YOUNGER: TAXPAYERS OR RATEPAYERS, NOVA SCOTIANS WILL PAY MORE UNDER NDP GOVERNMENT
Date: Tuesday January 26, 2010

(Halifax, NS) Liberal Energy Critic Andrew Younger says Energy Minister Bill Estabrooks is playing a shell game with taxpayers money.

Estabrooks is quoted by the Canadian Press as saying the provincial government will save money by moving efficiency programs to Efficiency Nova Scotia.

"While the provincial government may in fact save $20 million on the budget, this amount will still be paid for by Nova Scotians through higher power bills that took effect this month," said Younger. "Someone needs to remind the Minister that taxpayers and ratepayers are the same people"

In the final days of the provincial election campaign, the current premier's Chief of Staff wrote to the Utility and Review Board opposing charging power consumers an extra fee saying it would be an unfair burden to residents and businesses.

"Just seven months later, the NDP government is bragging about shifting money from the provincial budget to Nova Scotia power customers," said Younger. "He's not fooling anyone."

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