Clayton De Vries had a pretty clear message on his sign at Friday’s event near the peaker plant site. What has Oakville got that the Holland Marsh doesn’t?

Liberal MPPs, according to the statements coming from several local officials in light of the Province’s decision last week not to go ahead with the construction of a proposed natural gas plant in Oakville.

But the proposed peaker plant, slated to go into the Holland Marsh, is still a go, according statements the Province was issuing last week.

“When it comes to the power supply in the Oakville area and the power supply in Northern York region, you really can’t compare the two,” stated Energy Minister Brad Duguid in a statement issued by his office (the Sentinel was referred to the Minister’s by the staff of Oak Ridges — Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek when we attempted to contact her for a comment). “The power needs of Oakville region can be accommodated by a transmission solution, rather than building a new gas plant. This is not the case in York Region. The need for new reliable electricity generation in northern York Region has been an issue for several years – in fact, a local generating facility is required immediately to meet North American standards for reliability. Any interruption in the supply or distribution could have serious and widespread impacts and affect power supply to residences, businesses and institutions like hospitals and schools.”

But people in King who are opposed to the peaker plant aren’t buying it.

“I’m angry with a government that’s ignored the residents,” declared Councillor Jack Rupke Friday morning at a press conference in the marsh, called by Mayor Margaret Black. “They chose the cheapest bid. It had nothing to do with anything else.”

He added he agrees with the need for the peaker plant, but charged the selection of the rotation was wrong, and was made for the wrong reasons.

“This is an extremely important issue,” Black declared as she lashed out at the government of Premier Dalton McGuinty, but she also said she was encouraged by developments, suggesting the government had already admitted one mistake. “We finally have a glimmer of hope,” she said.

But she came down over “the unfairness of this government’s abuse of the democratic process.”

Black asserted that the Township, like officials in Oakville, have made it clear for more than two years that they were not willing hosts of this facility. “Our rejection of the placement of the plant in King Township has been ignored,” she said.

As well, she lashed out at the government passing a regulation earlier this year that exempted the project from provisions in the Planning Act, and this was after the Township had gone to considerable expense following the legislative process in this matter.

“Due process for King has been eliminated,” she declared. “Our farmers and citizens deserve to be treated equally.”

Black also repeated charges that putting the plant near the marsh contravenes the Provincial Greenbelt Act, adding it’s not wise to put it in a floodplain next to “Ontario’s food basket.” The government had previously argued that the peaker pant had to go in the marsh because a transmission solution between Newmarket and Markham wasn’t workable. In view of the decision regarding the Oakville proposal, Black said that argument is no longer valid.

“There are alternative sites, which we believe are better suited,” Black lashed out at McGuinty, “and we expect that your government will, like they did in Oakville, do the right thing and find a better solution.”

She also pointed out King has 20,000 people and that part of the Township is represented by a Conservative, unlike Oakville. She asserted that all residents are entitled to equal treatment, regardless of the size of the community or its politics.

“I’m frankly sorry we have to be here,” commented York — Simcoe MPP Julia Munro, as she charged the Oakville decision was aimed at saving the political career of local MPP Kevin Flynn. She pointed out there could be legal action against the Province that could make Flynn the most expensive MPP in history. She called the situation “shameful.”

“It’s very clear that this government has chosen to trample on its own legislation,” Munro observed, adding the foes of the peaker plant have been trying to follow due process. “All of that just went out the window yesterday.”

Newmarket — Aurora MPP Frank Klees said there’s no question a reliable energy supply is needed in his riding, but it has to go in the right location. “This is not,” he said.

He added there are alternative locations, adding this issue underscores the government’s lack of integrity.

He also predicted the attempt to save the Oakville seat for the Grits will “backfire.”

“I don’t believe that Oakville riding will return a Liberal MPP,” he declared.

It is the wrong plant in the wrong location, declared marsh farmer Doug van Luyk, who hosted Friday’s event.

He called on the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to step back and re-evaluate the process it used in selecting this site. He said OPA has no proof the plant is needed, adding the site meets no need in York Region. “It goes back toward feeding the Provincial grid,” he said.

Concerned Citizens of King Township (CCKT) have been active in the fight.

Debbie Schaefer of CCKT (also a candidate for King council in this month’s municipal elections), said this fight has been expensive, not only in terms of money, but also on environmental and health issues.

“There isn’t really a full accounting of what things cost,” she declared. “You have to look at the whole picture.”

She also said peak demand for power has been down over the last two years in Ontario. She said CCKT has asked for the figures for this area and the authorities won’t give them.

Avia Eek, who is seeking the Ward 6 seat on Township council, said she was happy for the people in Oakville in light of the government’s move. “I just wish they would have the same turn around here,” she said.

Eek wasn’t sold on the government’s statements that Oakville and King are two different situations. “I almost blew a gasket,” she said, stating the Oakville plant was slated for an industrial area. Both sites are near homes and schools, and she added the one in King “is in a floodplain and protected area by legislation.”

It’s also in a specialty crop area. There might be a need for energy, but “don’t people need to eat as well?” she asked.

Those on hand for the press conference included all three challengers for the mayor’s chair in King.

Steve Pellegrini argued officials in Oakville showed strong leadership in this case, bringing in activist Erin Brockovich.

“Our Township is not being leaders,” he charged. “We’re following somebody else. Why are we not leaders, like Oakville?”

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw said he was thrilled for Oakville.

“(I) still feel that King needs to do more than rally the flag,” he added,stating the Township should get involved in the legal action that’s being planned against the plant.

“It’s not a matter of talking about things,” he said. “It’s also a matter of doing things.”

Gordon Craig was not sharing Black’s optimism that this will benefit King. He said it would have been hard to stop the plant in Oakville, expecting it will be impossible to stop this one.

“I could be surprised,” he admitted, observing this whole issue has been unpredictable. “Second guessing the Ontario government, I think, is impossible.”

You’ve got to be happy,” declared Jamie Reaume, executive director of the Holland Marsh Growers’ Association, as he pointed to the apparent contradiction. He said the government is saying Toronto apparently doesn’t need more power, but northern York Region does.

“What the hell’s this dinky little facility going to do in the great schemes of things,’ he wondered.

The plant is to be built and operated by York Energy Centre (Pristine Power), and officials of the company didn’t seem too concerned about last week’s developments.

Pristine Vice-President Julia Ciccaglione agreed the power demands in Oakville and york are different.

“The need for the York Energy Centre is really dictated by the need for grid stability in northern York Region,” she commented, adding the company’s work is more advanced. “Construction has commenced.”