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Naturalists to pay Gilead $40,000, reduced from $125,000 demand

Prince Edward County’s Field Naturalists will pay $40,000 in legal costs instead of $120,000 demanded by Gilead Power.

The Divisional Court has found turbine project developer Gilead Power’s demand for $120,000 in legal costs from the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists “was too high and lowered it to $40,000,” said Myrna Wood, PECFN president. “More importantly, the reason given is that “clearly the case is of important public interest. It is significant that two judges have based decisions on the importance of the case to the public interest. We see this as a positive indicator that permission to appeal will be given. We will also be able to use this argument for an appeal against paying any legal costs to Gilead or the Ministry.”

The naturalists group has filed its submission to the Court of Appeal asking for leave to appeal the Divisional Court reversal of the decision of the Environmental Review Tribunal.

Last July, the Tribunal revoked the approval of a Gilead Power wind turbine project at Ostrander Point Crown Land Block in the centre of the Prince Edward County’s South Shore Important Bird Area. There have been more than 20 appeals of Renewable Energy Approvals since the Green Energy Act came into effect in 2009. All but the PECFN appeal resulted in dismissals.

“In allowing PECFN’s appeal, the Tribunal rendered a landmark and precedent-setting decision,” said Wood.

Soon after the Divisional Court decision, Gilead Power announced its intention to start construction in April.  PECFN brought an urgent motion for a Stay of construction and leave to appeal the Divisional Court decision to the Court of Appeal.

In his decision submitted on March 25, Judge Blair of the Appeal Court held that he had “no hesitation in granting the Stay” because the issues raised on the proposed appeal are of “broad public implication in the field of environmental law”.  Further, he found that the irreparable harm criterion had been satisfied on the basis that “once a habitat is destroyed, it is destroyed – for at least short-term purposes, in any event – and the species sought to be protected here is a vulnerable and endangered species.”

“The notice of intention to seek leave to appeal has attracted increasing expressions of support for PECFN’s opposition to industrialization of the South Shore IBA,” said Wood. “We believe that this important test of Ontario environmental law encourages other environmental and legal organizations to apply to intervene in the appeal.”

The struggle to save Ostrander Point has gained a broader dimension since two other wind turbine projects in the area have been submitted to the government Registry (EBR) for public comment, she said.

The White Pines proposal includes 29 turbines spread across private lands within the IBA surrounding Ostrander Point.  Windlectric Inc. proposes 36 turbines spread across the Amherst Island’s natural areas.  Residents of Amherst Island have applied to the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto for a judicial review of the Ministry of Environment’s approval of the application.  They challenge the company’s claims that their plan has mitigated any harmful effects to wildlife and people prior to construction.

“The cumulative effect of proposed turbine projects surrounding eastern Lake Ontario creating a barrier across the eastern flyway of migrating birds and bats is a concern for all naturalists,” said Wood. “If approved, these projects will displace wildlife from shorelines, the most important staging and resting habitats for many species.  Renewable energy will not be ‘green’ if it destroys significant wildlife habitats.  Recognition of this fact is demonstrated by two recent project cancellations. British Petroleum has cancelled a project on Cape Vincent across from Wolfe Island.  On the Lake Erie Pelee flyway two proposed projects in Ohio have been cancelled due to the threat of a lawsuit by Black Swamp Bird Observatory and the American Bird Conservancy.”

The Appeal Court’s decision on the request to appeal may not be made until June.

“In May, everyone will be enjoying one more spring migration and searching for emerging Blanding’s turtles along the South Shore firmly resolved to continue in the struggle to Save Ostrander Point,” said Wood.

More at www.saveostranderpoint.org

Filed Under: Local News

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  1. Loretta says:

    @SpencerforHire “It is the law, if you lose you pay. ” You watch to much US TV… it is NOT automatic in Canada; may be why we have fewer frivilous lawsuits here

  2. BH says:

    The amount of time and effort spent by PECFN to protect the environment is a great enough sacrifice.

    IM Messenger.
    You could have said ‘You should not get blood from alvar.’

    From Wikipedia: “Alvars comprise a small percentage of the Earth’s ecosystems by land extent. Although some 120 exist in the Great Lakes region, in total there are only about 112 square kilometres (43 sq mi) left across the entire Great Lakes basin …”

  3. IM Messenger says:

    You can’t get blood from a stone!

  4. Spencerforhire says:

    It is the law, if you lose you pay. Otherwise there would be frivolous lawsuits every second of every day.

    You would bet $120,000 that the Anti Wind groups would screaming from the hilltops if the roles were reversed!

  5. IM Messenger says:

    It’s not damages, it’s legal costs for Gilead’s multiple lawyers spending 3 days in Toronto court.

    The $20,000 was given by municipal gov’t Shire Hall, earlier for initial expenses from the get-go for the large debt PECFN accrued while presenting an appeal to the ERT (Environmental Review Tribunal) regarding the MOE’s (Min. of Envir.)approval given to Gilead Corp. to construct a Wind Farm Park on “crown” land known as Ostrander Point.

    There is your answer — why “money was given”, to pay a portion of the appeal debt: crown land is public land. Taxpayer money is public funds.

    An Aside:
    (In this circumstance Dept. National Defense has some restrictions, control, since 1950s and maintains no access by unauthorized persons.) MOE would change that via industrial wind turbines.

    Defined:
    Public funds, all money spent or invested by government to satisfy individual or collective needs or to create future benefits.

  6. baysider says:

    Why would the county give them $20000.00 if they don’t have to pay there bills?

  7. Gary says:

    A farce of policy and law. Our fore fathers and mothers must be rolling in their graves with the way law and lack of local control has diminished!

  8. IM Messenger says:

    This is an “issue of environmental law”. Once again the crux of the legal wranglings.

    But further, as other cases launched before the courts will show it is one of human rights, and environmental rights as well. The Gov’t’s own legislation is under the gavel as it contradicts itself.

    Gilead is optimistic about damages, the judge sees the fairness and the imbalance of David vs. Goliath. I hate to point out something of which Gilead already knows is that they will not see one turtle-pooped cent for damages. But alas, lawyers will play the next card in the profitable legal game they play.

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