FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23rd, 2012
QUEEN’S PARK – After meeting with Haldimand and Norfolk farmers at Queens Park, MPP Toby Barrett addressed area wind concerns during debate of Opposition Leader Tim Hudak’s bill to end FIT and restore local decision making.
“Yesterday I filed a letter with the EBR commentary with respect to the Samsung project. Down in Haldimand, 67 towers are going up, and, in addition, something like 800 acres of solar, something the Haldimand federation has formally protested,” Barrett reported, referring to a public commentary extension request he had issued. “These kinds of postings should not go out during the March break; people are on holidays.”
Barrett went on to note that this is the second time in less than a year, he has had to make an extension request due to EBR postings being snuck through over holidays.
“We had to do the same thing a number of months ago with Capital Power: 58 turbines down in Haldimand county, and again, these were sent out right around July 1, just to kind of sneak it through when people are thinking of other things,” added Barrett. “Some very good reasons for a fulsome comment period: Don’t rush it through. There are so many economic, environmental and physical health impacts, the impacts on property values.”
Tim Hudak’s bill, the Affordable Energy and Restoration of Local Decision Making Act, 2012 proposed to end the Liberals’ Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and microFIT schemes – paying unsustainable subsidies to developers through 20-year contracts. The Bill also proposed industrial wind and solar farms, not yet connected to the power grid, would require Ministerial consultation with the affected communities, be renegotiated, or in some cases ended before they really get going.
Barrett concluded referencing a Queens Park presentation by Scott Petrie, of Long Point Waterfowl, “who made an indication of the problems with both onshore and offshore and the effect that this has on bird migration. I would encourage everybody here to take a look at the research from Dr. Scott Petrie.”
Barrett has indicated while his, and others’, requests for extension on the Samsung proposal are being considered, those interested in providing input to the Environmental Bill of Rights should access www.ebr.gov.on.ca (EBR Registry Number: 011-5914).
He adds that government’s defeat of Mr. Hudak’s private members bill and EBR commentary takes on even greater significance following government’s Renewable Energy approval for the Next Era Summerhaven project for 59 wind towers near Jarvis.
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (416) 325-8404,
(519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO OFFICIAL HANSARD
Thursday 22 March 2012
Mr. Toby Barrett: I appreciate the opportunity to address Tim Hudak’s Affordable Energy and Restoration of Local Decision Making Act.
Before I commence, I want to bring a message from local farmers from Haldimand and Norfolk. They spent the morning in the visitors’ gallery. They wanted me to pass this on: They were just disgusted with the behaviour in here. They were also disgusted with the reasons for the behaviour: the compromise of responsible government in the province of Ontario.
Further to that—and this legislation will help—yesterday I filed a letter with the EBR commentary with respect to the Samsung project. Down in Haldimand, 67 towers are going up, and, in addition, something like 800 acres of solar, something the Haldimand federation has formally protested. These kinds of postings should not go out during the March break; people are on holidays.
We had to do the same thing a number of months ago with Capital Power: 58 turbines down in Haldimand county, and again, these were sent out right around July 1, just to kind of sneak it through when people are thinking of other things. Some very good reasons for a fulsome comment period: Don’t rush it through. There are so many economic, environmental and physical health impacts, the impacts on property values. There’s no reason to stick your head in the sand.
Yesterday, there was a presentation in the Legislative Building here by Dr. Scott Petrie, Long Point Waterfowl, who made an indication of the problems with both onshore and offshore and the effect that this has on bird migration. I would encourage everybody here to take a look at the research from Dr. Scott Petrie.