Laurie Watt on Municipal Affairs

More light should be shed on hydro deal

A Barrie councillor asked me whether I was supportive of the merger deal between Barrie Hydro and PowerStream, Ontario’s third-largest local distribution company and owned by Markham and Vaughan.

I told him I didn’t know enough to decide.

That was three weeks, two public meetings, numerous phone calls and e-mail messages ago.

And I still don’t know enough to say whether I support the merger.

There are several key facts that are missing. Some Barrie councillors have tried to bring these to light – like when and why did the utility board turn down the merger, how did it get to Barrie council despite that rejection, and more recently, when was an exclusivity clause extended by hydro staff, especially in light of critical public opinion?

Most of the public criticism, too, has centred on unanswered questions – like who were the nine companies assessed, on what criteria were they examined, how did they rank and why would the deal with PowerStream be the best deal?

These remain unanswered.

Perhaps the deal with PowerStream is so good it shouldn’t be turned down.

We, however, do not know that. We do not know the history or the rationale; all we have seen is a sales pitch.

Further, the condescending tone of answers to councillors who have asked critical questions highlights concerns about the quality of investigative work and the motivation behind the deal. Semantics and political ploys to not answer questions throw suspicion on the deal, whether merited or not.

The context is Ontario’s energy sector is changing and mergers among municipally-owned utilities allow for more investment in specially trained staff, smart meters, digital grids and conservation programs. Mergers build better companies.

But the question remains: is this the best deal for Barrie Hydro, its shareholder (the city) and its customers?

I don’t know, even after doggedly pursuing answers to key questions.

If this deal is a good deal, city staff and Barrie Hydro officials shouldn’t be afraid to be open about it. The deal will sell itself.

Finding your place in the world

Sometimes real life can make more interesting reading than the stuff we’re writing about.

Take last week for example.

I spent Sunday through Wednesday at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa. I laughed to myself when I encountered local politicians who’d been asked about “that reporter from Barrie” by provincial and federal politicians, who were surprised in scrums to receive questions about Central Ontario’s urban growth centre.

An e-mail from an editor Tuesday asked “Are you causing trouble in Ottawa? (Federal) Housing Minister Monte Solberg’s office would like to talk to you.” I subsequently interviewed Solberg, by phone, from the Byward Market.

I returned home from Ottawa Wednesday afternoon to a house that was an utter disaster. The husband had been home alone with the kids – and getting in the front door was a sandals-and-shoes obstacle course.

Instead of having a chance to put my feet up and relax at home, the husband had other plans.

The next day while camping with the kids, we ventured out onto Oastler Lake. A friend of ours has a cottage there, so we borrowed her old boat to take the kids for an early evening cruise. As the smell of gasoline intensified while we travelled further from shore, I suggested to the husband that we perhaps head back. No, he wanted to explore more.

About 10 minutes later, we ran out of gas; apparently, there was a leak and the full tank we had upon setting sail was empty.

And what little we could see of the sun that wasn’t hiding behind the rain clouds was setting. So I nabbed the paddles, handed one to the husband and suggested we make our way to shore. Once the kids realized our plans had changed, they grew anxious. We settled them by singing “If You’re Happy and You know it…”

What would have made me happy was a husband who used his ears to listen.

Of course, as we broke camp Saturday morning, the sun came out and the mercury rose. We had to head back to the city because the husband didn’t want to miss a last farewell at a north shore boathouse. The city is ending those leases this fall, and a group of guys was getting together to drink beer by the bay.

Sunday and Monday were quiet. Tuesday was my little guy’s first day of school.

Cracking open the champagne and adding OJ, I raised my glass to the nearby public school and hoped the teacher was well rested from her summer vacation.

As I watched the little guy walk in line and wave nicely as he headed to class, I thought he was just starting what I hope will be a lifelong journey to explore our world and find his place in it.

And that, really is what it’s all about: whether in a scrum in Ottawa bringing my community’s questions to the politicians, whether paddling a boat to safety or stepping into JK.

It was indeed a week worth writing about. But, thankfully, a new week awaits, awaits us all.