Ford interference in Hydro One worries U.S. takeover target

Washington ratepayers, commissioners wary of provincial control

“If something drastic, if the province or governmental entity in Canada were to take an action that would have a drastic impact on the company and potentially the ratepayers … how does this protect ratepayers from the potential impact?”

What commissioner Ann Rendahl is getting at there — and boy, we sympathize — is how can Washington ratepayers be reassured that there won’t be any more surprises in the proposed takeover of Avista Corp. by Hydro One? And how to calm the jitters of those con- sumers who remain unconvinced that the takeover is in their long-term interest?

Last week’s marathon hearing before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) drew a heavy focus on the potential for the government of Ontario to act up again, and little wonder given the past fulmi- nations of Premier Doug Ford, the sudden exit last July of Hydro CEO Mayo Schmidt (Mr. $6 Million) and the departure of the entire slate of directors.

The madness left the state UTC flatfooted and perplexed.

TRADE from B1

trade this past week?” he said.

“That’s where the other 95 per cent of interprovincial trade is actually being discussed.”

On Monday, after meeting with Moe, Ford said it’s time to “start knocking down the regulations and barriers between the provinces.”

Businesses and leaders have told him “that this is one of the primary obstacles in attracting new investment and jobs to our country.” But it’s no easy task. At a July meeting of premiers in New Brunswick, the leaders weren’t able to come to any formal trade agreements, only announcing they had a common goal to reduce the limits of alcohol allowed over provincial and territorial borders.

“What we need in Canada is a comprehensive approach, not a patchwork of little one-off agreements,” said New Democrat MPP Peter Tabuns after Ford and Moe’s announcement. “This is much more about a media opportunity — a photo opportunity — than it is about anything serious to do with trade in Canada.” Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said any move to reduce trade barriers is welcome, but long overdue.

“In some ways it’s ridiculous that we negotiate trade deals with other countries and we don’t actually have free trade within our own country,” he said.

Ford cited a recent study that said improving trade among all the provinces would give a $50 billion boost to Canada’s GDP over the next decade, about $15 to $20 billion for Ontario alone.

“We can’t afford not to act,” Ford told reporters Monday. “I’m pleased to say Saskatchewan and Ontario are working together. We’re going to lead where Ottawa has totally failed.” In Ottawa, federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc chided the two premiers.

“It’s extremely disappointing to see Ontario and Saskatchewan play political games with such an important economic file after being the only provinces absent from the table at last week’s meeting in Vancouver on internal trade and the USMCA,” said LeBlanc. Trade Minister Jim Wilson — who noted he’s been at Queen’s Park for 28 years — said “I can’t name you five interprovincial trade barriers we’ve ever brought down in that time ... If we bring down trade barriers with Saskatchewan, we’ll do more trade, we’ll do more exports outside of Canada, and the rest of the provinces will follow.”