The decrease in the price of oil and resulting available capital
may create a surge of investment in cleantech, renewable energy and
electricity in Ontario, and Queen's Park appears to be doing
all that it can to aid this East-bound capital flight.
The Liberal government's much publicized plan to liberalize
the electricity sector and privatize 10% – 15% of Ontario
Hydro, the Province's transmission giant, is an attempt to both
finance long-term infrastructure projects and take advantage of US
investors looking to capitalize on an undervalued asset. The
depreciated price for a non-controlling interest in a multi-billion
dollar asset will be attractive to Canadian and foreign investors
alike looking to maximize return on investment. The Province looks
to be trying to emulate the action in the electricity industry in
Alberta, which has been attractive to foreign investors. For
example, last year, Berkshire Hathaway Energy bought AltaLink,
L.P., the province's largest
