Hampton’s Public Power Bus Marathon continues through Southern Ontario

NDP Leader Howard Hampton continued his relentless fight to stop hydro privatization and deregulation as his Public Power Bus rolled through parts central and southwestern Ontario March 19.

In Peterborough, “The Electrical City”, Hampton warned it would be “lights out” if the Conservative-Liberal hydro sell-off goes through. Cities across Ontario like Peterborough, the first city in the province to install electric street lights, could face brownouts and blackouts as for-profit companies snap up Ontario generating stations and sell power to the United States where they can get double the price. “For decades, electricity has been there when we need it with the simple flip of a switch. Put hydro in the hands of the multinationals and it's ‘Hello California,’” Hampton said.

In Lindsay, a community that has learned firsthand how Conservatives like to ram through unpopular decisions without a mandate from the public, Hampton said an election should be held before hydro is sold off.  Speaking to a community that has experienced a forced amalgamation, Hampton said people -- not Conservative and Liberal backroom wheelers and dealers -- should decide hydro's fate. "The Conservatives have no mandate to sell off our electricity system. And the Liberals have no mandate to support the move," Hampton said. "Before an essential public resource like hydro is handed over to for-profit companies like Enron, an election should be held to give people a voice in this critically important debate."

In Kitchener, Hampton saluted grassroots activists and the labour movement.  Their tireless work has helped the NDP put the fight to stop hydro privatization on the political radar screen, Hampton said. "Only hard work, sound principles and solidarity will stop the Conservative-Liberal hydro sell-off," Hampton told dozens of activists outside Kitchener City Hall. There, Hampton urged municipal councils to join the NDP and a broad coalition of hydro privatization opponents to stop the dirty deal. "By standing together, we can ensure a brighter future for Ontario," he said.

In St. Thomas, Hampton and NDP Labour Critic Peter Kormos warned Ford workers that hydro privatization will put jobs in electricity-intensive industries like auto manufacturing at serious risk. Saddled with 20 per cent higher electricity costs because of the hydro sell-off, auto makers, steel plants, mines, paper mills and high-tech firms will all be forced to layoff workers, cut jobs and possibly close plants to offset much higher production costs. "Private hydro's higher electricity costs will drive Ontario business and industry to cut staff to keep costs down," Kormos said. "The NDP's plan for Accountable Public Power is a brighter idea that will keep costs down, save jobs and preserve the local economies that depend on them."

In Windsor, Hampton capped off his 36-hour, Ontario-wide bus marathon by delivering a message of hope to a jammed roomful of 500 supporters of the NDP's fight to stop hydro privatization. "The Conservatives and Liberals want you to believe there's nothing you can do to stop hydro privatization. But that's just not true," Hampton told the overflow crowd at the town hall meeting, one of many happening across the province. "As long as we still own the transmission wires and the generating stations, we can keep this essential service out of the hands of companies like Enron," he said. Hampton urged the crowd to visit www.publicpower.ca to find out how to mobilize against hydro privatization to keep power with the people.  Windsor Council and the school board have both passed resolutions calling on the government to halt the plan.