For Immediate Release:
April 8, 201
Queens Park – After eight years of badmouthing “dirty” coal power, it seems the McGuinty government has forgotten how to say anything else.
In an attempt to silence concerns over McGuinty’s wind power policies removing local/municipal powers of siting and decision-making, the Minister of Environment ignored the issue choosing to lash out at coal power instead.
“You either believe in clean air for our children and our grandchildren and you’ll do what’s required to make sure that we break our addiction to coal-fired generation…or you believe that it is important for us to do the right thing,” Wilkinson responded when queried in the legislature about a weekend anti-wind protest.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey raised the weekend London protest, referencing Norfolk resident Stephana Johnston’s quotes in local papers indicating, “We are suffering and it is a horror story, and you are responsible because you agreed to the Green Energy Act.”
“Here we have people suffering, looking for answers as to why they have no say on wind power, and all McGuinty can do is attack coal power – talk about your red herrings.” Opposition Environment Critic Toby Barrett noted. “It’s both curious and concerning that they don’t seem to understand this issue that people are taking to the streets to protest – especially considering eighty municipalities representing two million people have called for a moratorium on wind farms.”
Barrett noted this marks the second time that day that the Environment Minister used a fallback coal attack when pressed on wind issues in the house. Previous questions from Maria Van Bommel also met with the “dirty coal” treatment. And just last week, the Minister lashed out at “dirty coal” when Barrett inquired about the $18 million dollar price tag for McGuinty’s botched eco-tax scheme.
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629