Oakville Beaver, 1 Oct 2010, p. 7

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PARTY TIL YOUR TOES TURN Some of the evenings highlights include: t Indiana Jones theme t Martini bar t Belly dancing t Psychic readings t Delectable treats and desserts Tickets $85 To order tickets visit: www.partyinpink.ca or call 905-634-2333 Invite your girlfriends, wrap yourself in a hot pink feather boa and dance the night away! Holiday Inn, Burlington Friday, October 15 2010 7:00 pm1:00 am All proceeds to support Breast Cancer Support Services Inc. www.breastcancersupport.org sparkbranding.ca BURLINGTON HOTEL & CONFERENCE CENTRE Design by: 7 Friday , O ctober 1, 2010 O A KVILLE BEA V ER w w w .o akvillebeaver .co m Official Plan and zoning bylaw and will be sub- ject to a number of conditions. These conditions include the producing of a planning justification report outlining the rationale, benefits and need for the facility; studies indicating the facility will have no adverse impacts (noise, vibration, air quality, plume) on the local area; and a site design indi- cating the facility will be appropriately buffered and in keeping with the character of the area. Other amendments dealt with separation distance policies and policies allowing small- scale power generation facilities to provide back-up power to businesses. These amendments were well received by an audience of about 40 people at the meeting. Council also heard some 10 delegations. I want to begin by just thanking Oakville council for committing resources to study and review this issue. Its important to all of Oakville, not just our area, said Janet Haslett- Theall, Joshua Creek Residents Association. In the midst of intense pressure from regu- lators and from powerful proponents and their friends, concerned and angry residents and the media storm, you have made sure staff stayed focused on doing a diligent job, on being thor- ough in their research, on ensuring they lis- tened and consulted with the community and we appreciate that. Town staff pointed out repeatedly the amendments fill in the blanks in Town policy regarding power generation facilities and are not directly aimed at TransCanada. However, the companys 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant proposed for the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr. was top of mind. Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) spokesperson Sue Hyatt phrased the amendments as repre- senting proper planning and expressed her hope they would affect the TransCanada project and possibly even prevent its construction. Doug MacKenzie, former C4CA President and current Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor candidate, expressed support for the amendments as something not only citizens of Oakville are entitled to, but also something the citizens of all of Ontario are entitled to. I think that because of the impact on health and the risk to the residents and the flawed process that (preventing the power plant) would be the desired outcome. In short, I would really urge you to pass these bylaws and the good planning process that I hope others will adopt across the province. Similar support came from representatives of the Trafalgar-Chartwell Residents Association, Downtown Oakville BIA and Chartwell-Maplegrove Residents Association. A round of applause from the audience fol- lowed each expression of support. Not everyone was happy however. Oakville resident Lee St. James, president of the Oakville Provincial PC Riding Association, called for councillors to reconsider one amend- ment, which excludes power generating facili- ties from the Parkway Belt West lands. St. James said excluding these lands essen- tially eliminates negotiation options with the Province for relocating the TransCanada plant. Youre basically saying there is nowhere anywhere within the Town of Oakville that will accept this plant and so what is the Province going to do? If they are really determined to have this 900-megawatt plant they could just continue with what they have already negotiat- ed with TransCanada, said St. James. As someone who is fiscally conservative and social- ly progressive, I really dont want us to spend millions more in tax dollars and years and years fighting this when there may be solutions and there may be opportunities for creative dia- logue with the provincial government. St. James said she was not aware of how many people live in the Parkway Belt West lands, but said the government might have to compensate them and move them elsewhere. Mayor Rob Burton cautioned against the town becoming divided over where to put the power plant. The whole town has pulled together through this entire time and it is a matter of great importance to me we continue to pull together and act as a town and not start offer- ing up one part of the town to the sacrifice of another part of the town, said Burton. I strongly disassociate myself from any such sentiment. I believe thats a corrosive idea that will tear apart the solid front of unity that we have on this issue. I hope all of us will leave here remembering that we are strongest when we are together. When reached for comment TransCanada spokesperson Chris Breen would not directly say whether TransCanada planned to appeal these amendments, but said there would be severe consequences if the new amendments remained in place. We were awarded a contract by the Ontario Power Authority, which has the mandate to ensure a reliable electricity supply for the province, to build a power generation facility in Oakville, said Breen. If Council's recent amendments are allowed to stand they would effectively make it impossible to build the power generation needed anywhere in Oakville. Council appears to expect other municipalities to produce the power to be used in Oakville as it grows by almost 40 per cent in the next 10 years. If other municipalities took a simi- lar position, it is difficult to imagine how our homes, schools and hospitals would function safely and comfortably. It is with this in mind that we will continue to ask provincial authorities to review these types of actions by the Council. Mayor warns against sacrificing one part of town for another Continued from page 1 It is a matter of great importance to me we continue to pull together and act as a town and not start offering up one part of the town to the sacri- fice of another part of the town. Mayor Rob Burton

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