Last night, the people of Ontario scored a major victory thanks to the determination of a group of local councillors who listened to their constituents. That resulted in Thorold City Council voting unanimously to reject Northland Power’s proposal to build a new gas plant in their Niagara Peninsula community.
And that matters, because Energy Minister Todd Smith has stated that no gas plant can be built without municipal approval.
Now, thanks to the work of local citizens who kept the pressure on Thorold Council, making it crystal clear that a gas plant was not welcome in their community, we have created a real test for the minister’s resolve.
The Ford government has a habit of saying one thing (“I will never touch the Greenbelt”) and doing another (you know what happened). Minister Smith has so far turned a deaf ear to the two resolutions from Toronto City Council opposing expansion of the Portland’s gas plant on the city’s waterfront.
That’s despite the fact that In December of last year, Minister Smith told the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) that “it is my expectation that the IESO will be clear about the requirement for a resolution from municipal council supporting a proponent or counterparty with a proposed project located in that municipality, separate and apart from that municipality’s permitting and regulatory requirements.”
So now we will see if the Ford government is serious about its commitment to listen to local concerns. It hasn’t done that for the Greenbelt and it continues to move full steam ahead with its reckless plan for a huge ramp up in the use of gas-fired power in Ontario, despite 35 Ontario municipalities calling for a gas phase-out. But it just hit a huge roadblock: Thorold has left no uncertainty about where the community stands – it’s “no” couldn’t be clearer.
We need to tell Minister Smith that it is time to stop the evasions and start listening. Two municipalities have rejected gas plant projects. Their wishes need to be respected.
Toronto and Thorold understand that more polluting gas is the last thing we need. Unfortunately, the Ford government does not. But maybe it will start listening and finally start taking alternatives like wind, solar and Quebec waterpower seriously instead of trying to brush off the concerns of citizens in favour of corporate interests.
Thank you for your help!