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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, September 23, 2016 | 6 Are they listening? Is elimination of the provincial eight-per-cent of the 13 per cent HST on hydro bills starting in January 2017 enough? The tax adjustment was announced in the Throne Speech delivered in the Legislature at Queen's Park by Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell Sept. 12. Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne's provincial government is reportedly to spend $1 billion annually to make it happen. Ontario Labour Minister and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn was in town Sept. 16 expanding on the announcement's results for local residents. Halton MPP Indira Naidoo-Harris was doing the same in Milton. On average, the move will save an Oakville/Ontario household $11 a month, said Flynn. Savings could be higher, should the hydro bill be steeper. Some say the timing of the announcement appears suspect -- following reports of a sudden realization Ontario families needed a break on the hydro front... and following a Liberal loss in the Scarborough-Rouge River by-election. "Your government has listened and has heard your concerns," said the speech read in the Legislature by Dowdeswell. "It recognizes that the cost of electricity is now stretching family budgets." While Flynn noted hydro rates had to increase in order to, rightly so, remove coal from the power generation equation, was last week's sudden recognition that hydro costs may have become a burden to residents and businesses in Ontario, and the subsequent elimination of a relatively newly-implemented tax, born out of concern for beleaguered Ontarians? As people square up on their hydro tab, with bills reective of high rates and in the wake of a very hot summer, providing a break as of next January does little to take the heat off now. This is in the wake of suddenly realizing people are stretched? And it will cost $1 billion? At whose cost? Nothing appears to add up except our mounting cost of hydro. Either there's a crisis or not. Either one is aware it exists or they don't. Either the issue is addressed or it continues to limp along. A crisis does not just arrive apparently out of the blue, despite repeated complaints it exists, and then equally rapidly disappear, with a promise of a few bucks or numbers that, when spread over time, will likely dilute themselves. After scandals, billions in waste, particularly in regard to incorrectly siting a proposed gas plant in Oakville and then cancelling it, investigations, hydro rates that are skyrocketing (and have been for a long time), energy being sold outside of province for pittance... $11 a month starting next January does not a x make from the Province. Even as a bandage solution, it comes up lacking. Are Ontario provincial representatives in tune with the electorate or do they have earbuds in while marching to their own tune? The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to: The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 or via email to ablackburn@ oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. Editorial "Connected to your Community" 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington ON L7L 5Z1 General Inquiries: (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising: (905) 632-4440 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 Volume 54 | Number 77 The Oakville Beaver is a division of Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice ­President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Regional General Manager Advertising Director NEIL OLIVER KELLY MONTAGUE DANIEL BAIRD Managing Editor ANGELA BLACKBURN RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director Business Manager LORI ANN GZOVDANOVIC My View Director of Production MARK DILLS I Electoral reform must reflect democracy n 2017, we'll mark the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation and it offers us an opportunity to renew our commitment to democracy and an inclusive, accessible and fair electoral system. All Canadian voices should be heard and treated with respect. That's why we are committed to modernizing our voting system to be more re ective of Canadians' needs and aspirations. On Sept. 14, I was pleased to welcome Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Democratic Institutions, Mark Holland, to Oakville NorthBurlington to consult with residents on electoral reform. We heard from a broad cross-section of people, many of whom felt there was a real lack of education about the electoral process, particularly with youths. Other discussion points included the possibility of mandatory voting, voter apathy, proportional representation, greater local representation, better accessibility for the disabled, online voting, improved civility and collaboration between parties MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager Director of Distribution CHARLENE HALL KIM MOSSMAN Circulation Manager Pam Damoff Oakville North-Burlington MP Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Canadian Circulations Audit Board Member in Parliament, greater access for indigenous Canadians to Parliament and whether a referendum should be held on electoral reform. Prior to the public town hall, a smaller roundtable was held with Mr. Holland to highlight the issues people with disabilities have experienced with our current voting process. The electoral system is an important tool for expressing the democratic will of Canadians; however, the electoral system we have today dates back to a distant era and is eroding public con see Everyone on p.13 Recognized for Excellence by Ontario Community Newspapers Association Canadian Community Newspapers Association Proud Official Media Sponsor For: Pud by Steve Nease The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline.