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TORONTO — The month before Ontario’s Liberal government announced a rebate on electricity bills, internal polling suggested that a whopping 94 per cent of residents were eager for price relief.

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The August survey had 83 per cent of people saying it was “very important” that the government control electricity prices. A further 11 per cent said it was somewhat important and a mere four per cent said it was “not at all” important, with a small number saying they didn’t know. Fewer than half said the government was doing a good job of it.

The message in those responses was unequivocal, but even months before the September hydro relief announcement the numbers were bad for the Liberals.

In June, 90 per cent of respondents said they were concerned about the cost of electricity. And 64 per cent said the government should prioritize affordable electricity over climate change initiatives.

A month later, 94 per cent of people said it is important that the government control electricity prices. The same percentage said their electricity bills had become much more or somewhat more expensive in the past five years.