Letter to the Editor

The following letter, addressed to Mayor Margaret Black, was submitted to the Sentinel for publication.

On behalf of the Holland Marsh Growers' Association, I would like express my appreciation to Councillor Jack Rupke for recently taking the time to meet with our organization and bringing with him representatives of Northland Power to discuss the peaker proposal for the northern reaches of York Region.

The time was well spent, as the councillor was able highlight a number of areas of which we, as an organization representing farmers throughout the Holland Marsh and area, were unaware of prior to this meeting. Particularly enlightening was the fact that King Township will be able to reap tax benefits from any power generation station constructed within its boundaries - and would seem, despite council voting to the contrary, resigned to the fact that a peaker station will, indeed, be constructed within the township. That impression from Councillor Rupke aside, it would seem that there are other areas that the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) could, if so inclined, decide is more desirable.

In fact, if there were a preference at all, it would be that the needs of the many - with expansion in the works for Newmarket and the surrounding southern points - be recognized as reality instead of indicating that the future for growth will be in the northern part of York Region. Nothing, it would seem, is further from the situation at hand.

Therefore, the Holland Marsh Growers' Association would like to have it on record that none of the site locations for the so-called "peaker" station have any appeal to our membership. It should be situated as part of any future Newmarket development and long-term planning, rather than placed haphazardly in the richest concentration of farmland in Canada - let alone Ontario. Surely, given all of the interest in local production, the importance of agriculture as the second largest industry in Canada, that a municipality with a history rich in the Holland Marsh would recognize the merit and value of land preservation over a possible source of tax dollars?

All of the environmental assessments conducted between now and construction will never be able to look at the ramifications and long-term potential damage that a peaker station will have on the organic soils of the Holland Marsh. OPA speaks to the province in terms of "long-term, sustainable" energy needs for the future, but what of our own ability to produce food? If, in a rash decision, the peaker is constructed within any of the sites surrounding the Holland Marsh, would the citizens thank or curse this council for actively advocating a position that allows for energy with no food? For civilization to flourish, there are certain basic necessities: air, water, food, and shelter. A project, like the one being proposed, could potentially impact upon three of the four if it is placed anywhere near our agricultural production lands: air (potential contamination has not been ruled out), water (different construction options are on the table with some using the limited water supply available), and food (with no idea of what the construction and subsequent operation of the facility will have on Canada's richest production soil). Electricity doesn't appear to have been a high priority for past four or five thousand years of civilization - exempting, of course, the last 130 years or so.

It is our understanding is that there are three (potentially four, yet we can find nothing in regard to TransCanada Power and its bid) companies seeking to construct this peaker facility: Northland Power (which met with our board of directors along with Councillor Rupke), Sithe Energy, and Pristine Power.

If our strenuous objections to this project are overruled, and they may well be, then based solely upon the locations provided, and its distance away from the truly unique soils of the Holland Marsh where potential problems can surface over the long-term, it is our opinion that the site from Sithe Energy, on Sluce Road in Holland Landing, would be preferable.

However, that seems unrealistic, given the point system and factoring cost into the equation that would seem to be the mandate from OPA. Thus, the properties being held in trust by Northland Power would seem to be the logical choices, with two of them inside King Township and two outside.

Based on choices, the first is at 1166 Bloomington Sideroad; second is 1611 Holborn Rd. (at Leslie Street) in East Gwillimbury; third is 1170 Miller's Sideroad, in King Township; and then 18156 Dufferin St., again, in King Township. It was interesting to note that Councillor Rupke and the Northland Power representatives seemed to indicate that, because of proximity to the transformer, the lines, and the power generation system for northern York, that the last location for the Holland Marsh Growers' Association would be the prime location for all stakeholder parties concerned.

If the locations of Pristine Power are added to the list (two - one just down the road on Dufferin Street and another located in Georgina, which will never be considered), they would fall well behind the last choices of Northland Power.

The reasons for our objections to any of the sites near the Holland Marsh are obvious: The farmland in the Marsh and surrounding area is unique in Canada, forming the core of the most productive vegetable growing region in this nation. We are working toward branding the Holland Marsh as just that, unique, special, with all of the tools needed to become this nation's "salad basket" once again. The terms and conditions for this peaker are 20-years in nature, and could possibly be extended beyond that capacity. There are no guarantees, as Nanticoke (a coalgenerating unit in Norfolk County) has proven. Despite the best intentions to close the facility over the past decade, the provincial government still has no "closed" sign going up anytime soon.

A secondary concern is based upon the construction of the facility. Scott Stevens, who represented Northland Power, and did a very nice job providing assurances to the board about the company's intentions, failed in one regard: the largest comparable facility that Northland Power has operating at this time is a 30 mega-watt generation unit in Kirkland Lake. What Northland Power is proposing for northern York is close to a 400 mega-watt unit; something that is clearly more than 10 times the size of its largest peaker unit. As a council, and as the mayor who governs for her constituents, you should understand our concerns.

Again, the Holland Marsh Growers' Association would like it known that we are, as an agricultural organization, opposed to any development of a peaker facility within or nearby any farmland and would, instead, see the potential construction as an issue of growth - moving the decision into York Region's long-term planning and into Newmarket, where its usage is more likely to have a greater impact. This is not a case of NIMBY, but rather, smart, logical, and concise municipal planning and incorporation for facility usage both in the short-term and in the long-term.

If there is anything that could be discussed with you, either in person or in council, please don't hesitate to contact myself or our board of directors, and we will be able to discuss how we can partner with this project to ensure that all benefit from any decision.

Alex Makarenko, Chair, Holland Marsh Growers' Association