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PAGE 2THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 31,2001 Ontario is not California, hydro officials say ONTARIO from page I say their energy needs are being met through cleaner methods of production than under the controlled system. One key advantage Pennsylvania had which Ontario shares, asserts Mr. Pospisil, is ample power generation going into a free market. "Both the California and Alberta supply was very tight and the economy was growing very fast. Ontario is unlikely unlikely to see similar volatility. The supply supply is much more favourable," he contends. contends. ; ; Ontario's electricity supply still has a' healthy reserve above its peak needs, says Mr. Pospisil. At peak demand, the province requires about '23,000 mW. Yet even with some of Ontario's generators, generators, including the Pickering and Bruce A plants out of commission at S resent, it is capable of generating 0,000 mW, lie says. And, another $3 billion (3,000 mW) in projects, mainly natural gas operated, co-generation plants (those which produce both electricity electricity and heat) are being proposed by private sector interests. While natural jias prices are high now, Mr. Pospisil suggests this is a short-term problem that will not hamper those investments. "We know the gas is there. It's a matter of putting the infrastructure in place to tap into that," he says. Until that happens, Ontario, unlike its western counterparts who rely heavily heavily on natural gas for electricity production, production, can afford to wait, he suggests. Only about five per cent of this province's electricity needs are met through natural gas generation at the moment, compared with 54 per cent in California, he says. But not everyone shares his enthusiasm. enthusiasm. Before retiring, Courtice resident John Wells shared his engineering expertise expertise with both British Gas and Ontario Ontario Hydro. He now runs a consulting business and is a member of the board of directors of the Claringlon Board of Trade. He has been following the global global changes to the electricity industry and says the move could have a severe impact both on electricity supply and the economy. Mr. -Wells fears, in the long run, consumers will pay dearly for the initial allure of deregulation. "We'll see the effects five to 10 years from now and it will be too late," he warns. Mr. Wells feels governments, motivated to get large capital project debts off the books today, are giving away the control of our electricity supply supply for tomorrow. "There's a brick wall and they're walking straight into it," he says. "It can be successful for now but when we run out of generating capacity, capacity, that's when it falls down." Mr. Wells points 10 to 20 years down the road as Ontario's nuclear plants begin decommissioning, decommissioning, and questions how this steady, reliable energy source will be replaced. While he admits nuclear power may not be the ultimate solution for mankind, he suggests other options such as natural gas-powered plants and those relying on fossil fuels cannot replace replace the steady, high production capabilities capabilities of nuclear power until something something better comes along. Mr. Wells believes believes Ontario requires another nuclear- plant and the time for breaking ground on a new plant is now. "Under privatization nuclear plants won't be built. The price is too high," he says. A stable oil supply could go into decline by 2010, Mr. Wells suggests, suggests, while gas, although it will be in ample supply for a long time to come, will be in high demand both here and south of the border. To have your flyers delivered by Durham's #1 Carrier Force! Call 579-4407 Wednesday, January 31,2001 • Lifestyles* • Sears* • Future Shop* • Party Giant* • Home Depot* • YMCA • Hoopers Jewellers* • Joshua Tree Ministries* • Toronto School of Business* 1 Flyer not necessarily in all papers Remember, all inserts, invknlinp those on plossy paper, van he recycled with the rest of your newspaper through yotit blue box Recycling program. At Veridian Corporation, one of Ontario's Ontario's biggest electricity distributors owned by Claringlon, Ajax and Pickering, Pickering, President John Wiersma is not fearful fearful of power shortages for his customers. customers. He points out Ontario has not surpassed its all-time high electricity requirement set in 1994 and projections do not suggest a significant increase in demand for electricity in the foreseeable foreseeable future. "The key is divestige of Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to create enough diversity in the supply and enough investors in the supply. To have a good market, you really have to have an attractive investment climate," he maintains. On the other hand, he points to nuclear power, produced solely by OPG, as the stabilizing influence that will make Ontario's emergence into the open market different from California's. California's. "With nuclear power, we do have a more stable cost," he says. Darlington and Pickering nuclear plants and OPG's hydro-electric operations operations will "play a key role" in Ontario's future for a long time to come, suggests OPG spokesman John Earl. "We look at Pickering and Darlington as key to OPG's success in the future," he says, noting there is no set date for decommissioning decommissioning the two plants. "There is opportunity for continued upgrading of operation of these plants based on meeting the licensing requirements" requirements" of the regulator, he says. Mr. Earl suggests technological advances could extend the life of the Pickering and Darlington plants indefinitely. When the plants do eventually close, Mr. Earl says, both technology and the market dynamic will play a part in determining determining "how generation finds its place. It's very speculative." ■ Mr. Pospisil agrees. "Fifteen years is a long time. In the last decade of the last century we saw more change than the previous 90 years together. I think there are going to be a lot of innovative approaches." CHIEF KEVIN McALPINE 'At least I think we eon work within it.' Police chief happy law upheld POLICE from page 1 ternet-based prosecutions." Almost all, if not the vast majority of child porn prosecutions in the region in recent years involved images downloaded downloaded from the Internet, lie said. Mr. Davies said he anticipates the local cases that had been adjourned pending the release of the ruling will now return to court. For the most part, Police response to the ruling has been positive. Chief Kevin McAlpine of Durham Regional Police said, "We're happy the majority of the law has been upheld. At the moment moment at least I think we can work within within it." . . He said he couldn't think of any past or present cases affected by the exceptions exceptions and said he does not share the view of some police officials and politicians the loopholes could create potential barriers to an investigation. Susan Shetler, a spokesman for People People Against Pornography, said the Supreme Court justices, by creating the exemptions, "over-reached in their attempt attempt to strike a balance" in protecting children from sexual abuse and an individual's individual's right to freedom of expression. "They naively trust that child pornography created by a pedophile will remain for private use and not be Panel, school board meet PANEL from page I what stakeholders said during the meeting. meeting. Reports indicate about three-quarters three-quarters of public high school teachers ceased participating in extracurricular activities when the Province increased teaching time requirements. But Ms. Eckcr has said workload is not negotiable. negotiable. Nonetheless, KPR chairman Bob Willsher says workload has consistently been identified as a problem. He says he doesn't believe having volunteers take over extracurricular activities is the answer. answer. "Frankly, if we're going to have volunteers, volunteers, who's it going to be? It's going to be parents again," says Mr. Willsher. "I'm afraid we're going to break the camel's back with that one extra straw."' Please visit our website at www.sleepfavtory.eom Remember, we are the factory. Please visit our website at www.sleepfavtory.com