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Premier assures business crowd she's listeningf by Nathan Howes O akville Beaver S ta ff As protesters walked with placards decrying hydro costs and more outside, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne called for collaboration and leadership from everyone in the province to overcome current challenges in Ontario. W ynne delivered the message Friday Jan. 13 in Oakville at a luncheon co-hosted by the Oakville and Burlington chambers of commerce. The sold-out event drew nearly 440 people, along w ith dozens of protesters, to the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre. W ynne' s presentation, A balanced plan to build Ontario up for everyone,' touched on a number of key issues facing businesses and residents, including rising hydro costs, post-secondary education, infrastructure and carbon tax. The Premier fielded a number of questions from the audience during a moderated question-and-answer session. "Although w e are starting the year in a very good position, and w e're committed to helping businesses build on this momentum, w e all have to acknowledge that people are having uneven experiences of the growth that w e're creating," said Wynne. "Not every worker, not every family is feeling better off or is feeling able to get ahead," admitted the Premier. W ynne' s biggest challenge as Premier is finding ways to invest in "what I know w e need to do" to create opportunity and security for people long term, she said, while ensuring the necessary supports are in place for Ontarians to get ahead. "Finding that balance is the challenge every single day. We are working actively to find that balance," said Wynne. Hydro costs in a very good position, and we're committed to helping businesses build on this momentum, we all have to acknowledge that people are having uneven experiences of the growth that we're creating. Not every worker, not every family is feeling better off or is feeling able to get ahead. W Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne g u Q " ^ p m > m _ _ Premier Kathleen Wynne speaks to the audience at the luncheon hosted by the Oakville Chamber of Commerce and Burlington Chamber of Commerce at the Oakville Convention Centre on Friday afternoon. "That transition is not going be without its bumps, it' s not going to be uniformly easy. We all know that. Our emissions cap program helps to make the transition affordable for homes and businesses," said Wynne. "We've passed a law mandating that every dollar raised will go back to the people of Ontario, to the businesses of Ontario - to environmental programs and initiatives that help cut emissions." Record investment in infrastructure 5: q o b 3 | Nikki Wesley/Metroland overhaul the infrastructure -- investing more than $50 billion over more than a decade to upgrade the Province' s transmission and generation systems - so the cost of the changes has "burdened people across the province, in every corner," Wynne said. "Because of hydro bills, this one father wrote to me that they were having to scale back on the kids' Christmas presents this year. That is unacceptable to m e," said Wynne. The provincial government lowered electricity bills by eight per cent, removing the provincial portion of the 13 per cent HST on hydro bills starting this month, in January 2017. On average, the move has been touted by provincial government officials as saving an Oakville/Ontario household $11 a month. Savings on the tax could be higher, should the hydro bill be steeper. W hile that makes a difference, Wynne said, it still isn't enough and she said she is committed to find more ways to lower rates and reduce the burden on consumers in the coming weeks and months. "I have heard the voices of the people of Ontario and it' s the right thing to do, on top of the work that w e have already done," said Wynne, acknowledging eliminating coal was "the right thing to do" and claiming Halton used to have the highest rates of asthma in Ontario. New cap-and-trade system One of the very top-of-mind concerns for many residents, including the protesters demonstrating outside during the luncheon, is electricity and the rising costs of hydro. Because Ontario' s electricity system used to be a "m ess," w ith constant sm og days and blackouts, the government needed to W ynne also touched on the government' s new cap-and-trade system, another polarizing issue w ith voters. The Premier said an emissions cap is the "lowest-cost way for families and businesses" to transition to a low-carbon economy. Regarding Ontario' s public infrastructure, the government has invested $160 billion in new roads, transit systems, renovated schools and hospitals over 1 2 years -- a "record, historically-significant" contribution, Wynne said. "That' s how w e build transformational projects like the GO Regional Express Rail -- faster, more frequent service on the GO rail network, including electrified and express service from Oakville to Union Station," said Wynne. "I don't have to tell any of you how badly transit is needed. You've spent time sitting on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) or crowded on those trains." Starting in September, the Province is making college and education tuition free for more than 150,000 students, the Premier noted, which builds on the 30 per cent off Ontario Tuition Grant already in place. see Ontario on p.5 WILD CARD! 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