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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, June 3, 2010 · 12 Guest column Questions still persist about Oakville gas power plant Doug MacKenzie, President C4CA Questions continue to arise regarding the process by which TransCanada Energy Ltd. was awarded the contract by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to build and operate a 900-megawatt plant on a small site in Oakville. TransCanada is also the builder and operator of a 683-megawatt gas power plant just up the road at Steeles Avenue and Trafalgar Road. The Oakville site is much smaller at just over 13 acres, and much closer to homes, schools and businesses, than other gas power plants, and it will draw millions of litres of water from Lake Ontario to cool the energy facility. Questions perDoug MacKenzie sist regarding why this proposed plant is so different from all the others. Most Ontarians support the phasing out of coal plants and the investment of the provincial government in green energy through wind and solar power. But wind and solar installations are generally supported with natural gas plants to provide electricity when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. With more natural gas power plants likely on the drawing boards for Ontario, the time is now to pause and find answers to these questions. Requests by Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, for more information regarding the decision-making process have been turned down by the OPA. Lacking answers, thousands of residents have taken time to voice their concerns. Elected officials at all levels of government have supported these efforts: · Oakville council has passed an interim control bylaw prohibiting power generation facilities with a generating capacity greater than 10 megawatts from being built without its approval; · Mississauga council unanimously passed a resolution which directs staff to review the Town of Oakville bylaw and report back to council on what would be required to develop and introduce such a bylaw in Mississauga; · Four Joint Statements on Air Quality in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed have been issued by Oakville and Mississauga residents' associations; Oakville and Mississauga citizens have expressed their views on the health and safety risks through opinion articles, letters to newspapers, editorials in the Beaver, the National Post and the Toronto Star; · Thousands marched on Queen's Park on March 2. About another 1,000 marched on Ford requesting its full support for a full and proper environmental/safety assessment; · Letters have been issued to senior management and the board of directors of TransCanada Corporation expressing serious concerns on health, safety and environmental issues; · The Oakville Committee of Adjustment turned down the applications to sever a parcel of land at 1500 Royal Windsor Dr. in Oakville with a concurrent application to permit two "minor variances" requested by TransCanada; · A Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw was passed by Oakville council; · The Town also submitted a detailed and very critical report on TransCanada's own Draft Environmental Report; · Letters have been sent to the Federal Ministers responsible for areas of federal jurisdiction, such as fisheries, the Railway Act and Canada/USA Great Lake agreements. · Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's private members bill, "An Act to Establish Separation Distances for Natural Gas Power Plants," passed Second Reading in the Legislature on April 22, by a vote of 28-1 with support from all parties, and is now referred to the Committee on General Government; · And most recently, Mayor Hazel McCallion (Mississauga), Mayor Rob Burton (Oakville) and Mayor Marie Trainer (Haldimand County) sent a joint letter to Ontario Energy and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid. Amid all this concern and opposition it would seem logical for the Government of Ontario to put a moratorium on this plant and others in the planning stages until some of the many questions that have arisen have been answered. The Ontario Legislature rises for its summer recess today (Thursday). Concerned citizens should contact Premier McGuinty's office directly to ask that he enact safety regulations, such as those proposed by Kevin Flynn, now. No more natural gas power plants should be approved or built until safety buffer zone regulations are in place. And the OPA should be mandated to require a comprehensive Individual Environmental Assessment for every proposed natural gas fired power plant, including the proposed Oakville plant, before any contract is awarded or a plant is built in any community in the province. Oakville and Mississauga families deserve this measure of protection. Please call or write the Premier now. To find out how, visit www.C4CA.org. 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Dinner OPEN SUNDAYS Special Kids' Menu Dorval Letter to the editor Literacy council grateful for support Thank you, Oakville, on behalf of the many people in our community who are improving their literacy skills through personalized tutoring offered by the Oakville Literacy Council. Our used book sale fundraiser raised more than $18,200 to support our important work, an increase of 16 per cent over last year's total. We couldn't have done it without amazing supporters -- you donated wonderful books, you volunteered, and you shopped in great numbers. Our organization is growing like never before, so please continue to support us throughout the year. We invite you to visit our website at www.oakvilleliteracy.ca to learn more about us, and we'll see you again next year! LINDA NORTH AND JOANNE MACNAIR VOLUNTEER CO-CHAIRS, 2010 USED BOOK SALE COMMITTEE OAKVILLE LITERACY COUNCIL All Day Breakfast! Thank You Oakville for Voting "One of the Best..." 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