Letters - February 27

Feb 26, 2014

Trapped in home heating hell

So since it makes no sense that any logic should apply to this winter, check out how Consumers are getting cornered into paying outlandish prices for heating their homes this year.

First of all, the property insurers in their rush to deliver less for higher cost have for several years targeted those of us who have been using oil for heating. They have charged an extra for this privilege for home insurance and are now insisting that oil tanks be replaced on a ten-year cycle so that there is minimal chance of leaks (and zero risk for them). The net result is the rush by homeowners to switch to propane. And it worked for a few years.

Then the winter of 2013-2014 hit and propane “shortages” came into play because of a rapid increase in demand (too many switches, too soon) and the inability to truck the stuff in the quantity needed, or any other reason to justify an increase of almost 100% in one year. Now someone is profiteering!

So now propane is selling at above $1.10 per litre and heating oil is above $1.22 per litre. This sounds like a deal until you factor in the heating value of the two fuels. Then you find that propane is costing 40% more on a BTU basis than heating oil.

And, here is the big one, if you paid the same price per BTU for hardwood firewood as current oil prices, the cost per full cord of wood would have to be $1,000! Sooner or later the cost of buying firewood will go up, so don’t rush to switch. Oh yes, insurance companies don’t like wood stoves either.

But don’t worry. I’m sure the Provincial government will step in soon. No, wait - these are the guys that put the HST on home heating fuels and power! Forget I mentioned them.

Makes you angry.

Frank McEvoy

Minimum wage increase helps only one segment of the population

I am a senior citizen who is very concerned for our future generations so I am voicing some of my concerns.

Minimum wage increase is of no value per se because it is only one segment of the equation. This is not going to help those on Old Age Security, small business, stay at home moms, housewives, volunteer agencies, recent graduates, ODSP & Welfare recipients, apprentices and far more whom I have missed, which I apologize for. Unfortunately, it seems as though education has produced far too many desk monkeys that cannot distinguish fact from fiction. They are book educated when in fact they need to balance that education with some 'hands-on experience', which would give them a lot more credibility. They depend on the worker to pay their salary and bonuses. Example, architect, engineer, contractor, boss or foreman do not get paid if the worker or laborer does not do their job. Instead, we need to look at decreasing the salaries and bonuses of those at the other end of the scale For example, one month salary of a CAO (i.e. Frontenac County CAO 157,000. as advertised) is equivalent to the average annual income of the individuals mentioned above. We need to look at decreasing the annual incomes and bonuses paid out to those CEOs and executives whose incomes are outrageous. These salaries and bonuses are made possible because of the labour produced by the everyday worker.

Hydro 1 -the cost of delivery, the debt and taxes cost is more then the consumption (sun & wind energy, .80 over .08 return); the closing of 2 gas plants costing Ontarians over a billion of taxpayers’ dollars; 5% increase in gas tax (making a 200 km trip for health reasons at a cost of $100); townships who get gas rebates which ought to go back into roads, instead is used to finance projects such as the "Dark Skies" which is what happened in North Frontenac Township. Grants are not free money. Someone has to pay.

OPP- 1.28 million for North Frontenac which means an additional $309.00 per household compared to the $60.00 currently being paid. The recent increased cost of the propane has skyrocketed, in some cases doubling the cost of heat for customers in only a few weeks. Finally, these living expenses such as heat, hydro, rent, telephone cost a lot more to the average person. For many it means cutting their food budget or not purchasing much needed medications. Costs continue to increase but incomes do not! It is my experience. those that honestly need the help will not ask.

How is the average person supposed to live and survive in 2014 and into the future? The homeless numbers are increasing; seniors and low income families freezing to death because they can't afford the hydro or propane for heat and draining food banks, which are already stretched to their max. Even telephone cost increase of $10.00, a necessity for security of the retired, is a hardship. This is a very sad commentary for our future generations. I question if they will be able to produce what is necessary to sustain society. We must encourage and educate our youth to work in jobs and trades that will keep society financially viable vs. continuing on the current trend of paying out exuberant incomes & bonuses for few.

Herbert W. Kent