Inexperienced Social gathering Chief and Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner is asking on the province to permit municipalities to cost fuel corporations to make use of public land.
On Wednesday, Schreiner introduced the No Free Experience for Fossil Fuels Act at Queen’s Park.
If handed, the invoice would give municipalities the ability to cost charges from Enbridge and different pure fuel suppliers for public land use.
“That is about placing individuals earlier than oil and fuel earnings,” Schreiner stated.
The invoice was first tabled within the final parliament, however Schreiner stated it “died on the order paper” when the election was referred to as earlier this yr.
In a press release, the Greens stated most provinces cost fuel corporations to make use of public land, however Ontario doesn’t.
Get every day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
World Information made makes an attempt to contact Michael Chong, the Conservative MP for Wellington-Halton Hills, however no remark was supplied by publication time.
Leanne Caron, councillor with the Metropolis of Guelph, stated the businesses use the general public lands to distribute fuel and don’t pay again the municipalities.
“Like different provinces who’re allowed to cost to be used of public land, we’d like this income to put money into local weather mitigation, deeply reasonably priced housing and to help the vitality transition away from dependence on fossil fuels,” Caron stated.
Ought to the province finish the ban on pure fuel suppliers utilizing public lands free of charge, Schreiner stated the town wish to cost fuel corporations a price as a part of a brand new settlement with Enbridge.
He stated the funds might create a income stream and put tens of millions of {dollars} again into the neighborhood.
“If we use the identical system as Edmonton does, the Metropolis of Guelph might elevate an extra $8.5 million in income that would assist us fund metropolis companies and hold property taxes down,” he stated.
The Ontario Vitality Board is at present proof introduced by Evan Ferrari, government director of eMerge Guelph Sustainability and an area advocate, together with the town, in its resolution to resume its pure fuel franchise settlement with Enbridge.
Proper now, the town is within the strategy of renegotiating its 20-year lease settlement with Enbridge, in response to the Guelph MPP.
Schreiner stated the invoice might assist play an element within the board’s resolution to resume with Enbridge.
“Re-tabling this invoice is a crucial step,” he stated.
“Let’s cease the ban, let’s cease stopping municipalities from charging fossil gasoline corporations from paying their justifiable share. I believe that’s an essential message to ship.”
© 2025 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
