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Factory Tile Depot www.factorytiledepot.ca Tile selection made enjoyable! Ask about our Custom Glass Shower Doors & Floor Heating A WORLD OF INSPIRATION Let our designers and product selection take you to another place. Elegance, Stylish, Sophisticated, or Sleek We can transform any space! We specialize in importing and distributing unique Ceramics, Porcelain, Travertine, Marble, Glass, Custom Medallions and mosiacs from Around the World. 3 W ed n esd ay, Feb ru ary 10, 2010 O A K V ILLE B E A V E R w w w .o a k v ille b e a v e r.co m have a high level of confidence in our safety programs and procedures. They have been designed to meet our safety goals and to meet or exceed industry and government standards. It is too early to speculate on what happened at the power facility under construction in Middletown, Connecticut. TransCanada will monitor the Middletown investigation and work with all willing par- ties so we can take any learning and incor- porate it into our policies and procedures. TransCanada continuously reviews its poli- cies and procedures to see if they need to be enhanced so that any type of risk is elimi- nated. At the moment, public concern about the proposed power plant is considerable with Mayor Rob Burton noting that, since Sunday, his office has received numerous e- mails about the Middletown incident. In response to this outpouring, Burton has stated he and council are united in their determination to make sure there is no threat to the health or safety of their resi- dents from any industrial installations, existing or proposed, within the town. Burton also noted the Middletown inci- dent has reinforced his concerns about the Ontario governments commitment to safe- ty given its decision to allow a similar power plant to be built so close to homes in Oakville. Natural gas is an extremely explosive substance, thats why its a good fuel, said Burton. The thing that worries me about the Province of Ontario is its never struck me as a province thats really dedicated to safe- ty. I look at the lack of corrective action after the Sunrise Propane explosion and I look at this cheerful willingness on their part to put power plants next to residential areas and I have to shake my head and won- der. Burton also pointed out the Middletown incident raises questions about how much research the Province of Ontario actually did before designating Oakville as the site of the proposed power plant. The Ontario Power Authority and for- mer Minister Smitherman steadfastly insisted that there was no safety concern with their selection and I think, given the circumstances, they should produce the evidence they were using to come to that conclusion, said Burton. If they dont have any evidence of how safe it is and how this could not happen, that doesnt say very much about how good a job they are doing and it doesnt inspire my confidence that they know what theyre doing. The Town of Oakville has passed an inter- im control bylaw banning the building or expansion of power plants with a capacity greater than 10-megawatts until a study is complete outlining where in Oakville larger power plants can best be accommodated. TransCanada and Ford of Canada appealed this bylaw to the Ontario Municipal Board, which decided to allow the bylaw to stand. TransCanada is challenging this deci- sion, however, the bylaw is set to expire in late March. Burton has also written Premier Dalton McGuinty asking him to reconsider the Oakville power plant location in light of the Middletown incident and the Town has passed a resolution calling on the federal government to have Transport Canada examine the dangers of having a 900- megawatt gas-fired power plant so close to a major rail line. Oakville MP Terence Young said there is nothing the federal government can do until TransCanada applies for a building permit, but also expressed his opposition to the plant. I will oppose this plant with every avail- able federal power. This plant is an unac- ceptable risk next to homes and schools, said Young. Putting this plant next to a res- idential community is a terrible idea. Industrial accidents do happen, someone throws the wrong switch and people can die. Young said he has also written McGuinty asking him to reverse the governments decision and relocate the plant to a safer area such as Nanticoke where, he said, the community actually wants it and where it will not be located so close to a large resi- dential community. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn is also attempting to convince his government to change its ways and is preparing to bring forward a Private Members Bill that, if upheld ,would require gas-fired power plants to be a minimum of 1,100 metres away from area residences. These facilities need to be located a safe distance away from communities and this legislation will be an important step towards protecting the health and safety of our citizens, said Flynn. At his home less than a kilometre away from the Oakville power plants proposed location, Fiorelli is hoping those in the Ontario Legislature will hear what so many in Oakville are trying to tell them. These plants may be necessary, but theres a right place for them and it has to be a safe place, he said. Those seeking more information on the proposed power plant can attend an open house, which will be held by TransCanada today at 4 p.m. at the Oakville Conference and Banquet Centre, located at 2515 Wyecroft Rd. Inside Full Delivery: National Sports, Shopping News, Home Depot, Rona Cashway Full Delivery: JYSK Bed and Bath, Kia, Rhona Cashway, Arrow Furniture, RMP Athletics, Staples Business Opinion............................................6 Auto...............................................17 Artscene.........................................20 Sports.............................................24 Classified........................................28 For home delivery & customer service call (905) 845-9742 Mon., Tues. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Wed., Thu., and Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (open for calls only after 5 p.m.) Closed Sat. and Sun. NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS call (905) 845-9742 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com TransCanada warns its too early to speculate The thing that worries me about the Province of Ontario is its never struck me as a province thats really dedicated to safety. n Oakville Mayor Rob Burton These facilities need to be located a safe distance away from communities and this legislation will be an important step towards protecting the health and safety of our citizens. n Kevin Flynn, Oakville MPP n Continued from page 1 TransCanada will monitor the Middletown investigation and work with all willing parties so we can take any learning and incorporate it into our policies and procedures. TransCanada continuously reviews its policies and procedures to see if they need to be enhanced so that any type of risk is eliminated. n Statement issued by TransCanada following Middletown explosion Speak up! You can comment on any story in todays Oakville Beaver at oakvillebeaver.com.