Hydro Rebates Coming

Electricity consumers in Ontario will get 10 per cent rebates on their bills starting in January to offset a projected 46per cent hike in hydro rates over the next five years.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the rebates should help keep increases in electricity rates to about 3.6 per cent a year as Ontario moves to green energy sources.

Duncan admits the switch to renewable energy is responsible for more than half of the projected increase.

But he says there are financial and human savings to getting out of coal-fired generation.

He asks if it's worth three billion dollars a year in health costs to the province just to keep burning coal to generate electricity.

The Tories and New Democrats say the rebates are clearly designed to help the Liberals overcome voter anger over skyrocketing hydro bills in advance of next fall's election.

Wind power opponents say the so-called Clean Energy Benefit is an attempt to hide the true cost of green energy.

They say it "won't stem the anger, solve the problem or spare the Liberals in 2011.''

Area Liberals Support Rebates

Northwestern Ontario Liberals are quick to promote the 10 per cent rebate on electricity bills.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says some consumers may not see the reduction right away.

"Depending on how quickly the electricity distributors can get their billing changes in place," says Gravelle. "Even if it doesn't show up until March, it will still be reflective of each month from January 1 on."

Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says the rebate is something northern Liberals had been lobbying for.

Area Roads Slippery

A blanket of snow is leaving roads across the Rainy River district a little slippery this morning.

About five to ten centimeters fell in most parts of the district overnight and continues to falls this morning with freezing rain.

Sanders are on the roads, but the OPP say motorists should adjust their driving habits according to road and weather conditions.

Outdoor Cards Fraud Reviewed

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is looking into ways to prevent fraudulent use of its Outdoors Card.

The relative ease with which an Outdoors Card can be obtained for improper use came to light after a card-bearing Chicago-area angler told a conservation officer in northwestern Ontario he was from Mississauga.

The man, who had been using a fraudulent card for 17 years, pleaded guilty earlier this month and fined $5,000.

A ministry spokeswoman says the Ministry believes there are only a few cases of fraud.

Treaty Three Applauds Declaration

Grand Council Treaty Three is applauding the United Nations for approving its Declaration of rights for Indigenous People.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly says the expectations of Treaty Three residents have been raised by Canada's endorsement of the declaration last week.

Kelly is hoping it marks a new era in the relations between Treaty Three and government and will lead to a new, better and strengthened economy in northwestern Ontario.

Restructuring Plan Hearing Adjourned

AbitibiBowater's restructuring plan still awaits U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval after a hearing yesterday was adjourned until next week.

A telephone hearing with company lawyers and a number of creditors is scheduled to resume Tuesday.

Company spokesman Seth Kursman says it's unknown when the judge will rule on the plan, but the company is still hoping to emerge from bankruptcy protection by the end of the year.