Transcription

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 Jasmin Ralph From: AMCTO > Sent: July 30, :35 PM To: Jasmin Ralph Subject: AMCTO Responds to Announcement of The Better Local Government Act If this does not display properly, please view our online version. &# 160; July 30, 2018 AMCTO RESPONDS TO ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BETTER LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT Dear AMCTO Members: Last week several municipal reforms with significant ramifications, were put forward by the Honourable Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark. While we look forward to reviewing the upcoming legislation, the announcement and several aspects of the proposed legislation has created widespread concern within our sector, regarding timing, implementation, and lack of engagement with local government professionals. Reserving any specific comment on the policy, AMCTO is concerned with how these reforms were brought forward, notably: This legislation will be introduced on the eve of the 2018 municipal elections and will impact provisions within the Municipal Elections Act. AMCTO has long believed that senior orders of government should engage local government professionals and representative associations, early and more importantly, provide the appropriate amount of time to ensure that public policy implementation is effective at the local level. The timing of this legislation will make this extremely challenging. This new legislation will create changes to existing election processes within the sector. Ambiguity exists with how to balance the currently enforced rules and regulations with those of the new legislation. Naturally, this ambiguity hinders the ability of local government professionals to implement provincial public policy in a fair and effective manner. Finally, AMCTO is concerned that the lack of engagement or notice for these reforms to municipal legislation signals a step backwards in the belief that the municipal sector is recognized as a mature, responsible order of government. AMCTO staff and members will review the legislation once it is released, and will look for ways to provide our technical expertise on how to support public policy implementation at the local level. We continue to believe this value is best served when our members and association are engaged early in the policy development process. 1

8 ONTARIO ENERGY BOARD NOTICE TO CUSTOMERS OF UNION GAS LIMITED Union Gas Limited has applied to introduce a new firm transportation service under Rate M17 for gas distributors and to modify the applicability of existing bundled delivery service and semi-unbundled storage and transportation service under Rate M9 and Rate T3 rate schedules respectively. Learn more. Have your say. Union Gas Limited has applied to the Ontario Energy Board to introduce firm transportation services for gas distributors that will have competitive storage and gas supply options under a new M17 rate class effective January 1, Union Gas Limited has proposed the new M17 service in response to a request by EPCOR Southern Bruce Gas Inc. for gas transportation services to the South Bruce expansion area. Union Gas Limited is also seeking approval to limit the applicability of its Rate M9 and Rate T3 rate schedules to existing gas distributors. THE ONTARIO ENERGY BOARD IS HOLDING A PUBLIC HEARING The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) will hold a public hearing to consider the application filed by Union Gas. We will question Union Gas on the case. We will also hear questions and arguments from individual customers and from groups that represent the customers of Union Gas. At the end of this hearing, the OEB will decide whether the proposed new transportation services and changes to existing rate schedules will be approved. The OEB is an independent and impartial public agency. We make decisions that serve the public interest. Our goal is to promote a financially viable and efficient energy sector that provides you with reliable energy services at a reasonable cost. BE INFORMED AND HAVE YOUR SAY You have the right to information regarding this application and to be involved in the process. You can review the application filed by Union Gas on the OEB s website now. You can file a letter with your comments, which will be considered during the hearing. You can become an active participant (called an intervenor). Apply by October 1, 2018 or the hearing will go ahead without you and you will not receive any further notice of the proceeding. At the end of the process, you can review the OEB s decision and its reasons on our website. LEARN MORE Our file number for this case is EB To learn more about this hearing, find instructions on how to file letters or become an intervenor, or to access any document related to this case, please enter the file number EB on the OEB website: You can also phone our Public Information Office at with any questions. ORAL VS. WRITTEN HEARINGS There are two types of OEB hearings oral and written. The OEB will determine at a later date whether to proceed by way of a written or oral hearing. If you think an oral hearing is needed, you can write to the OEB to explain why by October 1, PRIVACY If you write a letter of comment, your name and the content of your letter will be put on the public record and the OEB website. However, your personal telephone number, home address and address will be removed. If you are a business, all your information will remain public. If you apply to become an intervenor, all information will be public. This rate hearing will be held under section 36 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, S.O c.15 (Schedule B).

9 August 30, 2018 BY COURIER & RESS Ms. Kirsten Walli Board Secretary Ontario Energy Board 2300 Yonge Street, 27 th Floor Toronto, ON M4P 1E4 Dear Ms. Walli: RE: EB Union Gas Limited ( Union ) - Rate M17 Firm Transportation Service Please find attached Union s application and evidence seeking approval of a new firm transportation service for gas distributors under the Rate M17 rate class, effective January 1, This application is made pursuant to Section 36 of the Ontario Energy Board Act, Union is also seeking approval to modify the applicability of its approved Rate M9 and Rate T3 rate schedules for existing gas distributors. The application and evidence have been filed through the Ontario Energy Board s ( the Board ) RESS and will be available on Union s website at: Should you have any questions on the above or would like to discuss in more detail, please contact me at Yours truly, [original signed by] Karen Hockin Specialist, Regulatory Initiatives Encl. cc: Charles Keizer, Torys P.O. Box 2001, 50 Keil Drive North, Chatham, ON, N7M 5M1 Union Gas Limited

10

11