Majority oppose Hydro One sale: government poll

The provincial government's own polling suggests that most Ontarians oppose the sale of Hydro One, and fear it will push up the price of electricity.

Premier Kathleen Wynne's staff released the polling data to Queen's Park reporterson Thursday.

The documents show the government conductedextensive polling about people's views of three major Crown corporations the LCBO, Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation as it was reviewing privatization last fall.

Of 1,202 Ontarians polled in October, 73 per centsaid Hydro One should definitely or probably be owned by the province, and 75 per centsaid the same of OPG. Only 56 per centsaid the LCBO should definitely or probably be owned by the government.

This spring, after the government announced it will sell off most of Hydro One, only 7per cent of those polled said they "strongly support" the plan, 28 per centsaid they somewhat support it, 19 per centwere somewhat opposed and 39 per centstrongly opposed.

Asked about the impact of the sale, 62 per centsaid they think it will have a "somewhat negative" or "very negative" impact on the cost of electricity.

Wynne's Liberal government is promising to put the proceeds of the Hydro One sale toward building new infrastructure, such as roads and transit. About six in 10 of those polled said they believe the sale would have a positive impact on infrastructure and public transit.

The spring poll also asked about the plan to allow beer sales in grocery stores. The move was seen as "good news" by 66 per centof those polled.

The polling was done by the firm Pollara. Government officials have not yet replied to a question about how much the polling cost.