Leal, Scott spar over Roland’s
Opposition MPP blames steakhouse closure on soaring hydro rates, but Leal says there were other factors
Two Peterborough MPPs squared off at Queen’s Park on Monday over who is responsible for the upcoming closure of Roland’s steakhouse on Highway 7 just east of the city.
The fine dining restaurant has been a Peterborough institution for nearly 60 years, founded in 1958 by Roland and Gertrude Rubman, and has been owned for the past 28 years by Peter and Brigitte Brugger.
The restaurant is closing April 15 after they accepted an offer from an unnamed developer buying the property.
Peter Brugger cited rising costs of electricity as a major factor in the decision to close – even though the kitchen uses natural gas to cook, hydro bills have doubled over the past two or three years, he told The Examiner last month.
Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock Progressive Conservative MPP Laurie Scott raised the issue during question period in the Ontario Legislature on Monday, questioning Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal, who is the minister of agriculture, food and rural affairs with responsibility for small business.
“Do you know what finally drove them to close their doors? The outrageous hydro costs resulting from this government’s misguided policies,” Scott told the legislature.
Scott said Brugger shared the hydro bills for Roland’s with her and she said they had doubled in January from just a year earlier, despite spending $23,000 on new energy-efficient LED lighting.
“After seeing them, I’m not surprised why he was forced to shut down. Rising hydro costs are hurting the rural economy in our area and the government’s poor excuse of a relief plan will do little to undo a decade of runaway increases.”
Leal responded that there are other factors behind the closure besides the hydro bills, citing the recent openings of the Hobart’s and The Keg steakhouses in Peterborough.
“The fact of the matter is, the owners, and I know them well, were offered a substantial amount of money to buy the property for commercial development .... There’s going to be an extensive commercial development,” Leal responded.
Leal’s answer didn’t satisfy Scott.
“This is a real business, real jobs lost because of the government’s misguided policy decisions,” Scott said.
“In the owner’s own words, he saw no chance for survival.”
The speaker of the legislature had to interrupt Scott’s questions several times to warn several MPPs on both sides to stop heckling. NOTE: Watch video of the exchange online at www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com.