3 · Thursday, November 26, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Residents protest closed-door power plant meeting By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF About 20 protesters briefly breached a restricted TransCanada meeting Tuesday night calling on those inside to halt plans to construct a 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant planned for the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr. The protesters, who included small children, only managed to get a few feet inside the doors of Otello's Banquet Hall and Conference Centre before several security personnel intercepted them. Despite being contained to the doorway, the protesters made their presence known blasting the siren of a bullhorn and chanting over and over, `It's not fair, we want clean air.' Many protesters waved signs bearing slogans like, `Power Plants and Homes Don't Mix,' while one woman even shone an MICHAEL IVANIN/SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER POWER PLANT PROTEST: More than 200 residents gathered outside Otello's Banquet Hall and Conference Centre to protest a private meeting between TransCanada and a group of hand-picked representatives from local residents' associations. intensely bright flashlight into the eyes of TransCanada employees as she questioned them about whether they were Oakville residents. After a few moments the security personnel, who had formed a kind of human chain blocking the protesters, began moving forward and slowly pushed the protesters out of the banquet hall. Outside the hall, more than 200 protesters rallied, not only against the proposed power plant and the pollution they believe it will bring to their community, but also against the restricted nature of the TransCanada information meeting. The meeting was only accessible to 39 representatives from 23 various residents' associations and community groups across Oakville and Mississauga. These representatives had to adhere to a set of ground rules during the meeting, See TransCanada page 5 Inside Opinion..................................................6 Health..................................................14 Travel...................................................16 Sports..................................................18 Classified.............................................19 Full Delivery: Food Basics, Longo's, Sears, Future Shop Partial Delivery: M&M Meats, Metro Canada, Curry's, Pharma Save, City Parent, Price Chopper, Playdium Store, La Senza, Superstore, Sobeys, Fortino's, No Frills, Toys R Us, Canadian Tire, The Shopping News 134 Thomas Street Downtown Oakville ! hristmas Sale Pre-C ONE WEEK ONLY All Furniture All Accessories All Custom Artwork DELIVERY & TAXES NOT INCLUDED 25% Off Fri. Nov. 27th - Fri. Dec. 4th 20% Off 20% Off 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 Navy y Thomas m info@winterberrylane.ca y www.winterberrylane.net 905.849.9494 Church Lakeshore all table lamps Take advantage of the 50 % off RETAIL & WHOLESALE LIGHTING Oakville's Finest LIGHTING STORE in the Oakville Home Improvement District HRTC tax credit before it expires Feb.1/2010 OPEN SUNDAYS 243 Speers Road · Between Kerr & Dorval · Oakville, ON · 905.849.LITE (5483) · www.conceptlighting.ca Geor 25% OffPieces All In store Henkel Harris