Privacy boss rips hydro bill

Says public has a right to know

Toronto Sun - June 22, 2002
By Alan Findlay - Queen's Park Bureau

The provincial government is leaving the public in the dark about its changing electricity sector, according to Ontario privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian.

In a letter to a government committee, Cavoukian warns against legislation that provides a "blanket" exemption to restrict public access to information about electricity companies gathered by the province's two regulatory bodies.

"In California, deregulation was accompanied by rolling blackouts, skyrocketing electricity rates for consumers, and allegations that large power companies were deliberately withholding electricity in order to induce a supply crisis that would spike up rates," Cavoukian wrote. "The California experience would seem to shift the balance in favour of greater transparency in the deregulation process in Ontario, not less."

Cavoukian takes issue with Bill 58, legislation that will enable the government to sell off shares of its electric companies.

Energy Minister Chris Stockwell said Cavoukian's request goes beyond any requirements he's ever seen, and would obligate companies to disclose trade secrets to competitors.

"We wouldn't be able to attract people to build power in this province, because nowhere ... are they subject to these conditions," Stockwell said.

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