Posts Tagged ‘Toronto Hydro Energy Services’
O Lady Toronto, though green ye be, Scarborough is greener far to see
This post is dedicated to Joyce Mclean and Jack Simpson of Toronto Hydro. Their unique mix of ignorance, incompetance and dishonesty has inspired me to write over 60 000 words about their illegal application, gutter level eithics and has seen a community unite in common purpose to chase them out.
The reference in the title is, of course, the famous response that saw Snow White chased into the forest by a Queen as shallow about appearing ‘fair’ as Toronto Hydro and the city is about appearing ‘green’.
Just as the Queen in Snow White was not as ‘fair’ as her intended victim - the eco bullies behind the plan to distrupt, damage and distroy some of the most lasting and beautiful nature that can be found in Toronto – are not nearly as green as those who stand and fight on the side of environmental conservation.
Scarborough as fought to preserve more green space and parkland than any other former municipality in both real and per capita terms.
Scarborough diverts more garbage from landfill per capita than any other former municipality. In fact a former Scarborough landfill saw hundreds of thousands of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours put to work remediating the site and capturing the landfill gases which are now used to generate 26,600,000 kWh or enough power for 2300 homes annually. This happened long before green was the ‘in’ thing and back in the days long before Joyce McLean sold out and when she was an NDP staffer at Queen’s Park.
Now even while eco bullies were slamming residents who opposed Toronto Hydro’s plans to hurt the environment while trying to build a meritless $700 million project that meets literally no international standards for proper development, and fails to even meet Ontario’s barebones environmental protection – Toronto Hydro came up with the ‘Count me in’ program:
‘Created by Toronto Hydro, the Count Me In Toronto challenge offers Torontonians an innovative and unique way to encourage energy conservation in the City of Toronto. The program will see Toronto’s wards competing against one another in a friendly challenge to determine which ward is the greenest!’ - Count Me In Toronto
Which former municipalities house the top five wards?
1) Scarborough
2) Scarborough
3) Scarborough
4) North York
5) Etobicoke
The best part – George Smitherman’s Toronto Centre ranks 43rd and 44th of 44. Clearly his constituents haven’t gotten the memo he attacks Scarborough for apparently not getting.
As I’ve said before – Scarborough is by far the greenest former municipality by any measure. Unlike the eco bullies and moneyed interests who stand to make serious dough through their environmental distruction in Scarborough – we do care about the environment, we do our part and we will continue to do so by opposing the illegal application Toronto Hydro Energy Services has put forward.
My advice for those who seek to tear down my friends and I who oppose this project – walk the walk. Look to your own ways first. Change your light bulbs, turn down the AC, walk, take the TTC, recycle, compost, plant a tree – and stand up and fight for the environment. I know the good people of Scarborough will continue too, and just as we’ve shown time and time again that we are more in tune and in touch with environmental issues – we will once again prove by defeating this bizarre and illegal experiment of Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson’s, that we do have a deeper attachment and a stronger concern about the environment than the double speaking, paid lobbyists who fund those who attack us, and the politicians who’ve sold us down the creek.
While organizations, professionals and politicians may sell their principles, ethics and values for a pay cheque – residents of Scarborough see a higher purpose and will continue to reach for it over the cynicism that sees others peddle faulty logic to defend illegal and otherwise inappropriate applications for projects without merit.
Finally – I would like to thank Toronto Hydro for recognizing how truly green Scarborough is, and I would like to encourage them to do their part by dismantling Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson’s illegal application before they do any real damage to Scarborough’s environment in their attempt to chase a pay cheque.
1 Comment »I Actually Felt Good Leaving The Green Energy Act Regulations Consultation
It was well moderated, folks were treated fairly regardless of their opinion, bureaucrats were taking notes in notebooks that look like they use them daily (and therefore might read them), the moderator didn’t editorialize the notes he took on the public board, and industry interests, community interests and public interests mixed without any rancorous debate on the floor.
I watched Jack Simpson (for whom it is clear I have nothing but contempt) and Joyce McLean (whose ability to stay employed amazes me) sit quietly and listen, Jack taking notes (hopefully on how to properly run a meeting and treat folks who have an interest). When I lined up for the mic, they both looked at me and exchanged some words together. I smiled – not because I wanted to, but frankly couldn’t help wondering what folks who feel the need to read my blog everyday could possibly be thinking I would say out loud after what I’ve written. This was the only time either acknowledged my presence with Jack trying to be the strong silent type when we made eye contact, and Joyce walking from the fifth row from the bottom of the room, all the way to the top and over and down a different row to avoid me as I spoke to an individual from the Ministry of the Environment about their wrongdoings.
I would be embarrassed too if I was such an ignorant proponent and recognized that my project was entirely undoable and very likely to result in all kinds of legal processes that are going to be both embarrassing and damaging simply because the conduct of two morons who are way above their head (12 meters above their head based on their latest proposal).
