News Release
For Immediate Release
February 14, 2011
Off shore Wind Turbine Moratorium in Lake Ontario
TORONTO - Councillor Paul Ainslie Ward 43 - Scarborough East. The Province of Ontario's announcement on Friday February 11, 2011 is being celebrated by many. I along with a number of groups have been working diligently since 2008 in opposition to a wind turbine proposal on Lake Ontario off the Scarborough Bluffs.
"This is definitely a sweet victory for the Guildwood Village as well as the communities along the lakefront which were faced with the possibility of having to share their drinking water with an industrialized wind farm." Councillor Ainslie stated. "Since 2008, I never let up on the issue and took every opportunity to meet with several Provincial Ministers, their staff and Toronto Hydro. Transparency was always at the top of my agenda. The provincial government has a mandate for green energy which I respect, but they failed to respect the communities their M.P.P.'s represent by not seeking their input from the start. I see a real opportunity for the Province as they are now listening. I trust community input and transparency will be at the top of the Province's agenda before they pursue any further projects across Ontario." explained Councillor Ainslie.
The Toronto Hydro project first came to Councillor Ainslie's attention in August 2008 when Toronto Hydro placed an ad in the print media inviting interested parties to a meeting to discuss a proposal to place an anemometer in Lake Ontario off the Scarborough Bluffs. The meeting was held in a small church meeting room not large enough to accommodate the people demanding admittance to the meeting.
Caught off guard Toronto Hydro took the advice of Councillor Paul Ainslie to hold other meetings in a venue large enough for all residents to be heard. The anemometer was Toronto Hydro's focus at the meetings, but Councillor Ainslie, residents and community groups focused on the larger issue which was the possibility of wind turbines on Lake Ontario.
Working specifically with Toronto Wind Action and the Guildwood Village Community Association, Councillor Ainslie focused his attention on opposing the wind turbine project making it an urgent matter on the Provincial and Toronto Hydro's radar. Several meetings were held with the Province and Toronto Hydro explaining why Lake Ontario was not an appropriate site for wind industry. Friday's announcement sited the lack of scientific data in freshwater lakes as the main reason for the moratorium.
"I would like to thank all of the dedicated individuals and community groups especially Toronto Wind Action and the Guildwood Village Community Association who worked with me. We together dramatically influenced this outcome. Our perseverance and working as one gave our community a strong and clear voice. I am very proud of the residents of Guildwood Village as they supported our efforts in representing their interests. This is a further indication our hard work was worth all of our efforts." Councillor Ainslie has been demanding transparency in the Provinces work in advancing green energy. In a motion to Council in January 2009, he requested the Province form community boards in areas where any initiative is being proposed to obtain information and insight before taxpayer money is spent on projects.
Talks have already begun to have the wind anemometer removed from its location in Lake Ontario.
Contact
Councillor Paul Ainslie
Toronto City Council
Scarborough East - Ward 43
(416) 392-4008
councillor_ainslie@toronto.ca
