Rogerson calls for cost accounting of Ring of Fire

Pat Rogerson wants to take a “sustainable approach” to managing northern Ontario's economy.

That's why she called for full cost accounting of development proposals around the Ring of Fire, before commitments are made by political parties.

“I’ve been very clear that we need better leadership for the North at Queen’s Park, and that we have to start shifting the focus towards sustainable development and away from the idea of taxpayer-subsidized proposals which doesn’t consider a full range of costs, including externalities,” Sudbury's Green Party candidate stated in a media release.

Rogerson's comments came after Sudbury riding Liberal and Progressive Conservative candidates “promised their unequivocal support” for bringing a chromite facility to Greater Sudbury, “despite not having made a fully-costed economic case to do so.”

The media release stated that for the facility to be run profitably, power would have to cost four cents per kilowatt. Ontario residents currently pay between 5.1 cents and 9.9 cents.

“This means that Ontario’s taxpayers will have to find a way to subsidize energy costs so that an American multi-national mining company can turn a profit,” said Rogerson. “Rick Bartolucci says he wants to bring a processing plant to Sudbury, but at what cost? I don’t know. No one knows, and the Liberals don’t want to talk about it.”

For more information about the Green Party and its platform, visit www.itstimeforgreen.ca.