Statement on the Impending OPG Strike
Episode Stats
Summary
A strike by the Power Workers Union at Ontario Power Generation could begin as early as January 4th, 2019, putting the entire province's electricity system at risk. Speaker of the Ontario Federation of Labour says a strike is a necessity, and without power, "people are at risk of disease and, God forbid, death."
Transcript
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Thank you Mr. Speaker. I'm truly honoured to rise today in this emergency reconvening
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of the Legislature to deal with the impending strike by the Power Workers Union. OPG spokesperson
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Neil Kelly has indicated that a strike by 6,000 workers at Ontario Power Generation means workers
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could start a days-long process of shutting down nuclear power plants before potentially launching
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a strike on January 4, 2019. A strike by the OPG would put the reliability of the entire provincial
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electricity system at risk. The independent electricity system operator has said that the
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shutdown of OPG's nuclear and hydroelectric facilities could occur in approximately three
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weeks. At that point, Ontario would not have the generation needed to meet consumer demand and
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customers would begin losing power. The IESO will take every action available to delay and mitigate
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the impact however these actions will not be enough to prevent significant losses of power
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in my riding of carlton i've already seen the devastating impact left due to prolonged lack of
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power back when the tornado hit dun robin and the ottawa area we lost electricity and people across
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my riding were adversely affected that includes senior homes affordable housing and subsidized
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housing people living on life support isolated and vulnerable families and some pumps wouldn't
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work either. With sub-zero temperatures in the dead of winter, Carleton's residents
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need electricity. It's not a luxury, Mr. Speaker. It is a necessity of life. And without
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it, people are at risk of disease and, God forbid, death.