Economic Development Committee, - What more is needed?

Things seem to be getting more bizarre by the day.

Now King's Economic Development Advisory Committee (EDAC) appears to think a gas-fired power generator plant is economic development, and it is within their mandate to advise council and educate the public on due process.

As EDAC said in their letter to the editor last week "Nothing to object to or support . . . council is following the proper course by defending the right to due process . . ."

EDAC are appointed members of the business community, professionals who are supposed to provide staff with creative input and ideas on attracting "Green" commercial development into King. Where are the innovative concepts?

Their letter sounded like a summarized version of the rhetoric contained in OPA's newspaper ads, combined with the Township's position on following process. The big "process" seems to be doing nothing until the power companies have submitted their zoning applications on the farmland they have already arranged to purchase. Well, the Titanic sunk while the officers were discussing due process rather than dealing with the iceberg in front of them.

And so I ask what more facts are needed to take a stand? As EDAC suggests, do we really need to know which other proponents, besides Northland Power Co., want to be in King? Not really. Which of the short listed companies gets the contract matters little.

What more do we need to know about form and function? We already know the plant size (Costco store and parking lot) and it won't be built below ground nor will it be a high rise. It will generate 350 megawatts for the grid during peak demand periods using inefficient gas-fired turbines.

Do we need to know the exact cost? It will be a lot of money that all of Ontario will pay for. Do we need to know more about the nature of concerns and benefits to King Township? Well, don't wait for the full facts about impact on air quality and related health implications, nor the impact on crops in the area, as they won't be forthcoming from OPA and the gas companies. In terms of benefits, the spin we keep hearing is the assurance of power supply for King. But what we know now from the OPA's latest ads is that the power will go to the Ontario power grid to benefit the entire province.

So despite what EDAC says, we know enough already. The details that are still unclear are of little consequence or won't become apparent until well after the power plant is firmly entrenched and by that time there will be nothing anyone will be able to do to change the course.

At the April 28 council meeting, Township staff assured a packed chamber full of concerned residents and members of council the hired consultant would report back in May or June and council could then decide whether to take a position. Well it is now June, and not a word. Sounds like EDAC is the messenger of the bad news, that our Township doesn't want to say anything until way further into the OPA process, when the power companies submit their full applications and plans to the Township. What kind of proactive strategy is this?

Helen Girardin,

Snowball