Saugeen Shores Town Council challenged to stand up for democracy

Town Council

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Local resident and lawyer, John Mann, urged Saugeen Shores Council at Monday night's meeting to stand up for its citizens and their right to be heard regarding the Green Energy Act.

John Mann challenges Town Council

"We (Saugeen Shores) were one of only six communities selected for public input regarding wind turbines, and particularly, the 550 metre set-back policy.  Community consultation is required by law and I am asking Council to stand up and say to the government that they have broken their own law."

Although an open house was held, Mann said that it was a one-sided event and not a public forum where public input was documented.

"We keep hearing that municipalities have no power," Mann added, "but I am saying to Council that you can stand up as our elected officials and tell the Province and the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) that they have to listen the citizens who elect them.  This is a systemic loss of democracy."

Vice-Deputy Mayor noted that Mann had spent a great deal of personal time on the issue of wind turbines but also pointed out that it is "...often difficult to argue with government at the Federal and Provincial levels.  There has been an engineered attempt to tell municipalities that we are in the minority.  I agree that questions were not answered and it was a collection of information that left me frustrated.   I also agree that the Provincial Government is not listening to the people and have taken away municipal power with the Green Energy Act."

Councilor Diane Huber asked why Council couldn't hold its own public forum to "...see if we have a divided community so that we have a true sense of what the community is feeling.  This is our community and we have to have a say.  Every time there is a meeting scheduled with a minister, that minister is shifted to another portfolio."

"I agree with Councilor Huber," said Deputy Mayor Doug Freiburger.  "I would like to us (Council) draft a letter to take the Province to task to ask if it is going to act or ignore us as it has in the past."

Councilor Luke Charbonneau also weighed in saying that he was in complete agreement with John Mann.  "We will have more public meetings because companies are required to do so but we have to send a clear message to the Province that the kind of open-house meeting held in the past is not adequate.  Nothing was recorded and this cannot go on."

"I have a different experience regarding the open house," said Councilor Victoria Serda.  "When I attended, it was the same as any other open house and my questions were answered.  Issues were addressed and the basic message was that the Province is looking at the broader issue and wants to get out of coal generated energy."

Serda also pointed out that it was not the responsibility of municipal government to be the watchdog for other levels of government ... alternative sources of energy are going to have to considered.  I believe in community engagement but officials are elected to be responsible for certain things."

"Everytime we build a green energy project (wind turbines) and it shuts down, we have to have an alternative source," said Gowanlock.

"Our last discussions were that we were going to try to get some legal advice about the Green Energy Act (GEA)," pointed out Mayor Mike Smith.  "We do feel like we (Council) are not being heard and there is a general feeling  that people are not being heard but how do we stop companies when they come in for a building permit?"

"Under Section 2 of the Green Energy Act," said Mann, "you tell the government that it is not following its own rules.   The foundation of this municipality is the right to speak and be heard."

Mayor Smith pointed out that a legal interpretation of the Act is underway.  Mann said that no judge has ever the legalities.  "Either you stand for something, or you don't ...and in my opinion, the system is broken."

"This is not the end of this issue," said the Mayor. "I have asked for reviews since last year but there has been nothing to say the Province has reviewed it."

At the end, Mann complimented Council for their work but reminded them that "... this is an elected democracy and we (electorate) employ the Provincial Government." 

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010