Jun 11, 2017 by Tori Stafford Frontenac Gazette

It may not have been with his usual ballpoint pen, but MPP Randy Hillier put his signature on the official launch of the Grace Centre restoration project another way: with a chisel and hammer.

Hillier, MPP for Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington, joined those from Southern Frontenac Community Services, as well as a handful of local politicians and township staff, to kick off the restoration project. The Grace Centre, originally built in 1861, originally served as a Methodist church before becoming Grace United Church in 1925. Now serving as a hub of activity for local seniors and community groups, the 156-year-old limestone building is undergoing a restoration project to repoint the masonry, thanks to a grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Read MPP Hillier and MP Scott Reid's open letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Parks Canada regarding recent flooding in the Tay Valley region.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30th, 2017

Hillier’s Bill 77 Passes Second Reading

(QUEENS PARK) Randy Hillier’s (MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington) Bill 77, The Kickstarting Public Participation Act, passed Second Reading in the legislature on Thursday. The bill will now move on to committee hearings, followed by a Third Reading. Upon passage of a Third Reading, the bill will lead to the establishment of a province-wide online crowd sourcing platform for municipalities and community organizations to use to raise funds for community improvement projects.

“Municipalities struggle to balance the competing needs of their budgets, which means many community projects are not always a priority, leaving citizens feeling disenfranchised,” explained Hillier. “Even community not-for-profits are facing fundraising issues as a result of new OLG rules, so civic crowdfunding fills this void to help these groups get back to supporting their communities.”

Crowdfunding allows groups and individuals to solicit donations and investment for projects online by setting donation tiers, goals and in some cases rewards. While this method started as a tool to finance projects by artists and entrepreneurs, it has since expanded to become used by humanitarian groups and municipalities to fund projects such as parks and community spaces.

“Making crowdfunding accessible to non-profits, service clubs and municipalities in the province will enable local communities to secure finances and gauge interest in public projects, while simultaneously empowering citizens to be more involved in community affairs and development,” proclaimed Hillier. “Enabling the mobilization of citizen ideas will inevitably have a significant impact on bringing meaningful improvements to the communities that need them the most.”

You can watch MPP Hillier's debate on Bill 77 here.

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Contact: Perth Office 613-267-8239
Queen’s Park 416-325-2244
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6th, 2017

Subprime Policies from a Subprime Premier

(QUEENS PARK) In response to the government’s recent announcement of planned hydro cost decreases set for this summer, Randy Hillier (MPP for Lanark-Frontenac- Lennox & Addington) questioned the government on why they continue to replace existing low cost generating facilities with new, high cost replacements.

“The Kingston Generating Station, which employs 18 people and produces electricity for a low rate of 5.9 cents per kwh, is being forced to close while new facilities are being built just down the road in Bath and Amherst Island that will produce for 20 cents a kwh,” exclaimed Hillier. “The Premier can claim all she wants that they are doing what they can to reduce hydro costs, but the fact of the matter is they continue to build expensive and unneeded generating stations will closing down low cost stations that already exist.”

The latest announcement from the Liberal government promises a 25 percent cut off the average residential hydro bill, which will come from a subprime “remortgaging” deal that will extend costs years beyond the life cycle of these assets.

“The Premier has said publicly that this plan is going to cost the people of Ontario more, and take longer to pay off,” explained Hillier. “The government is doing nothing to prevent expected future cost increases, and is now not only dumping the costs of their reckless policies on to future generations; they are continuing to perpetuate cost increases by signing more expensive contracts.”

A full recording of MPP Hillier’s question to the government can be found here.

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Contact: Perth Office 613-267- 8239
Queen’s Park 416-325- 2244
[email protected]

Join me tonight at 7PM where I will be hosting a telephone town hall, exploring the concept of energy poverty and the recently implemented Cap and Trade program. You can watch the live stream of the town hall below.

You are encouraged to contact any or all of the following regarding your issues with Hydro:

Minister of Energy
Hon. Glenn Thibeault, MPP
Ministry of Energy
4th Floor, Hearst Block
900 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2E1
416-327-6758

Office of the Premier
Hon. Kathleen O. Wynne, MPP
Room 281, Main Legislative Building, Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario M7A 1A1
416-325-1941

To join the class action lawsuit against Hydro One contact:
Koskie & Minsky LLC
Email: [email protected]
Toll free Hotline: 1-855-595-2628

Hydro Ombudsman
[email protected]
1-844-608-8756
1.888.448.7777
[email protected]