People near Hanover protesting high hydro bills Monday.  (photo by Kirk Scott)
People near Hanover protesting high hydro bills Monday. (photo by Kirk Scott)
Midwestern

Protestors Along Highway Near Hanover Monday

There was a loud demonstration Monday near Hanover by people protesting their skyrocketing hydro bills.

They waved placards along Hwy. 4 in front of Saugeen Cedars Campground.

Owner Pat Cottrell says her hydro bill for the campground has more than doubled in two years from about $16,000 to $37,000.  Cottrell adds that she isn't the only one suffering.

"This is ridiculous. People are losing their businesses, they're losing their homes. Seniors are freezing in their homes in the winter," says Cottrell.

She says the high hydro bills make it difficult to run her business.

"It's making it more and more difficult," says Cottrell. "It cuts into your bottom line so you have to stop doing upgrades for the campers, you have to stop doing maintenance on certain systems because there's no money left over."

Cottrell says she'll have to raise the rent for some campers but she can't raise them higher than what people can afford.

Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker, who took part in the protest, says what's needed is action on reducing hydro bills, not just a lot of talk from Premier Kathleen Wynne.

He says he's against the government selling off Hydro One and he calls for a moratorium on the Green Energy Act.

Saugeen Cedars owner Pat Cottrell and Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker at the scene of hydro rate protest Monday. (photo by Kirk Scott) Saugeen Cedars owner Pat Cottrell and Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker at the scene of hydro rate protest Monday. (photo by Kirk Scott)

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