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9 | Friday, December 16, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Energy status quo not sustainable for ratepayers: Oakville/Ontario chambers The Oakville Chamber of Commerce is calling on the Province to take steps to address the affordability challenge of energy pricing in Oakville. The demand, made in partnership with the Ontario Chamber Network, was made Wednesday (Dec. 14). "Ontario is at a turning point in its planning process regarding the future energy needs of the province. In order for businesses to grow and succeed, it is imperative that future energy policies address the concerns of businesses and support future economic growth," stated Caroline Hughes, Oakville Chamber chair, in a media release. "Under the new Climate Change Action Plan, businesses are already facing additional costs," stated the release. TTn/uAtmaA a/rfm S IN C E 1986 Up 25 per cent for residents and small business "Since the 2013 LTEP, industrial rates in the province have increased by 16 per cent, while the rate for households and small businesses have climbed by 25 per cent. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce and its members have consistently reported the price of electricity is undermining business' capacity to grow, hire new workers, and ultimately remain competitive." According to the Oakville Chamber, a capacity market structure would see "significant" cost-savings for energy consumers in Ontario by getting a shorter-term supply on a cost-efficiency basis. "For a capacity market to be successful in Ontario, the system would feature an auction style process where resources, such as generation facilities, imported resources, electricity storage and demand-side resources, are compensated for the potential energy they could produce," stated the release. The Oakville Chamber stated, while it commends the provincial government for becoming a world leader in renewable energy sources, "the status quo is presently unsustainable for ratepayers." CANADA"AA" Obstacle to doing business "In our 2016 Advocacy Survey 83 per cent of respondents believe energy costs are becoming a serious obstacle to doing business. Furthermore, 82 per cent agree the Cap-and-Trade Plan for Ontario should be delayed until its impact on business is fully understood." In its submission on the Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP), the chamber is calling on the provincial government to ensure future policies regarding energy pricing are affordable, transparent and flexible. One of the submission's top recommendations is calling for the adoption of a capacity market system. E N T E R T A IN IN G M A D E E A S Y : BEEF WELLINGTONS CROWN ROAST OF PORK YangAccounting.ca YY@Y angAccounting.ca C R A R e -A sse ssm e n t O v e r d u e T a x R e tu r n , A p p e a ls I R S N E W T a x T r e a ty f o r C a n a d ia n FRESH TURKEYS COUNTRY HAM BONE IN GLAZED FESTIVE HAMS EXQUISITE HOLIDAY HORS D'OEUVRES · · FRESH CAPONS $14.00/pkg Experienced Professional Services for Individual Business & Corporation (6 4 7 ) 9 8 9 -1 2 7 6 11-1155 North Service Rd. W, Oakvil e (289)291-3924 Y in g (K im b erley ) Y a n g 18th Floor, 2 St, ClairAve. W, Toronto (647) 255-8049 INSURE YO UR FUTURE TODAY Preferred rates for accident free drivers. Save up to 40% on your policy.Ask us how. New drivers & hard to insure drivers also welcome. Local Oakville residents with over 20 years experience in the insurance industry CRANBERRY SAUCE Christina Di Rosa Corey Di Rosa YOUR IN SU RA NCE EXPERTS D i R o s a I n s u ra n c e B ro k e rs C o n t a c t u s t o d a y fo r a fre e q u o t e o n y o u r h o m e , a u t o a n d c o m m e r c ia l in s u r a n c e n e e d s traveler sT IN C . 905-847-529511260 SPEERS RD. UNIT 13, OAKVILLE T U E S - T H U R S 1 0 - 7 , FR I 9 - 7 , S A T 9 - 6 , S U N 1 1 - 5 w w w .d ie tr ic h s .c a n D IE T R IC H S O A K V IL L E 9 0 5 .3 3 0 .7 5 2 2 | w w w .p b n e t.c a /d ir o s a