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Efforts continue to halt CAW wind turbine project |
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 Filled to capacity on CAW wind turbine issue
Audience had the opportunity to ask questions |
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More than 200 people filled the Lakeshore Recreation Centre in Port Elgin, Saugeen Shores in response to a new wind turbine being constructed within the urban settlement area. The wind turbine is currently being built on lands owned by the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Family Education Centre located on Lake Huron in Port Elgin. Despite several rallies, protest marches and meetings against the project, it appears to be going ahead. It was given the green light under the Green Energy Act (GEA) put in place by the Provincial Liberal government under the leadership of Premier, Dalton McGuinty. Under the GEA, the set-back allowance from buildings is 550 meters, although some municipalities are instituting By-laws fro set-backs of 2,000 meters. The proposed turbine at the CAW has a minimal set-back of 150-200 meters, which is a major concern to nearby neighbours. One of the key concerns centres around health issues and the alleged affects that wind-turbines have on health. Several testimonials told of unusual health affects on those who live, or lived, near existing turbines.
Bill Murdoch (former MPP of Grey-Bruce Owen Sound) Many speakers attended the meeting, including former MPP of Grey-Bruce-Owen Sound, Bill Murdoch. "When I was in office, we tried to put a private member's bill through on the GEA, but it was turned down by the Liberals. I find it unbelievable that a law was passed that took the rights of people away under what is called the Green Energy Act," said Murdoch. According to Murdoch, "Elected members have very little clout and the result is the loss of representative democracy. After serving under four premiers, I can tell you there is little difference between any of them. Only the premier of the day runs the province, no matter what government is in power." Murdoch suggested that every individual send a personal letter to the Premier's office. William Palmer, an engineer who has travelled throughout the world studying wind turbines, said that "... many European countries are now beginning to realize the affects that turbines can have on health resulting in sleep deprivation, headaches, elevated blood pressure and over-use of prescription medications among others." When someone in the audience posed the question of what the municipality was doing concerning the issue, Deputy Mayor Luke Charbonneau replied that the "Municipality has acted right from the beginning of the proposal seven years ago with denying approval and defending the decision right up to the OMB level. Since then, the Municipality has appealed, written letter to various Ministries and the CAW. We have had a deaf ear all around. We continue however, to oppose this turbine."
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Someone in the audience stood up and asked the one question that everyone wanted the answer to ... "Is there any chance to stop this project?" Greg Schmalz said that legally there was, although he felt that imposing an injunction was a 'dangerous tool'. "You only get one chance with an injunction and you are liable for all legal costs and dollar damages. No one is breaking 'technical' laws but everyone is doing it behind the real estate devaluation and harm to health." While the wind turbine issue was what people came to discuss, the concerns seemed to run deeper with a common thread, the loss of rights. "This premier is all about anti-bullying in schools," said one audience member, "and yet that is exactly what he and his government are doing. Quite frankly, I am tired of these back-room deals and the loss of democracy that we are seeing everywhere."
MPP Lisa Thompson Newly elected MPP Lisa Thompson also expressed her disappointment with the New Democrats (NDP) who were in support of some bills put forward. "When it came time to vote in the house, the NDP who supported the bill were mysteriously absent."
Norm Gurr spoke passionately on the issue Long-time Southampton resident, Norm Gurr, said that the time for letter writing to politicians was too late. "We have to somehow get to the media and get these issues out. Other than rural media, the big-time media outlets are not touching any of this [wind turbine issue]. Write letters to everyone." While the meeting went on for several hours, at the end, there appeared to be no concrete results on how to move forward to halt the CAW wind turbine. Invitations were also extended to CAW representatives, including union President Ken Lewenza, and to the Ministry of the Environment ... all declined to attend. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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