Marsh growers opposed Ontario Power Authority site selection

The following letter, addressed to Provincial Energy and Public Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman, was submitted to the Sentinel for Publication.

Now that a decision has been rendered by the independent panel regarding the north York power plant, to be referred to in the future as a "peaker plant," it should be noted that the Holland Marsh Growers' Association - now, more than ever - remains adamantly opposed to both the proposed site and the subsequent construction of any such facility within the boundaries of Canada's richest agricultural land base.

This decision is, at best, ludicrous, and, at worst, a complete insult to the generations of farmers that have toiled to provide the freshest, safest, healthiest vegetables to a lifelong Ontario consumer.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA), the overriding governmental agency which appears to take direction from nobody, has merely looked at a flat map on its drawing table, found the easiest location to the Holland Landing transformer station and plopped down this facility haphazardly into both the Holland Marsh and beside a school. But, providing Ontarians - both now and into the future - with a steady, healthy supply of food seems secondary to the needs of the GTA's dire requirement for air conditioning during our expected hot summers due to climate change caused by the very structure your ministry is building. It seems insignificant, as well, that your Premier, Ontario's Premier, has strived for the past six years to be known as the education premier and will find his legacy to be one strewn amongst the waste that spews from this monstrosity beside a rural school that houses our future, the best and brightest - children who will no longer know the safety that comes from being educated in and around their own homes.

Instead, Ontario's Premier, the Education Premier, will see future generations of children shuttled away from their school because of the potential - and very real - hazards that this facility will create. This is real, this is taking place now, and it is the legacy of this government - a failure to recognize that this fossil fuel plant added to Ontario's woes; undermined the credibility of a government committed to reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions; undermined another ministry's attempt to entice today's Ontario consumer to Buy Local food products because supporting your own means building from within, strengthening the economy (especially since the good times are fading away into a long forgotten, distant memory), and providing an assurance of safe, healthy, locally-grown, locally-produced food thus providing consumers with the incentive to reduce their own carbon footprint; and finally, undermined the credibility of a minister who stood before farmers less than a month ago and told them that Ontario's new direction would be an asset to farmers - not a hindrance, barrier, or worse.

This, Minister, easily falls under the "worse" category.

The Holland Marsh Growers' Association is already on record with its opposition, but now that it is known which site and facility design has been chosen - well, there really isn't much comfort that this Ministry and its agency has a handle on today's realities.

Please, save your form letters about how these peaker plants will eliminate the need for coal. That is old news. Please save the form letters indicating that this is in the best interests of the residents of north York, because consumption is ever-increasing. Economic downturns, like the one Ontario is facing and will be mired in for the next decade or so, will see to it that consumption is kept at a minimum. Please save the form letters stating that this is a more environmentally friendly facility. Of all of the designs brought forward by the companies in this exercise of futility, this design is the worst for the environment, for the area, and for the once-proud Province of Ontario. Please save the form letters that will state that no harm will befall the Holland Marsh due to the emissions being produced by this facility. That is simply not the case - and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs has this on file. (Take a moment to move out of the silo mentality that exists in government bodies and see the foll owing: http://www.omafra.gov.on.c a/english/crops/facts/01- 015.htm).

Finally, this is a case of future "projections" for the need of energy versus food security, food sovereignty and food safety. It is our contention, backed by worldwide research, that this facility will destroy the Holland Marsh, its unique micro-climate, and lead to devastating results for future generations as they scramble for food because our once porous borders have been closed due to chaos, crisis, and the whims of other governments. Coupled with the fact that this decision flies in the face of so many legislative pieces, overriding sound policy and judgment (such as the Lake Simcoe Protection Act, the Greenbelt Act, the Clean Water Act), one can clearly assume that the OPA answers, frankly, to no one, no body, and no democratic process.

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Please right this wrong before it gets too far down the road that we can't reverse the adverse impact this facility will have on one of the Canada's crown jewels - the Holland Marsh. We would ask that we be allowed to meet with yourself and ministry staff to press our case, even inviting in Ontario's Environment Commissioner, Gord Miller, so that the entire process can be reviewed from a bird's eye point of view.

This isn't asking too much, particularly when you consider that the price tag on this facility has inexplicably risen by more than $115-million from the original concept that is would cost merely $250-million. Privatepublic ventures tend to increase exponentially as they progress - and, as taxpayers (and not just farmers), we feel that a complete examination before the public and the media gets the wrong idea about how devastating a decision this is from both today's government and from the perspective of a future leader of the Liberal party.

Again, we merely ask to meet so that you can understand our point of view. Thank you for consideration of this matter.

Alex Makarenko

Chair, HMGA