Is It Working?

by John Laforet
posted on January 3rd, 2009 at 15:42:41 pm

 Has the Ministry of Natural Resources pulled out the Environmental Assessment Act and determined like us, Toronto Hydro Energy Services’ application is in flagrant violation of some of the most basic requirements for a Class B Environmental Assessment? Are they as concerned as we are that Toronto Hydro Energy Services total failure to comply with the very simple and minimal requirements of a Class B Environmental Assessment for even something as basic as an Anemometer demonstrates a dangerous mix of ignorance and indifference and poses a serious risk to the environment off the Scarborough Bluffs?

Toronto Hydro Energy Services has contempt for local democracy, the right of the citizens who own their corporation and the basic principles of democracy. Their actions made that clear. When this disgrace of a corporate citizen first decided to warn residents they were about to file their application for permission to install the Anemometer, their President, Chris Tyrrell – probably the least slick individual I’ve watched try to mislead a crowd, disclosed that this application was part of a Class B Environmental Assessment. Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson – had failed to mention in any, yes any, written, or spoken communication anything about a Class B Environmental Assessment. Apparently their botched, stacked and illegal meeting were all part of the process. But how could they be? No one was ever told they were participating in a Class B Environmental Assessment and Toronto Hydro Energy Services failed to do any consultation on the Environmental Assessment. Period. Full stop. No clarifications. None. Zip. 

They were to file it in the first week of February, but the good people of Guildwood wrote to everybody and their cousin advising them this was not a legitimate process, that Toronto Hydro had failed to comply with the required legislation and should scrap the application. Toronto Hydro Energy Services curled up into a ball – and hid under McLean’s desk while Premier McGuinty tried to play tough, and Smitherman who is as loud as he is ignorant did their bidding. 

For the last two months the media has been slamming McGuinty and Smitherman, our story is getting out and Toronto Hydro et all are still hiding under the desk. 

I asked Joyce McLean to send me the coordinates of the lake bed lease between them and the Ministry of Natural Resources. It is a reasonable request and a matter of public record. She does not dispute it is public information but is refusing to disclose it because while totally incapable of defending her twisted actions to date. It seems she wanted another fight where she was clearly on the wrong side of the law. This is the third time in three months Ms. McLean’s actions have seen Toronto Hydro Energy Services in violation of law. The City of Toronto Act, The Environmental Assessment Act, and the Freedom of Information Act are the three she doesn’t seem to understand.  

McLean told me that THES would be submitting their application and the information I sought (although not related to their application) would be included their and I could see it once they’re project was approved. It isn’t the first time McLean has demonstrated complex issues are too much for her, but under the Freedom of Information Act – one has to provide information that is publicly available, so long as it won’t be published within 90 days of the request being made. McLean thinks their illegal application will be approved. I know legally it can’t be. I advised her of this, she has yet to respond. 

Her expectation was that the Ministry of Natural Resources would approve their application by the end of March and residents would have a 30 day comment period to reply. Our expectations are that the Ministry of Natural Resources will not approve an application that failed to comply with the legal framework such applications are required to. We’ve sent many letters – we await replies, but I can tell you as of April 3rd 2009 – Toronto Hydro’s application has not been approved. 

Should it be declined or otherwise blocked for failing to comply with some of the most basic provisions of the Environmental Assessment Act – I would call on Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson to be terminated from Toronto Hydro Energy Services. Failing to comply with the law is a serious matter, especially when an organization’s failures are based on ignoring Environmental Assessment provisions. These individuals have demonstrated they have no respect for environmental protection, the rights of citizens and each lack a basic level of decency required to operate in tense situations. Their actions to date are unconscionable and should MNR stand up to them, THES should remove them and apologize to Guildwood residents. 

I get that these folks don’t even recognize people like me as having rights, so while I don’t expect a response, I once again invite Joyce McLean, Jack Simpson, or Chris Tyrrell to respond to any of the allegations above.