Ontario New Democratic leader Andrea Horwath unveiled her plan to protect Ontario's drivers at the pumps by setting a weekly price cap on the cost of gasoline.
"Life keeps getting more and more expensive and it's time to give people a break," said Horwath, in Sudbury on Thursday for the acclimation of France Gelinas as the NDP candidate for Nickel Belt.
The New Democrat plan would impose a weekly ceiling on gas prices to reduce volatility and regional price differences, while encouraging competition. The Ontario Energy Board would also have the power to intervene if suppliers were gouging the market.
"We will give the board the power to set a weekly price cap for gasoline. The price of gasoline won't go over that ceiling and drivers will know what they're going to pay that week. No surprises. No shocks," she said.
While the Ontario government can't change international oil prices, it can eliminate gouging and provide consumers with predictability and fairness, Horwath said. The OEB already regulates prices for natural gas.
"We can't fix everything, but we can take steps to protect households from gas gouging," she said.
Gelinas told a group of gathered supporters the pride she felt in being given the opportunity to represent Nickel Belt again has been tempered by the tragic events of the day.
In the 3 1/2 years she's represented Nickel Belt at Queen's Park, she has worked tirelessly for working families
"I'm proud of my party's track record on worker safety and workers' safety and workers' rights," she said.
"But I also realize that there is still lots of work to be done. I feel willing, ready and able to do that job."
She listed several examples -- some silly, some heartwrenching -- of groups and people she has helped navigate insensitive government policies over the years, including a couple from Walden who had been married for 50 years and were forced apart by tactless policy.
"They were both finally living in the same nursing home, but were told 'you won't be allowed to stay in the same room because you don't have enough money for semi-private accommodation,' " Gelinas said.
"How can I live in the province of Ontario when we treat people like this? I couldn't stand it ... we had that changed."
Five provinces and many U.S. states have some sort of price cap on gasoline. The benefits have resulted in reduced price volatility, competition and efficiency, and eliminated opportunistic price gouging.
Horwath will be again be a guest speaker June 27 at 7 p.m. at the Sudbury provincial New Democratic Party riding association nomination meeting.
Two candidates are vying for the nomination -- John Closs, president of the Sudbury and District Labour Council, and Paul Loewenberg, artistic director of Northern Lights Festival Boreal and manager of the Townehouse Tavern.
Registration will start at 6:30 p.m. at the OPSEU Hall at 866 Newgate Ave. The Ontario general election in Oct. 6.
