Horwath says Wynne 'very out of touch' with Hydro One plan

Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says Premier Kathleen Wynne is "out of touch"if she can't see that her government's desire to sell off a majority stake is not what the public wants.

During a visit to Windsor on Wednesday, Horwath met with local business owners, ahead of a town hall taking place in the evening that will focus on the proposed privatization of Hydro One.

The province's governing Liberals intend to sell a majority stake in Hydro One, though the government says it will take steps to limit any party from owning more than 10 per cent of the utility.

Such a sale would be expected to generate billions of dollars for the province.

Horwath told CBC Radio's Afternoon Drive on Wednesday that the government is wrong to believe it will be able to retain control of the utility.

"We firmly believe that the sell-off of Hydro One is the wrong direction for the province of Ontario,"Horwath said.

"Notwithstanding what the premier says, 40 per cent does not give one control of anything. With that kind of math, the opposition would be running the government."

Horwath and the New Democrats have opposed the government's plan for a variety of reasons, including the fact that it was not on the radar during the provincial electionlastyear.

"We have many, many concerns and I can tell you that the premier is very out of touch if she doesn't understand that Ontarians don't want this to happen,"said Horwath.

The New Democrats have also raised concerns about what will happen to the price of electricity, should the government move ahead with its plan. The provincial Tories have expressed the same concerns.

"We know that privatization always, always leads to higher rates. People already can't afford their bills at the end of the month, electricity rates are out of control here in the province of Ontario and it's only going to get worse with this sell-off,"Horwath told Afternoon Drive.

The town hall, which is open to all members of the public, is taking place at Fogolar Furlan at 1800 North Service Rd.It begins at 6:30 p.m.