The Timmins Chamber of Commerce said it's taking action to push the province in reducing soaring energy costs.
At the Ontario Chamber of Commerce's annual general meeting in Chatham-Kent, May 3-5, the Timmins chamber said it successfully lobbied to have energy price reductions among the Ontario chamber's top priorities.
“Timmins businesses know all too well the considerable challenges posed by energy prices in this province, which are some of the most expensive in North America,” said Art Pultz, chamber president.
With costs expected to further rise in the coming years, Pultz said members asked them to take action.
Higher power prices were a big factor behind the closure of the Kidd Metallurgical site in 2010 and the loss of 650 jobs. Xstrata Copper decided to consolidated its smelter and refinery operations in western Quebec.
The Timmins policy was crafted after consultation with area businesses, which identified energy as one of their top three challenges. Recommendations were created for the Ontario chamber to take forward to Queen's Park, including a plan to cut prices over the long term and a call for investment in transmission line upgrades.
“Our partners were invaluable in helping to move these policies forward, which proves that this crucial issues speaks to basic business competitiveness in this province,” said Pultz.
