Ontarians should be protesting in the streets over their high energy bills, especially since cheaper natural gas is readily available from Alberta and could help drive prices lower, the CEO of Calgary-based oil and gas company Birchcliff Energy (BIR.TO) said.
In an interview with BNN, Jeffery Tonken said Ontario’s hydro bills are unaffordable as a result of the province's imported natural gas, even though it could embrace what’s available domestically instead.
"Your power bills are so high in [Ontario], I can't believe that you're not out with a placard saying 'We want Alberta gas,'" Tonken said.
Tonken said moving more natural gas into Ontario and Quebec would help Canadian producers stay competitive against their U.S. counterparts.
"I want you from Ontario to quit importing 60 per cent of your gas from the U.S. and start to use Western Canadian gas," he said.
Tonken also argued that the Canadian government should rethink their carbon pricing strategy. He said more taxes won't help support an energy sector that's been hit by low prices.
"Our young children are leaving, they're coming to Ontario for jobs," Tonken said. "We want them to stay in Alberta — that's the lifeblood of our industry."
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