King council is not willingly to roll over and play dead in the wake of the new disconcerting development of the peaker

plant proposed for the Holland Marsh area by York Energy Centre.

The Township got the word two weeks ago from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure that the government, through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, was proposing to use a provision in the Planning Act that can exempt an undertaking related to energy from the requirements of the Act.

This leaves the Township with no way to fight the proposed facility before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB).

At council Monday, a draft letter containing comments that council was asked to endorse was passed and is to be for- warded to Larry Clay, regional director with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. It highlighted King’s formal response to the Province’s proposed order-in council on the plant, asserting that the Township will never be willing host.

Council as well heard comments from the public.

Jamie Reaume, executive director of the Holland Marsh Growers' Association, said the peaker plant is planned to be built not only in a sensitive part of the Greenbelt but it would adjacent to the Holland Marsh, Ontario’s food basket.

“The Holland Marsh is one of seven designated crop areas in Canada,” he said.

Reaume said the peaker plant no longer services Northern York Region.

“This should make you very angry.

As council, you followed legislative process yet in the middle of an Ontario Municipal Board hearing the Premier screwed you guys over,” Reaume declared.

“His actions speak loudly; they say that you guys are no longer capable in handling your municipality.”

Reaume added council should resign in protest.

“You should pretty much tell the premier to take your job and shove it,” he said. “Let’s be clear I am not telling you to resign because you didn’t do your job, you did. I am telling you to because they are not listening.”

Reaume concluded by calling the whole process an end game.

“I think it’s important to show in the X number days left that King Township is here to serve the democratic rights of its citizens and won’t let this happen without a fight,” he commented.

Councillor Jack Rupke said the mayor and six councillors resigning on this issue would not be prudent when they have other issues in the Township to deal with.

Township Solicitor James Feehely told Councillor Cleve Mortelliti that considering the precedentm other municipalities might help King.

King City area resident Debbie Schaefer said it would be wise to get other municipalities together to rally behind King.

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw asked CAO Scott Somerville if they would be able to get Ministry of Environment’s support on the issue.

Somerville said council could, though staff will need council’s direction.

Councillor Bill Cober thought council’s agenda had been hijacked.

“Look at the costs that council has gone through, which has put a burden on taxpayers,” Cober said.

“The Township is faced with the need to continue engaging in the process, which includes hiring consultants and preparing witness statements, which will be thrown into the trash once the regulation is passed.”

Cober said resigning is not an option.

“We need to stand together to do good and honourable work,” he said. “The Township deserves that.”

Feehely said it might be a good idea to highlight costs the Township has been put to in the letter.

Councillor Jane Underhill said the Province has shown

disregard for one of its municipalities.

“What happen to our democratic right?” she wondered.

“This is abuse of bureaucracy. This takes away our rights.”

Somerville said the Province can wrap issues up in the interest of Ontario.

“The concerns of Ontario outweigh the ones of one municipality, which is what they are arguing,” he commented.

Underhill said it still takes away their rights to do studies to see if this is in the interest of the public.

Rupke said the Province is only doing this for political interest.

“They are upsetting a lot of taxpayers,” he charged.

Mortelliti said the Province sees King as this little tiny voice, which can be kicked around.

“Compared to other municipalities, we are like a speck of dust.

We are being stepped on,” he commented.

Mayor Margaret Black said it’s not over yet.

“We need to send this letter out right now, if it’s possible,” she said.