An Inconvenient Stewardship

painting by Oak Ridges Moraine artist Harry Stooshinoff

 

The Oak Ridges Moraine region was a model of how community stewardship of the great aquifer, which was dubbed the “rain barrel” of southern Ontario, could become a driving force for protective environmental legislation such as the ORM Protection and Conservation Act.

Development is carefully controlled to protect water resources in municipalities like City of Kawartha Lakes. So the imposition of greed energy on the communities has been seen as an insult to their established culture of stewardship.

Protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine was an important issue for the Liberals during the election campaign which saw Dalton McGuinty elected Premier in 2003. Dalton McGuinty is now an Independent Director of a renewable energy company:

Key people..

Dalton McGuinty, Independent Director –
Innergex Renewable Energy, Inc.
 

Description Innergex Renewable Energy Inc.

Innergex Renewable Energy, Inc. operates as a Canadian independent renewable power producer that develops, owns and operates run-of-river hydroelectric facilities, wind farms, and solar photovoltaic farms, with operations in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Idaho. It operates through the following segments: hydroelectric generation, wind power generation, solar power generation and site development. The company was founded on October 25, 2002 and is headquartered in Longueuil, Canada. – h/t Jane Zednik
 

Undoubtedly it is only coincidence that those who have helped industries beyond the call of duty end up working in them at a high level… One might almost see an advantage in having the political process helped along

There are currently 3 wind projects moving ahead on the Oak Ridges Moraine: Settler’s Landing, Snowy Ridge & Sumac Ridge.

Keeping up with electricity demand means covering 108,000 square miles with new wind turbines every year –Robert Bryce

 
 

Thanks @environmentont – only 5000 more #trees to be cut down on the Oak Ridges Moraine for Sumac Ridge #wind plant.

Volunteers such as Jane Zednik, long a water warrior before she was conscripted into the wind war, possess infinitely more knowledge about the local natural heritage than do the hirelings of the wind company or the OMNRF.  

As we know from our own experience, those “experts” often omit and/or ignore important habitat, apparently without consequence. They attempted it in this case, but encountered local opposition impressive enough to be qualified as an expert witness.  

It is wonderful to see politicians like Heather Stauble, Councillor, City of Kawartha Lakes, actually representing the citizens’ best interests over those of the developers.  She pointed out that their MPP Laurie Scott asked a very pertinent question:

“Does the Minister believe it is appropriate for the Government to approve a project that puts out inaccurate and incomplete information?”

On May 12^th, 2016, MPP Scott issued the following Media Release:

From: Scott, Laurie
Sent: May 12, 2016 3:25 PM
Subject: SCOTT CALLS MINISTER OUT ON ENVIRONMENTALLY DAMAGING WIND TURBINES IN OAK RIDGES MORAINE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2016

QUEEN’S PARK – Today, MPP Laurie Scott criticized the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change for allowing a wind project near Bethany to disrupt the sensitive moraine.

After the Snowy Ridge energy project went through a lengthy process with the Environmental Review Tribunal, the project’s footprint has now expanded over what was already approved by the tribunal and the Ministry. Scott pointed out that the project’s expansion did not receive any public review or input.

“The modification report is 165 pages and the late expansion raises questions as to whether the company was working in good faith with the Ministry and the tribunal,” said Scott. “Does the Minister believe it is appropriate for the government to approve a project that puts out inaccurate and incomplete information?”

Scott added that a stay was denied by the Minister himself, while he is allowing the project to proceed with construction.

The expansion of the project includes work in the environmentally-sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine. As well, the proposed route of the collector line will go through compensation habitat for species at risk, and cause potentially irreversible damage on surrounding wildlife.

The current government has disregarded the hydro-geologically sensitive area to welcome industrial turbines.

“Why is the Minister allowing industrial wind projects in protected areas like the Oak Ridges Moraine?” asked Scott.

– 30 –

For more information: Jason Wang | jason.wang@pc.ola.org | 416-325-2771 | 416-432-7985

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Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality, was tacitly denied by their philosophy -George Orwell, from 1984

Update May 15^th, 2016:

A number of people have questioned the accuracy of our statement that Dalton McGuinty is now a Director of Innergex, a renewable energy company.

Here is a link to the company’s corporate governance on its website and here is a link to their April 6, 2016 Notice of Annual General Meeting Circular which on page 10 identifies one of their directors, Dalton McGuinty, as the former Premier of Ontario.