Beaver THE OAKVILLE Voted Ontario's Top Newspaper Four Years in a Row - 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 www.brantflorist.com/ob www.dentistoakville.com 905.639.7001 905-842-6030 www.carstaroakville.com All in gest Page 21 905-8457579 905-847 -2595 2212 Wyecroft Rd. 547 Trafalgar Rd. A member of Metroland Media Group Ltd. Vol. 48 No. 13 "USING COMMUNICATION TO BUILD BETTER COMMUNITIES" THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010 32 Pages $1.00 (plus GST) Battling Learning the hoops power plant comes with price tag n By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Call for a halt on power plant The Oakville residents' group Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) is calling on the Premier of Ontario to implement an immediate moratorium on Oakville's proposed power plant given the recent explosion of a similar power plant in the United States. The 620-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Middletown, Connecticut, which was still under construction, exploded Sunday morning killing five construction workers and injuring 12 others. As devastating as this blast was, C4CA President Doug MacKenzie noted a similar accident at the 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant proposed for the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr., would be far worse and as such, plans for the plant need to be re-examined. "Our hearts go out to the victims of the tragic events in Middletown," said MacKenzie. "Those events should serve as a wake-up call to the Ontario government's plans to build a similar, but larger facility in the middle of the southwest GTA. Before we rush to build what will be one of the largest gas-fired power plants in Canada this close to a densely populated area, we must evaluate what a reasonable safety distance is for the community and establish buffer zones that anticipate worst-case scenarios as a precaution." MacKenzie went on to note that the n Battling TransCanada and its proposed Oakville power plant has already cost the Town of Oakville $350,000 and is expected to cost another $1 million in the coming year. "These are special costs for both the legal fight we anticipate and the technical expertise we need to conduct ourselves properly," Gord Lalonde, commissioner of corporate services, told Town councillors on Tuesday night. The money will primarily be spent on legal and consulting fees, as the Town responds to an environmental review report regarding the facility and prepares for a potential legal battle in Ontario Divisional Court. TransCanada is currently seeking permission to appeal a recent Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decision that upheld a special interim control bylaw restricting power plants in n See Town page 5 Butt out on Family Day Family Day, Mon. Feb. 15, will be the first day of a new ban on smoking within nine metres, or 30 feet, in front of all municipal buildings in Halton, including arenas, libraries, and community and civic centres. The Region will enforce the prohibition in Oakville, Halton Hills, Milton and Burlington n MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER See It's page 8 KID-A-PALOOZA: Eva Pennino climbs through an obstacle course during Kid-A-Palooza Oakville at Oakville Town Hall. The event was designed to help to connect Oakville families with support services, resources and products. Kid-A-Palooza was sponsored by Ward 5 Councillor Jeff Knoll and Oak Park Moms & Tots and has become an annual event. See Safety page 8 DORVAL DRIVE I 905.845.6653 Betwe Between K rr & Dorv Kerr Dorval WYECROFT RD. SPEERS RD. YOUR FRIEND IN THE BUSINESS! · www.lockwoodchrysler.com Celebrating 26 years in Oakville KERR ST. TRAFALGAR 175 Wyecroft Rd., Oakville QEW