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Power plant decision expected today 3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, September 30, 2009 Continued from page 1 former situation in south and west Oakville and what's been happening to it and what the demands are and where it's heading and the bottom line is the OPA has materially overestimated the demand for new facilities. It's really, really questionable." MacKenzie went on to attack the Province's plan to build the power plant noting that it was supposed to be approved by the Ontario Energy Board in 2006-2007, but instead those hearings were suspended and never reconvened. "In my view, the Ontario government's plan has not had sufficient, rigorous assessment, has not been subject to substantive external review and assessment and hence does not provide a rigorous basis on which to proceed with decisions that carry major economic, environmental, health and safety costs and risks for the present and future generations of Ontario," said MacKenzie. For Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, the issue came down to one of health and whether the already polluted air Mississauga and Oakville residents breathe would be better or worse with the power plant introduced to the area. "As mayor, I am not prepared to gamble with the health of the people of the Clarkson area," said McCallion. "The plant must be stopped." McCallion also criticized the OPA's announcement that it is going ahead with plans to introduce the power plant to the OakvilleClarkson Airshed area, but will look for ways to clean up the airshed by getting other nearby industries to reduce their emissions. McCallion noted a similar commitment had been made when the Clarkson Airshed Study first found the area to be overtaxed by pollutants in 2007, with nothing being done. "If the OPA is so convinced they have a model that will reduce the emissions of this plant and DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER PLEADING THEIR CASE: Chartwell-Maple Grove Residents' Association leader Doug MacKenzie (far right) sits with (left to right) former Clarkson Airshed Study Advisory Committee CoChair Julie Desjardins, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and Mississauga Residents' Association Network (MIRANET) Secretary Dorothy Tomiuk at the Queen's Park Media Studio where the group made the case against a gas-fueled power plant in the Clarkson Airshed area. reduce the emissions that are excessive now, according to the ministry of the environment, then why don't they tell us what the plan is all about?" said McCallion. The former Co-Chair of the Clarkson Airshed Study Advisory Committee Julie Desjardins noted the OPA's plans should be stopped so an investigation can be conducted into whether OPA Chair John Beck has a conflict of interest. "John Beck is also chair and CEO of the Aecon group. This is a publiclytraded company that is in the business of making money for its shareholders by, among other things, building, expanding and maintaining power facilities in Ontario," said Desjardins. In an interview with the Beaver, the OPA's Ben Chin noted that before becoming chair of the OPA, John Beck sought advice from the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario, who declared there was no conflict of interest between Beck's holding the position of OPA chair and the position of Aecon chair and CEO. Chin also pointed out that Beck has excused himself from 16 of the 119 OPA board meetings he has attended since his appointment just to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton, Ward 3 Councillor Keith Bird, Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan and Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn also attended this Queen's Park demonstration, with Burton speaking out against the power plant later in the day. "I'm still of the view that for 100 years this province had a very good policy of separating power generation from neighbourhoods and I think it is a mistake that this government is making in deciding that power generation stations belong in or near neighbourhoods," said Burton. "If they do belong in neighbourhoods, I would think the premier ought to lead by example and put one in his neighbourhood." Flynn also rose before his colleagues in the Legislature on Thursday and again called on the OPA to reconsider its choice, which he said would only lead to greater pollution within the Oakville-Clarkson Airshed. The anti-power plant cause was championed during the Legislative Assembly's question period when New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath called on the McGuinty government to pass a one-year moratorium on the building of the power plant so an independent review could be held to examine the possible health impacts on residents along with other alternatives. "Why does the McGuinty government insist on building a billion-dollar polluting gas plant when electricity demand is down, when 23,000 residents have signed a petition against the plant, and when air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of more than 1,000 residents of Peel and Halton each and every year," asked Horwath. "If the McGuinty government is so committed to green energy, why is it bulldozing ahead with a polluting gas plant?" A statement from Minister of the Environment John Gerretsen that `any plant that is going to be built there is going to meet the highest air quality standards we have in the province' was met with a chorus of boos and groans from the opposition as well as a few shouts of condemnation from some of those present in the visitor's gallery. As Gerretsen continued he refrained from discussing the one-year moratorium idea, but stuck to assurances that air quality would be controlled once the power plant is built. "The proponent will be required to address the potential cumulative impacts of these particular projects at all stages of the approval process," said Gerretsen. "We need energy. We all turn our lights on at night, including the people of Mississauga and Peel. So, we want to make sure that the air quality standards are as high as they could possibly be and that any cumulative impact this plant is going to bring into the equation will have to be dealt with to meet our air quality standards." The OPA is expected to announce today where the power plant will be located and who will be awarded the contract to build and operate it. If the company TransCanada is successful in its bid, the 900-megawatt Oakville Generating Station will be established on the Ford-owned lands, located at 1500 Royal Windsor Dr. If any of the other three bidding companies are successful, the plant will be built just across the border in Mississauga. 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