LONDON, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - April 30, 2016) - Nine out of ten London residents want the provincial Liberals to stop any further sale of Hydro One, according to polling results released at a campaign launch today.
"This poll shows a vast majority of people in this riding and across London want the government to stop the sale of Hydro One from going any further. This reflects what we're hearing at doors - people are angry about the sell-off of Hydro One," said Steve Holland, an active member of the Keep Hydro Public Coalition. "Today, we are ramping up our local campaign focused on Liberal MPP Deb Matthews, who has supported the sale of Hydro One, despite the opposition of almost everyone in London."
A packed house helped launch the campaign today at the London Public Library, Beacock Branch, before heading out to canvass and leaflet door-to-door. Campaign materials remind constituents that 70 percent of Hydro One is still owned by the people of Ontario, and it's not too late to Keep Hydro Public.
Leaflets, store posters, and newspaper ads call on Liberal MPP Deb Matthews to stand up for the people she represents and speak out now against Hydro privatization.
Across the province, the campaign links MPP votes on the Hydro sell-off at Queen's Park and their role as locally elected representatives.
"We elect MPPs to represent us. Any MPP who is voting to sell Hydro is not listening to me or any of my neighbours, and clearly isn't voting to the majority of residents in this riding," said Angela Thompson, a leader in the London chapter of Hydro One Not for Sale, a partner organization in the Keep Hydro Public coalition.
An Environics poll of 578 London residents taken on April 22, 2016 found that 88 percent of people oppose the Liberal plan to sell off 60 percent of Hydro One. Of those polled, 81 percent are concerned that privatization means already high electricity prices will go up further. The poll is considered accurate to within plus or minus 4.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
When the next provincial election happens, 70 percent of voters said that Hydro privatization will make them less likely to vote Liberal, including 59 percent of people who voted Liberal in the last provincial election.
Three-quarters of London residents also want an inquiry into the relationship Liberal party fundraising and the banks that are profiting from the Hydro One sell-off.
"Deb Matthews, like Liberal MPPs across the province, better pay attention and start speaking up on behalf of their constituents, or voters will take out that anger in the next election," said Fred Hahn, president of CUPE Ontario, a partner in the Keep Hydro Public campaign.
The Keep Hydro Public campaign is supported by more than 20 community, labour, environment, anti-poverty and student organizations. Find out more about the campaign at KeepHydroPublic.ca.
Contact Information:
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