 13 elected people being able to debate an issue without micro-managing, without inuendos being called across the horseshoe. Almost every councillor had an opinion and that opinion was clearly articulated by each.

It’s wonderful to have a professional group of people debating ssues in public, rather that reaching foregone conclusions behind closed doors.

]]> By: kfarbridge http://mayorsblog.guelph.ca/2008/09/25/my-position-on-the-proposed-merger/#comment-331 kfarbridge Tue, 30 Sep 2008 05:22:48 +0000 http://mayorofguelph.wordpress.com/?p=389#comment-331 This posting has generated the most traffic reflecting the interest in this issue. Council voted 8 - 5 AGAINST the recommendation to merge GHESI with Horizon. This posting has generated the most traffic reflecting the interest in this issue.

Council voted 8 – 5 AGAINST the recommendation to merge GHESI with Horizon.

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