Halt the Hydro Sell-Off in Ontario

We, the undersigned Residents of Ontario, recognize that:
1) Electricity rates in deregulated, private for-profit markets, such as Alberta and California, fluctuate wildly in supply and price, and are much higher priced than in comparable public power systems;
2) Deregulation in California caused more blackouts than Ontario has suffered from ice storms or other natural disasters, while Public Power has protected us from market fluctuations in supply as well as price;
3) At-cost electricity has helped build and support Ontarios economy, while deregulation would destabilize the economy with soaring rates, reduced reliability and increased production costs leading to plant closures, job loss and economic decline;
4) Soaring electricity rates would put a significant burden on school boards, hospitals, public transit and other public services, which cannot afford to pay double for their electricity;
5) Seniors and other members of our communities on fixed incomes would be hard hit by increasing rates, and the living standards of millions of Ontarians will be harmed;
6) Privatization will trigger NAFTA provisions, making it practically impossible to reverse this dangerous experiment, and would cost us Canadian control over electricity;
7) Privatization, deregulation and loss of sovereignty would close the door on public accountability of the industry in regard to environmental, safety and energy security concerns;
8) An alternative exists in the form of a truly accountable, transparent and affordable publicly-owned and controlled system, operated at cost for the benefit of all Ontarians,

AND THEREFORE WE DEMAND THAT THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY HALT THE PLANNED PRIVATIZATION/SELL-OFF/DEREGULATION OF THE PUBLIC ELECTRICITY SYSTEM.