Robert Benzie Queen's Park Bureau Chief

Star.com

August 3, 2011

An NDP government would make retrofitting homes a priority over refurbishing nuclear reactors, says party leader Andrea Horwath.

Horwath told reporters Wednesday at Queen’s Park that if the New Democrats win the Oct. 6 election they would “hit the pause button” on the Darlington atomic project and use the savings to encourage conservation.

“It’s very clear that the government’s nuclear plan is an extremely expensive one,” she said of a nuclear rebuilding plan that could cost $26 billion.

“We don’t think nuclear is the wisest way to go, not only because of cost but because of risk and danger and so we’re looking at other options. The problem we have in Ontario is this government has all but given up on the cheapest form of power which is conservation, which is reducing people’s demand for power through conservation programs.”

Nuclear power currently accounts for about half of Ontario’s electricity generation, but Howarth insisted that energy-saving measures and increased use of renewable power can make up for some of that.

She touted a new four-year $980-million program for Ontarians to retrofit their homes with rebates worth up to $5,000. By improving insulation or installing new windows and doors, she said homeowners could save as much as $700 a year on a $2,000 annual hydro bill.

The NDP scheme is similar to a Liberal government program that was scrapped last year.

Energy Minister Brad Duguid said in an interview that Horwath opposed the old retrofit program when the Liberals were touting it — and the replacement conservation plan that helps renters and others.

Duguid also said she was being “irresponsible” by trying to scrap new nuclear plants because some 70,000 people work in that in industry across Canada and it is by far the most important electricity generator in Ontario.

Progressive Conservative MPP Jim Wilson (Simcoe-Grey), whose party favours nuclear power, questioned the wisdom of not investing in Darlington because manufacturers need a stable source of electricity.