For Immediate Release:
August 17, 2010
Windsor – Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett joined Opposition Leader Tim Hudak in reiterating a commitment to restore the local decision-making powers that were stripped away from Ontario municipalities through Dalton McGuinty’s so-called “Green Energy Act.”
Barrett commented following Hudak’s address to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), in which he repeated the restoration of municipal powers as part of direction to bring more transparency and consistency to the partnership between the province and municipalities.
“I’ve joined caucus colleagues in calling on government to slow the rush to develop wind power over local concerns since last year,” Barrett stated. “McGuinty’sGreen Energy Act removed all rights from constituents and their locally-elected representatives for input on renewable energy projects– it’s time to lift the green gag order!!”
Currently, the Green Energy Act allows unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats at the Ontario Power Authority to arbitrarily override democratically elected municipal governments and built massive energy projects without any local consultation or consent. This abuse of local democracy is most clearly seen through the proliferation of industrial wind farms throughout the province.
“Your voters put their faith in you to make best decisions for your local communities,” Hudak asserted today. “That’s why we are going to restore the decision-making powers the Green Energy Act took away.”
Last October, Barrett spoke in support of a motion from MPP Bill Murdoch calling on government for a moratorium and health study to determine the potential impacts of wind turbines on people’s health. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott introduced a similar motion in April, while Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson has asked government at Queens Park to respect the wishes of over 50 Ontario communities requesting the Liberals put a moratorium on new wind developments.
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629