A response to “Partisan politics wasted energy in utility debate”; MLA Hunter

The Aug. 3 column “Partisan Politics Wasted Energy in Utility Debate” really struck a chord with me. There were several errors that I would like to briefly correct.

Admittedly, the Alberta government suing two of its own agencies and the citizens of Calgary, among others, is a complicated story, but I think Mr. Price missed the single most important part of the story which will result in Alberta consumers paying much more for electricity because of the NDP. The NDP is rushing to shut down perfectly good coal-fired power plants and is raising the cost of doing business. To replace them, Alberta will need billions of dollars-worth of renewable energy or gas-fired plants. Alberta power companies will have to go to the global capital markets to borrow that money. 

Does anyone think that the world will be keen to loan Alberta money at cheap interest rates given that our government just decided to sue itself over a 16- year old contract?

This lawsuit will increase the cost of building power plants that will replace perfectly good coal power plants the NDP is shutting down early. For partisan reasons.

All Albertans will have to pay for that, and they have a right to be upset about that.

GRANT HUNTER
MLA FOR CARDSTON-TABER-WARNER