The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 3, 2010 · 8 Environment minister says `tough decisions' to be made Continued from page 5 build and operate the power plant), was met with the crowd's cheer of `sucks.' This resulted in a back-and-forth duet of `TransCanada sucks,' `TransCanada sucks.' Burton also used his time on the podium to attack the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) for selecting Oakville as the site for the power plant. Burton questioned the OPA's approval process. "I call on the Premier to shut that organization down and start over," he said. Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and Oakville MP Terence Young also spoke on the power plant issue, with Flynn stating he was in the process of introducing a private member's bill that would require gas-fired power plants to be a minimum of 1,100 metres away from residences. Young said when the power plant applies for a building permit, he would be able to call on the Ministry of the Environment to investigate this issue. Oakville Trafalgar High School students and presidents of the school's Environmental Club Maddy Mikulis and Kathleen Mounce spoke about the concerns students are feeling with regard to the power plant issue. "There are over 1,200 students that attend Oakville Trafalgar each day and this proposed site is 880 metres away from our school. For the first time, our feeling of safety at school is being jeopardized. After the explosion in Connecticut, it is clear that a power plant 880 metres away from a school is not safe," said Mikulis. "How could the government let us down PHOTOS BY NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER SIGNS OF THE TIMES: Protesters expressed their concerns with buttons and placards. so badly?" asked Mounce. "In addition, a power plant within a three-kilometre radius of 11,000 and 16 schools in an area already recognized as a toxic airshed is irresponsible and incomprehensible." Mikulis said the youths of Oakville are having a very difficult time understanding the logic behind the power plant, which she said makes no sense. "We were here first and the government should do its job and protect us," said Mounce. While the protest succeeded in attracting considerable attention, its long-term effects have yet to be seen. In a scrum with media at Queen's Park, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Brad Duguid said he was listening to residents, but offered little assurance those concerns would be addressed. "There are tough decisions that need to be made," he said. "This part of the Greater Toronto area requires a local energy supply, there is no question about that, but I have to tell you it's important we hear from local residents, I think it's important we hear their concerns, I think it's important that we are sure that there's no concerns that are being raised that should lead us to reconsider any decisions that have been made. So, I am open to hearing their concerns. At this point in time, this is a project that we are looking to see move forward, it's important because there is a gap in energy supply down the road in this particular part of the city, but we are open to hearing their concerns and I think that's important that government remains open to the residents of local communities like that." Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada Schedule changes starting March 7, 2010 for routes: 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 31, 102, 190 For maps and schedule times visit www.oakvilletransit.ca Public Notice -- Proposed revisions to municipal parking by-laws Intention to revise current rates and fees In accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001, the Town of Oakville hereby gives notice of its proposed new municipal parking rates and fees for 2010 and the passing of an associated by-law. Residents wishing to delegate Council on this matter may do so at a public meeting hosted by Council's Community Services Committee on Tuesday April 13, 2010 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Written comments on this matter for inclusion in the staff report to the committee must be received by March 22, 2010. Please submit comments to: Hania Ellison, Manager of Parking and Halton Court Services, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville ON L6J 5A6. For further information please visit www.oakville.ca or contact the town's Engineering and Construction department at 905-845-6601, ext 3310.