Attending an Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT) in a rural community is an eye opening experience.
The writer had occasion to do that for a few days last week in Prince Edward County (PEC) at the Demorestville Town Hall, a beautiful building erected in 1875. Demorestville is a small quiet town in the “county” (local's identify PEC with that phrase) with a current population of about 200. The Town Hall was chosen by the ERT to hear the appeals of PEC Field Naturalists (PECFN) and the Alliance to Protect Prince Edward County (APPEC) against the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) issued by the Ministry of the Environment to Gilead Power. The latter have selectively targeted “Crown Land” to erect industrial wind turbines, perhaps because it is cheaper then paying private landowners, fighting with local municipalities or because they felt they would be supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
As one pulls into the parking area at the Town Hall on Demorestville's main street you are struck by the “official” Ontario Ministry car(s). They are white “hybrids” with the Ontario logo emblazoned on their side. The immediate impression is; these people are serious about the environment! When you enter the hall and realize that the “hybrid” transported the Environment Ministry's legal team to the ERT in support of the REA(they issued), allowing the developer (Gilead) to “kill, harm and harass” endangered species you shake your head in bewilderment. Read more »
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