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Porter says the NDP have lost touch with reality

March 30, 2012

WINDSOR, NS  The NDP government has grown so out of touch with the reality for families in Nova Scotia that they consider taking $743 in higher HST from every person to be making life more affordable.

The Throne Speech does nothing to make life more affordable for families in Hants County, said Hants West MLA Chuck Porter. The NDP are telling Nova Scotians that they are putting money back in their pockets when, in fact, they have taken $743 from each of us in higher HST. Thats almost $3,000 for the average family.

Read more: NDP Lost Touch with Reality

Porter Pleased Hantsport Collaborative Practice Moving Ahead

Read more: Hantsport Collaborative Practice Moving Ahead

Porter: Higher profits and executive bonuses must go

“Nova Scotians have been very clear that they do not want to pay for bonuses and support higher profits at Nova Scotia Power,” Porter said. “We will not support any rate settlement that provides higher profits and bonuses paid for by Nova Scotia Power customers.”

Nova Scotia Power is seeking to add millions to its bottom line by increasing its target Return on Equity to 9.6 per cent. On top of the extra profit, Nova Scotia Power intends to spend $5.5 million on bonus pay next year, half of which is charged to its customers.

Porter will insist that bonuses and higher Return on Equity be taken out of the rates that customers pay. He will also argue that any rate agreement must still go to the UARB for scrutiny.

“No matter what comes out of the meeting tomorrow, we will insist on carrying the concerns of Nova Scotians to the UARB, where any rate increase can be examined openly and transparently,” Porter said.

“If consumers are being asked by the NDP government to ‘bite the bullet’ and pay more for power, they deserve to know exactly what they are paying for,” he added.

Truth must come out: Tories

Energy critic Porter says true cost of NDP’s ‘Bite the Bullet’ electricity plan must come out at rate hearing

HALIFAX, NS - Nova Scotians deserve to hear all the facts about the true cost of the NDP’s expensive energy programs, Progressive Conservative energy critic Chuck Porter said today.

Porter says the PCs will oppose Nova Scotia Power's proposed settlement agreement because they believe the cost of the NDP’s policies must be examined at the UARB rate hearing.

"We represent a large number of Nova Scotians who are angry with this NDP government for deliberately driving-up power rates and concealing that fact," said Porter. "The NDP’s electricity plan asks Nova Scotians to ‘bite the bullet’ and pay more for power, but they don’t want us to know how much more.”

On Wednesday, lawyers and representatives for customer groups and intervenors will meet with Nova Scotia Power to respond to the company's proposal for an agreement on power rates, which the PC Party will oppose.

"The Premier refuses to recall the Legislature and face questions about power rates because he doesn't want the truth to come out. The fact is, the NDP are forcing power rates up without public input or debate,” continued Porter.

Porter says the NDP have very expensive plans and should be held accountable in the legislature about what is reasonable in a struggling economy and how energy generation can be made more affordable. Instead, the NDP forces Nova Scotia Power to jack their rates.

"If the Premier trusted Nova Scotians, he would share his government's plan to pay for programs through higher power rates. He should recall the Legislature, account for his secret plans and ask Nova Scotians whether they support those plans," added Porter. "If the Premier won’t trust the people, the people won’t trust him."

More than 700 Nova Scotians have submitted comments and questions to the PC Party's letstalkrates.ca website and Porter said he and his colleagues have heard from a great many more via e-mail and in person. An overwhelming 90 per cent of respondents want clarity about how much government programs are costing them.