Hampton writes book on Hydro
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, Jan. 13 - A just-finished book on hydro by NDP
Leader Howard Hampton challenges Conservatives to call an election and let the
people decide the future of Ontario's hydroelectric system.
In Public Power: the history and future of Ontario's hydro, Hampton
covers more than a century of the complex issues and intriguing personalities
behind the battles to establish and maintain public control of electricity in
Canada's most industrialized province. In one of the book's highlights, he
recounts the dramatic 1907 province-wide referendum in which a huge majority
voted for public ownership of Ontario's hydro system
At a press conference today, Hampton challenged Premier Ernie Eves to
"obey the mandate set by history" and "call the ultimate referendum, an
election now, on the future of Ontario's hydro."
"There is no expiry date on democracy," Hampton said. "Premier Eves is
obliged by history to take the hydro question to the people before selling off
their most valuable economic asset and essential service. There must be no
sale of Hydro One, no further privatization of any hydro assets, until the
people have given their consent."
Hampton also exposes the failure of privatization and deregulation the
world over and gives devastating accounts of the Harris/Eves governments'
"unprecedented incompetence" on hydro issues and the "deer-in-the-headlights"
confusion of the McGuinty Liberals over where they stand.
The book, published by Toronto's Insomniac Press
(www.insomniacpress.com), makes a compelling case for retaining regulated
public power. It ends with Hampton's vision of a 21st century public power
system focusing on energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, fair and
stable prices and political accountability.
Hampton described his book, a long time dream, as "a team effort"
involving writer/collaborator Bill Reno and a team of researchers. It will hit
store shelves in late March. |
