GEA to Remove Citizen and Environmental Rights from 'Testing Devices' Too
Even so Scarborough Residents will not lay down. We’re stronger than ever and going to be getting louder. Toronto Hydro’s position grows worse with each attempt for them to move forward.
I am waiting to get my hands on a final copy of the amended Green Energy Act that made it out of committee and was reported back by said committee in near record time. Imagine this, the day after the amendments were agreed to the Committee report and amended bill were ready for introduction for third reading?
Why? Because McGuinty and co. had no interest in listening to anything the opposition was going to say and therefore was able to write the report before the debate was had due to their majority. It’s the height of arrogance, but one thing these guys seem to OK with.
Toronto Hydro Energy Services is currently being dragged over the coals for their attempt to install an anemometer in Lake Ontario. They’ve done a horrible job so far at following relevant legislation and seem not to be remotely worried about any of the detrimental environmental or geological realities of their plan.
The Green Energy Act strips all kinds of rights for citizens, and the environment. It allows the Government to take sleazy developers by the hand and help them through the stripped down regulations for ‘renewable energy projects’.
An anemometer isn’t a renewable energy project. It tests the wind (and is partially powered by solar because Jack Simpson made it clear three turbines on the water wouldn’t be able to power something smaller than a fridge without the help of solar, for the purpose of testing and transmitting double top secret data. The fact that he can recognize this and still see merit to test the wind is in itself suspect, but so is everything else he and his team have done on this process so far).
The Green Energy Act amendments seem prepared to fix the classification of anemometers so folks like Simpson and McLean can try to ram them through as well without any oversight, citizen involvement or environmental protection.
Straight from Laurel Broten – Smitherman’s friendly Parliamentary Assistant:
“renewable energy testing project” is one of a series of amendments that will ensure that testing facilities are subject to the same approvals processes as the facilities themselves. This addresses an issue raised at committee.
By ‘same approvals processes as the facilities themselves’ she must be referring to that little ‘information hiccup’ she had in the House when the bill was introduced.
“Most significantly, green energy projects would no longer be subject to the requirements under the Planning Act or, in most cases, the Environmental Assessment Act.” Laurel Broten, addressing the Legislative Assembly (for reference click this link to Hansard and look between 15:50 and 16:00)
Laforet.ca was quick to report it (Green Energy Act Proposes Major Setback for Environmental Movement)
Peter Epp and the good people at http://www.chathamthisweek.com followed suit, quoting laforet.ca in ‘It’s David versus the Jolly Green Goliath’
My response to this development is simple. If George Smitherman is trying to stack the deck by legislating away our rights to citizen participation and environmental protection – he will fail because he hasn’t gone far enough to absolutely block the other rights citizens have, all he promises is civility is impossible. If Smitherman is purposely trying to turn every renewable energy project into a massive fight with a legal element, and is trying to set this industry up for vilification and legal positions that will have lawyers on both sides shaking their heads – he is succeeding.
This bill is so twisted and lopsided no one in the Wind Industry or Government can reasonably expect residents to throw up their hands and walk away. They’ve hit us too hard with this abusive bill to not expect us to dig in. In a bizarre way, ridiculous legislation like this is what propels some of the strongest political activism in society and causes individuals to really understand the issues and rights that surround them.
I have run for public office, been a Liberal party riding president, worked at Queen’s Park and have been involved in countless campaigns, but I have never been this involved in my community or politics, and for that I am thankful to Joyce McLean, Jack Simpson, Chris Tyrrell, George Smitherman and Dalton McGuinty. I have seen dozens of other Guildwood residents who can thank their involvement to the three amigos at THES and the two clowns at QP as well.
Scarborough residents will defeat Toronto Hydro’s proposal. Not a single turbine will be built by these guys, off Scarborough’s shores in our lake, and frankly the longer they keep up the fight, the more damage the individuals and the corporation behind this process will receive. – That is my promise. We will continue to grow, branch out and offer support to others who are in the same situation.
It will be a good day if the only thing damaged by the end of this are a few sleazy politicians, ethicless, conscienceless, irresponsible project managers and a company that should get back to delivering electricity (a business they sort of know) and staying out of areas so far above their head and one where they have tried and failed miserably in past.
Tags: Anemometer, Chris Tyrrell, Dalton McGuinty, George Smitherman, Green Energy Act, Green Energy Act Amendments, Jack Simpson, Joyce McLean, Laurel Broten, renewable energy testing project, Toronto Hydro Energy Services
May 3rd, 2009 at 5:41 pm
“GO Transit will begin two environmental assessments (EAs) that will look at expanding GO rail service into new communities. The first will look at extending GO Train service from Oshawa to Bowmanville on the Lakeshore East line. The EA will look at additional track requirements, a station location, layover facilities, and other infrastructure to accommodate this extension.
The Milton line is also being considered for more service. GO will undertake an EA to look at expanding to all-day service along this busy corridor, between Union Station and Milton GO Station. Both EAs will begin this summer, with completion scheduled for spring 2010.”
Isn’t this the way it’s supposed to be done? Though I’m sure the affected communities will welcome expanded GO service, that doesn’t give GO the right to ramrod or fast-track their proposals—due process is the order of the day.
(Good article in the Chatham-Kent link.)
May 3rd, 2009 at 9:55 pm
You got it Mike!
Sounds like Go Transit is planning to undertake an honest process, and while communities will likely welcome Go, they may have some legitimate concerns, ideas etc. to raise.
If an EA is done properly the proponent’s plan is better for it, and the project gets improved.
May 4th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
John
Thanks for putting your efforts into this topic and writing about it. You have an amazing ability to not only see through the lies and find the truth, but to tell people. This is an important story that will affect everyone in Ontario, not just those next to turbines. Anyone who has done any research on the topic will recognize this. It seems a few want to cling to the belief of the great stuff, job creation, keeping lights on etc. that wind industry and government says wind development and the Green Energy Act will do for us. Some people have not thought it through and some will never think it through. The Green Energy Act does not have any intent to reduce CO2 emissions, as if that mattered, or any concern that it will degrade, what was at one time considered irreplaceable. I was once told to “Invest in land as no one is building more of it”. We have now found a new way to cause the mass destruction of land and devaluing adjacent land. In the end wind development will cost this province both environmentally and financially. The sad thing is our tax money is sponsoring this self destructive behaviour, degrading communities that if the Government gets its way will no longer have any right to say “no”.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
Thank You John for keeping on this subject………We in Rural Ontario are experiencing the same disastrous attempt by Smitherman and McGuinty to destroy our communities exactly the same way they are trying to do to Scarborough Bluffs. You are not alone in your fight and I may mention that 33 Councils across Ontario representing well over a 1/2 million taxpayers are fighting the same battle. They have called for a “Moratorium” on all wind development until Health Concerns are investigated and people are not suffering by having these huge Turbines even close to humanity. To this point we have all been called “Nimby’s” and told that any Health concerns are either “in our head” or present prior to any wind development.
These cruel and corrupt individuals have to be stopped and stopped now!………….Only will a large Public outcry put some sense back into a rampant idiotic money grab by big business and bad government.