But enough about the fools at Toronto Hydro and back to the meeting put on by the Ministry of the Environment as part of the regulation development surrounding the Green Energy Act.
We were asked to give our names and affiliation before our comment, so I introduced myself as ‘John Laforet, a citizen whose rights are being taken away by the Green Energy Act’ and then went on to describe the Scarborough Bluffs project, the total lack of environmental protection, the lying, the illegality, the lack of response to these issues by MNR and the lack of environmental assessment currently required simply because Toronto Hydro is owned by a public entity. Regulation 334 would exempt them from the Environmental Assessment Act entirely. I told the room that this lack of protection and total ignoring of any international standards would make environmental lawyers standing on the side of the environment very rich fighting the folks who want to exploit this lack of protection. I was actually impressed how many people applauded me as we did not stack the room, or even attempt to.
The representative from the Ministry of Natural Resources came up to explain/defend their response and the didn’t really say anything meaningful or committal about proposed regulations or current requirements. I felt the need to respond, and did, by telling him that his Ministry has ignored letters from our lawyer advising them about the illegality of this application, that all of our evidence to this fact has simply been overlooked and that they are both aware and complacent in allowing Toronto Hydro to violate the law and lie. I threw in that even Toronto Hydro’s lawyers do not dispute the characterization of Toronto Hydro’s application as illegal or Joyce McLean or Jack Simpson as liars, I offered the email I have from Toronto Hydro’s lawyer as proof of this.
The MNR guy didn’t respond to that. It should also be noted that Joyce McLean definitely gave me what can only be described as ‘stink eye’. Like someone whose position is totally indefensible and wrong, both she and Jack Simpson did the right thing by sitting down and shutting up. Now if we could only get them to recognize this project is destined to fail and back away quietly.
I spoke to one of the individuals from the Ministry of the Environment on my way out and requested that we be treated as a stakeholder during the development of the offshore setbacks as we have legitimate environmental knowledge it is important to share and no other avenue to date has allowed us to participate properly including the committee hearings. He seemed to feel it was reasonable to engage members of the community in consultation with other stakeholders and I am hopeful we can work cooperatively to mitigate any negative impact irresponsible and ignorant developers like Jack Simpson and Joyce McLean could have on the environment if they and folks like them were the only folks consulted. It is key though that we are heard and part of the discussions that see the proposed regulations developed, and are not just invited to comment once they are developed and in the final stage of formal consultation.
I also shared Toronto Hydro’s failed approach to the Class B environmental assessment with him and now they felt no need to explore impacts on the over half of Toronto’s last remaining natural wetlands within a couple kilometres of their proposed anemometer, the fifty-five known fish populations that live in the Rouge River and presumably find themselves in Lake Ontario not far from where the Rouge lets out near Toronto Hydro’s site, in addition to a total lack of information sharing as part of their failed and illegal consultation period. His response was that he felt like he would be hearing a lot from us, my promise was simple, – yes you will, and if you’re prepared to listen we can work very cooperatively, but we won’t be going away.
The willingness of Ministry of Environment officials to honestly and fully explore the legitimate environmental impacts of near shore wind farm development is a positive breakthrough. If they are committed to this process (and I have every reason to believe they are) they may be able to do what so many of us in Scarborough are trying to do – protect Toronto’s drinking water, a beautiful untouched shoreline full of aquatic life and bird habitat and ensure that renewable energy projects don’t have special permission to carry out environmental damage.
The main thrust of the meeting was about onshore setbacks. Many folks present agreed that a 40 decibel maximum on sound output 550 metres away is reasonable. These are the same regulations in place for a quarry as an example. All wind farm developers, investors and those I will refer to as ‘profiters’ as they derive income from wind power were opposed to any formal, measured setbacks and complained such a setback would prevent their development. None provided any legitimate arguement outside of business case against a measured setback of 550 metres. Folks who live near wind farms and are not engaged or profitting from wind power held a different view and felt that measured setbacks are neccessary. Opinion was split on whether 550 metres was enough and most believed it should be measured from lot line, not dwelling so that they can rightly enjoy full use of their property. Wind Concerns Ontario and many of the thousands of members across Ontario believe a setback of 2KM is required to ensure safety. This is inline with Germany’s 1500 metre setback for on land turbines. Germany has a considerably smaller land mass and appears able to make do with these.
I think the Ministry of Environment officials did an excellent job tonight and should be congratulated on their meeting. It is my hope that they take the feedback seriously and listen to especially folks who don’t profit from wind power. I do genuinely hope to be able to cooperatively engage with Ministry staff in the setting of offshore setbacks when they begin to develop their regulations on that front, and do believe it would be an opportunity for the professionals (Ministry staff) to step in front of the profane (Minister Smitherman and co.) and ensure that bad statues which make up the Green Energy Act and improved with good regulations.
