VICTORIA – New Democrat MLA, Rick Glumac introduced a motion Monday calling on the House to prevent future governments from doing what the BC Liberal government did when they interfered with BC Hydro contracts and wasted $16.2 billion.

“The scale of this financial disaster is frightening,” said Glumac. “We’re losing $16.2 billion. That’s $4,000 for every household — $4,000 out of my pocket, out of your pocket, out of the pockets of every residential ratepayer in this province and straight into the pockets of private companies to pay for energy we don’t need for at least 20 years.”

A recent report commissioned by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources outlines how the previous government manufactured an urgent need for power while disallowing BC Hydro to produce it, therefore requiring the public utility to buy power from private producers at inflated prices.

Glumac’s motion said “Be it resolved that this House agree that government should no longer direct B.C. Hydro to sign long-term private power contracts that force British Columbians to buy expensive power and sell it at a loss.”

“Everyone understands the need for clean energy, but the way the previous BC Liberal government went about it was reckless and irresponsible,” said Glumac. “They ignored experts and independent regulators and focused on acquiring the wrong kind of seasonal energy – and now we’re all stuck paying the bill.”