Nova Scotia has highest energy cost increase in Canada

HALIFAX, NS – Energy costs, including fuel and electricity, rose 12.3 per cent in Nova Scotia in the past year. This was the largest percentage increase in Canada. The national average was 7.2 per cent.

Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says the NDP’s “bite the bullet” electricity plan ignores affordability and allows power rates in Nova Scotia to skyrocket, taking more from the family budget and leaving less for other necessities, like food, transportation and housing.

According to Statistics Canada data released today, electricity costs have increased almost 10 per cent since last year. This corresponds to the January 1st increase in electricity prices. An average Nova Scotia family must now spend over $120 more per year for electricity.

“By not making affordability a priority, the NDP's ‘bite the bullet’ electricity plan also leads to higher prices for everyday items on store shelves,” said Baillie. “The highest taxes in Canada and the second highest electricity prices are at the root of the higher costs that Nova Scotian families are seeing when they do their day by day shopping.”

The NDP raised the HST by two percentage points in July 2010, taking $685.6 million out of the pockets of Nova Scotans, or $743 per capita.

All across Canada, energy prices played a role in rising costs, but Nova Scotia led the country with the largest percentage increase over the past year.

Baillie says a PC government is committed to creating the winning conditions for a stronger economy: balancing the budget, lowering taxes, eliminating unnecessary regulations and adopting an energy plan that affordably integrates economic and environmental goals.

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LINKS:

Nova Scotia's electricity prices:
http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a26?lang=eng&retrLang=eng&id=3260020&pa...
(select: Add/Remove Data > Step 1 choose only "Nova Scotia", Step 2 choose only "Electricity", Step 3 choose February 2011 - February 2012 > Apply)

Nova Scotia's Consumer Price Index:
http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/cpis01d-eng.htm

National CPI averages:
http://www40.statcan.gc.ca/l01/cst01/cpis01a-eng.htm