Planning Ontario's Energy…

Planning Ontario's Energy Future should include close examination and protection of all international migratory flyways.

For example, I have looked at the REA for the Windlectric Project, (unfortunately this directly impacts my family as 6, 51-storey industrial wind turbines are proposed within 1 1/2 km of our house - the closest being 800 meters from the middle of our home! - but that is another issue) and can see that there is no reference to impact on the North American international migratory flyway, where Amherst Island plays a major role, along with other sites in this region - and cumulative impacts in particular.

As industrial wind turbine sites along the shorelines of Lake Ontario get filled with industrial wind turbines or “bird blenders” as a local Green Party representative referred to them as, there is greater and greater long term devastation to the migrating species who use these corridors - be they bats, birds, butterflies or dragonflies (yes dragonflies migrate as well - see: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/05/dragonfly-1_2.html ).

You will note that the migratory species are all mosquito predators and do a great deal to keep mosquito and other insect populations under control.  As you certainly are aware, mosquitoes carry diseases that threaten human health.

If the Ontario government allows wind turbines in migratory flyways, it follows that there will be an increase in mosquito population.  How will the Ontario government deal with the logical outcome of increased mosquito population and its threat to human health?  DDT?

My greatest concern is that the Ontario government does not seem to be looking at the impacts of your decisions - especially the cumulative impacts - especially on the migratory flyways.

The Ontario government has a responsibility to examine the “big picture” and to protect all from increasing our mosquito population.

There is no reason why a group of responsible citizens (in this case the Association to Protect Amherst Island) are forced to carry the financial burden and associated stress in order to take our own government to court along with Algonquin Power to prevent such a project from moving forward, when it is the Ontario government’s responsibility to protect its citizens.

I must say what has been so shocking to see a table on one side of the “ERT court” shared by both the proponent AND our own government, where they actively converse and share observations and the other side of the “court” is a table with the one lawyer our small group of citizens can afford. It truly is a David vs Goliath fight and reflects very poorly on the government - making people feel like we are experiencing a 3rd world country mock trial - where people clearly have no voice or government support.  Government representatives have no problem speaking to the corporations but won’t discuss issues with the people.

There is enough power being generated in Ontario to meet the demand for many years to come.

Please stop this “Wind Rush” so that we may examine the impacts of what has already been done and make smarter choices for future development.

Who in the Ontario government is looking at protecting migratory flyways and what input do they have in your approval process?

Do they consult with their US counterparts and national Canadian colleagues?

Please inform the public about what is being done to protect these vital transportation networks.

Thank you for any information you can provide - even if the Windlectric Project is under appeal - surely there is public information that you are able to provide.

I await your response.

IBAs (Important Bird Areas) recognized as environmentally sensitive and significant by international organizations should not be locations for industrial wind turbines!

Again, to quote former Premier Dalton McGuinty, “There is no wrong time to make the right decision.”

Please stop the proposed Amherst Island industrialization now and protect the international migratory flyways in Ontario.

Respectfully submitted

[Original Comment ID: 197464]