St. Paul's by-election questionnaire

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance asked the candidates in the upcoming provincial byelection in the Toronto riding of St. Paul's to answer the following questions:

Question 1: Do you believe that the Government of Ontario should fully exploit all energy conservation and efficiency and clean and green power alternatives,
including water power imports from Quebec, before considering further spending on nuclear power?

Liberal Candidate Eric Hoskins' response: Yes or No not indicated
Comments: As part of its goal to stop the use of coal-powered energy generation, the Ontario Liberal Government is fully committed to maximizing energy conservation, efficiency and clean and green power alternatives while at the same time ensuring that our base-load power can meet the needs of Ontario residents and businesses moving forward.

PC Candidate Sue-Ann Levy: No response.

NDP Candidate Julian Heller's response: Yes. Comments: The NDP proposed changes to the Green Energy Act to enshrine "conservation and renewable energy first" in legislation but the Liberals voted this down.

Nuclear plants are unsafe, costly and polluting. New nuclear plants would not be necessary if conservation and renewable energy options were fully pursued. The Liberal government is only pursuing two-thirds of potential conservation and one-tenth of potential on-shore wind and high-efficiency cogeneration (using natural gas for heat and power). New Nuclear plants are dirty, uneconomical and unnecessary.

Green Party Candidate Chris Chopik's response: Yes. Comments: Thriving future friendly economies will be those most protected from energy inflation — world commodities. Based on my research, nuclear power is not good for Ontario's economy, and it is very costly to produce / maintain.

Question #2:  Do you believe that federal taxpayers should subsidize the cost of building two new nuclear reactors at the Darlington Nuclear Station?

Liberal Candidate Eric Hoskins' response: Yes or No not indicated Comments: Any infrastructure investment made by the federal government in Ontario is welcomed by Ontario’s government. Any party that is opposed to the jobs created and the economic stimulus associated therein does not have the best interests of Ontario at heart. An important element of the federation is that an investment in one part of the country benefits the whole country.

Furthermore, subsidizing green energy is exactly what is required to create a culture of conservation. All candidates should be asked if they agree with the plan to eradicate all coal generated electricity in Ontario by 2014.

PC Candidate Sue-Ann Levy: No response.

NDP Candidate Julian Heller's response: No. Comments: In May 2006, Premier McGuinty promised Ontarians they would not be saddled with cost overruns for new nuclear plants. Now the Liberal government is trying to get Ontarians and Canadians from across the country to subsidize expensive and polluting nuclear plants for Ontario. The NDP believes that builders of new nuclear plants should cover cost overruns, just as builders of wind mills and solar panels have to cover cost overruns for their projects.

Together, we can build a green future

Ontario has the resources and the know how to build a clean, sustainable electricity system. By tapping the enormous power of increased efficiency, leveraging our significant renewable energy potential and embracing new technologies, we can create a prosperous healthy province without high cost, high risk nuclear power or dirty coal. Read our recipe for Ontario's Green Future.