7 Comments »Wait a Minute – Smitherman DEFENDS Energy NIMBYism now?
So let me get this straight… Residents of Scarborough and their three Ontario Liberal lap dogs ’representatives’ (this is in quotations because I hear this is what they’re supposed to do, but fail to see any evidence of it happening) are told to sit down and shut up when they legitimately oppose environmental concerns and breaches of law committed by Toronto Hydro as part of their plan to install turbines, but Minister and MPP Bartolucci of Sudbury can get away with totally supporting nuclear power, but opposing waste being stored in his constituency? Isn’t that the essence of NIMBY? ‘Sure it’s a great idea, but not in my constituency’ – that’s NIMBY right?
He’s even allowed to cite ‘landscape’ – read aesthetics in opposing this plan and gets away with saying, he thinks its a great idea to build nuclear plants, so long as Sudbury does not have to deal with spent nuclear fuel. What a totally ridiculous proposition. Meanwhile in Scarborough there isn’t enough wind to create energy, and yet we’re still expected to live with the health and environmental impacts without proper review and tolerate a law breaking, totally ignorant proponent that doesn’t have a clue what it’s doing.
The opposition of Guildwood residents to Toronto Hydro’s breaches of law, and total disregard for health and environmental impacts saw us insulted by the Premier and his Deputy and a law passed with a clause the Premier said was designed to block communities like mine from participating in democratic decision making.
What’s more – that Nuclear power Bartolucci so willingly supports being built on the shores of Lake Ontario – hundreds of miles from his precious home, kilometres from mine, and with legitimate impacts on the Lake my community lives on, and receives its drinking water from. Could anyone be a more irresponsible in pushing public policy than this?
Liberal friends in Scarborough Guildwood, including those very close to Minister Best – who was publicly silent on our community’s behalf and failed to even attempt to publicly represent our views – tried to convince me that she couldn’t because she was in Cabinet and didn’t have the ability to speak out against the government. I said I thought she could, and offered to help her and her office develop the messaging that would allow her to stand between government and community to see our issues heard publicly, without getting her thrown out of Cabinet. They didn’t disagree, they just never took me up on it. Liberals were afraid big bad George would get her if she did.
Smitherman has come out in defense of Bartolucci’s blatant NIMBYism – even though Smitherman doesn’t believe Bartolucci has valid points.
‘Energy Minister George Smitherman said he doesn’t share Bartolucci’s reservations, but defended the comments, saying his colleague “is allowed to be a local MPP” as well as a cabinet minister.‘ Critics question Liberal’s energy plan – CTV May 26 2009
It was made quite clear to me that under this Liberal government Scarborough Guildwood is not entitled to a local MPP who also serves as a Cabinet Minister. My Liberal friends in Scarborough Guildwood can continue to get upset when I raise this point privately, and now very publicly in the face of total hypocrisy, but voters don’t care of their MPP gets a car with a driver, a bigger staff and more money – they want a voice and if the incumbent won’t provide it, elections will change who that representative is, and the perks of Cabinet will be lost anyways.
If the opposition parties get candidate selection and fundraising right, this will be the case in Scarborough Guildwood – and George Smitherman’s ‘playing to the crowd’ approach to public speaking will continue to serve up gems to seal the fate of those who cowered when it came time to vote for or against the Green Energy Act, a vote Margarett Best, Lorezno Berardinetti and Wayne Arthurs – spent hiding in the hall so they didn’t have to go on record either way.
I’ll never understand how it feels to hop into bed with folks whose ethical backbone is so weak they are OK knowingly killing family pets because it would be inconvienant to solve the crux of the problem, and so ignorant of their own equipment they assure parents children are safe – a couple days before electrucuting a dozen small children. Ladies and Gentleman this is the corporate mentality at Toronto Hydro Energy Services (THES Legal Department – again feel free to fact check and request any inaccuracies be corrected. Naturally we know these things are provable… so same deal as before? you read, you fume, and don’t reply?) vampire Personally, I couldn’t do it literally or figuratively – yet I know quite well there are folks in Dalton McGuinty’s government who are quite comfortable with this, including George Smitherman, Toronto Hydro’s prime defender and ‘knee capper’ (George, your swipes at mine didn’t take).
Toronto Hydro’s illegal application, lies and attempt at scientific review that would probably not meet the rigor of a primary school science fair is now under review of the Ontario Minister of Environment and the officials at the Ministry of Natural Resources. They have the opportunity to end it here and force Toronto Hydro to do a real review and recognize they are going to cause significant environmental damage and regardless of how dense Joyce McLean and Jack Simpson are – something will have to be done to address it.
I’ll start making bets that come 2011 – Toronto Hydro Energy Services will be no closer to putting turbines in the Lake off the Scarborough Bluffs, and the three swing ridings that are currently in envy of the people of Sudbury’s representation, will be changing hands, proving that bad public policy is also bad politics. Hey if George Smitherman can just keep talking, he’ll practically write the flyers for opposition parties.
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