A citizen’s coalition is going to bat for Northerners to fight high Hydro and gas prices. Local politicians are also backing the cause, including Timmins-James Bay MPP Gilles Bisson. He says the coalition is essentially a wide variety of people working together. He says it’s a broad base of people who say they are no longer able to pay their Hydro bills. The coalition also represent employers, whose bottom line is affected by the high costs. Bisson says they have all come together to voice their concerns.

The alliance is working through a series of town hall meetings, to band the public together. Bisson says if the coalition gains enough support it could force the Ontario government to reverse some of its policies. For example, the government was going to double the cost of prescriptions for seniors. Enough pressure was applied from the public, and the Wynne government backed down and reversed the policy.

There is going to be a town hall meeting on the Citizens Coalition Against Privatization and Hydro One on Monday. It’s happening at the St. Dominic’s Parish Hall at 6:30pm.

On top of the citizen coalitions, Bisson and other northern MPP’s are pushing for a meeting with Glenn Thibeault, the new Energy Minister, to talk about regulations.

(With files from: Greg Rosser)