Protesters tell premier they are ‘not willing hosts’ for turbines
Administrator | Apr 02, 2013 | Comments 11
There were about 100 protesters, mostly from the County, who braved the bitter cold and wind outside the main gates of the Procter and Gamble facility in Belleville to await the arrival of the premier Kathleen Wynne. Her entourage drove up just before 3pm. She greeted the protesters and promised to speak with them when she completed a tour of the plant and a roundtable with local business leaders. The protesters attending were mostly opposed to wind projects in Prince Edward County and Amherst Island. Local school bus drivers also voiced concern over the request for proposal process for school bus service. Wynne is to visit Kingston Wednesday. -Paul Wallace photo
“NOT willing hosts!” was the message Prince Edward County and Amherst Island residents protesting wind energy projects delivered to Premier Kathleen Wynne.
More than 100 people endured freezing cold and bitter winds to show opposition to Gilead Power’s project at Ostrander Point, wpd Canada’s White Pines project, and Algonquin Power’s project on Amherst Island.
Protestors from the County were members of the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County (APPEC), Prince Edward County Field Naturalists (PECFN), South Shore Conservancy (SSC), and the Coalition for Safe and Appropriate Green Energy (CCSAGE), which had coordinated the rally. They were joined by residents of Amherst Island.
They first confronted Wynne at a Belleville restaurant where she was speaking to Liberal party supporters. Infiltrating the reception, they pressed documents on Wynne and her assistants that describe the potential harm to the natural environment, heritage landscape, and tourist economy, as well as to the health of County residents.
Later, they lined the road leading to the Procter and Gamble plant where Wynne met with Belleville’s business leaders. Upon arrival, Wynne got out of her vehicle and spoke to protestors. She offered to hear their concerns after her scheduled meeting.
“About 50 people waited for two hours to hear what Wynne had to say. She responded as she has already done at demonstrations in southwestern Ontario. She said her government is reviewing the consultation process,” said Henri Garand, APPEC chair. “Amherst Island and County spokespersons were not satisfied. An Amherst Island woman spoke about a turbine to be sited 550m from her child’s school. The County representative cited the Ostrander Point appeal and the County’s clear unwillingness to host wind projects. Wynne said she knew of Ostrander Point.
“Despite public outcries, however, Wynne would not commit to any timeline for a reviewed process or its application to projects that have already received a contract.
“The threat to the County’s South Shore and the necessity of the appeal to the Environmental Review Tribunal remain as strong as ever,” said Garand. “It is not clear when, or even if, a review of Ontario government policy will respect the opposition of Prince Edward County and Amherst Island citizens.”
But the pressure on the premier is mounting as with every visit to rural Ontario, she has been encountering protests on the development of wind energy.
“She must realize that it’s a growing sign of the need for a new Liberal energy policy – or the inevitability of a new Ontario government,” said Garand.
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I have a feeling that Dalton is somewhere in the footlights giving McWinnty her instructions, you know, just like a stage director. There has to be a A PERSONAL AGENDA that’s being kept secret from all the taxpaying lab rats, Nobody could be stupid enough to ignore the outcry of thousands of rural Ontarians, as she is doing, if there wasn’t something substantial in it for the Liberal Party!
Peter Silvester
Note that Wynne “is committed” to solving the transit issue in the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area in other news yet she is “reviewing” the turbine issue. Obvious where this govt’s priorities still remain. The only change will come with a Conservative govt.
She’s a Fibral, this is just another epic scam that will be the be all end all. why do you think McQuity and party bailed?
She is of ONE opinion, she’s been whined and dined by big wind foreign companies. her minds made up and we in the turbine Green Energy Act hell are supposed to be grateful. yup selling out our land and handing over for the rest of our lives and most of our kids, nice legacy left for them to have to deal with and pay for..
why do you think she’s our new “agriculture minister”? to nail the rural coffin shut people. she has no right speaking on our behalf, the only thing country about her is she bought a pair of red rubber boots! just like Dolton sporting a cap when he came for his photo op many a time….
barf bag please.
Wynne is an empty McGuinty shell!
Anyone who believes she could care less about the destruction her government is intentionally inflicting on rural Ontario is living in a dream world.
At least McGuinty stopped pretending he was anything but a crook and resigned to avoid any consequences.
Wynne, so far, has no such excuse.
Red wellies, pant suits and empty promises just don’t cut it!
Andrew Watts
Hell will freeze over before she listens – its time to throw shoes at her.
My fear is she is listening for future developments as opposed to what is already in the works. You can thank the CSG for a lot of this craziness.
I believe that Kathleen Wynne has a lot of common sense and integrity. And I truly feel that she finds the possibility of the desecration of Amherst Island and Ostrander Point – as with Wolfe Island (God, have you seen those useless, horrible, bird and bat killing monstrosities?)-to be absolutely appalling.
The question for the Premier is this: will you allow your political ambitions/allegiances to overtake your integrity?
Kathleen Wynne….The 70’s called….They want their DISCO outfit back…
To Doris Lane
Let’s hold the Kudos to Premier Wynne until we know she is serious and listening.
I hope she is listening!
Good to see Premier Wynne out and about with the crowd.
Kudos to her.