In Northern Ontario this summer? Say hi to Fedeli

QUEEN’S PARK – Provincial legislature closed the books on a “sad session” last week, according to Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.

“If there’s one thing to come out of this session, it’s skyrocketing hydro rates to go even higher,” Fedeli says. “Next is your business will suffer with new costs and that means jobs are always going to be a bigger concern. I’m very disappointed. Extremely disappointed.”

The legislature broke for the summer June 5 with the sale of Hydro One putting a damper on the warm weather.

“Your hydro bill last month, May, went up 15 per cent,” Fedeli says. “It’s going to go up 10 per cent in November. And it’s going to go up 10 per cent again in January. That’s a 35 per cent increase in eight months. … And because of the loss of provincial oversight this hydro deal now will be done in secret. We will never, ever know truly whether we’re getting good value for the people of Ontario, but I suspect we won’t be.”

“When I’m back, I’ll be reinvigorated to hold the government accountable on Ontario Northland, on Lake Nipissing, on jobs and economy, and talk to them about balancing their budget so they can stop firing nurses at our hospitals and stop firing professors at our university.”
- Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli

Despite the disappointment, Fedeli is looking forward to the legislative break.

“I’ve been on the campaign trail since 2010 so this will be the first summer I’m not actively campaigning,” he says. “I can spend a bit more time looking at the issues for Northern Ontario and how that relates to Nipissing.”

Some of those issues include Ontario Northland, the Ring of Fire, and continuing to work on his private members’ bill about the Fentanyl patch-for-patch, which is gaining popularity across the province.

“There are 66 mining and manufacturing companies in North Bay alone and several more included throughout the riding,” Fedeli says. “I want to make sure our businesses are getting their fair share of work, so I’ll probably tour some underground mines over the summer and some forestry operations.”

And he likely won’t be alone for all of it. Newly elected Progressive Conservative Party leader Patrick Brown has been taking a vested interest in Northern Ontario — most recently visiting the Ring of Fire — and Fedeli says that’s not going to change.

“It’s a genuine priority,” Fedeli says. “He’s been to the north 12 times in the past year.”

In fact, this summer the PC party will be holding its caucus meeting in Northern Ontario, though Fedeli couldn’t specify the details.

And, of course, Fedeli is highly anticipating all the summer events taking place in his riding.

“There’s the Mattawa festival, North Bay heritage festival, the sea pie dinners in Bonfield and Astorville, the parade in Callander, events in Powassan and Chisholm…” he says.

“It’s just nonstop. It will be a great summer to be home.”

And some northern air is just what Fedeli needs to recharge for when legislature resumes in September.

“When I’m back,” he says, “I’ll be reinvigorated to hold the government accountable on Ontario Northland, on Lake Nipissing, on jobs and economy, and talk to them about balancing their budget so they can stop firing nurses at our hospitals and stop firing professors at our university.”