No plans to ditch natural gas, MPP says

"We are not getting off natural gas anytime soon."

That statement, from Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti, was met with applause from the audience at a discussion about the Sault's future with Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday.

The discussion was moderated by Rory Ring, Sault Chamber executive director, and held at Algoma's Water Tower Inn.

"We've been telling people in Ontario to get on natural gas for the past 30 years, right?" Orazietti said.

"We have a $230 million initiative to bring natural gas to Northern and rural Ontario, places where they can't get natural gas."

"We continue to support low cost, low emission natural gas for home heating," Orazietti said. 

Orazietti's comments came after Ring questioned the MPP about a controversy that has arisen over the provincial government's action plan on climate change.

Opposition MPPs have said Environment Minister Glen Murray wants to shift Ontario away from natural gas.

Murray has denied that.

Ring asked Orazietti about big issues facing Sault businesses and citizens, including the provincial government's energy strategy.

"Some of the policies we've implemented have had a significant impact," Orazietti said.

"If you look at turning off coal-fired generation in Ontario (which the Liberals have done), it's considered to be the single largest climate change initiative in North America."  

"We're off coal in Ontario as a source of electricity.  Does that add to the electricity costs?  (Yes) it adds to electricity costs," Orazietti said.  

"Does it help to improve asthma and other respiratory illnesses?  We pay for healthcare and those costs continue to rise very rapidly."

"While it may be cheaper to shovel coal into a hopper and create electricity, the cost of burning coal as a source of electricity has other negative (cost) effects on our healthcare system," Orazietti said.

The MPP also said, in response to concerns about Essar Steel Algoma, that the province is working to help the local steel sector as a whole, pointing to a $1 million funding announcement made Tuesday, designed to help the Sault's SIS Manufacturing Inc. in its production of steel beams. 

Orazietti said efforts will continue to fight dumping of Chinese steel into Canadian markets, a major source of Essar Steel Algoma's current woes.

Another source of concern for Chamber members is the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP).

"I think everyone is aware Ontarians aren't saving enough," Orazietti said.

The MPP said the provincial pension plan will be phased in for employers over time as other breaks are given to them to ease the cost of their share of contributing to the plan.