PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WIND POLICY VERUS THE PUBLIC

Last Thursday 's Waterloo Region Record carried this story "An ill wind still blows about wind turbines". It was written by Thomas Walkom and points out that the Ontario Liberal government are taking baby steps finally to appease municipal councils as well as potential nearby neighbours of wind farms. Mr. Walkom also points out the huge divide between how our Liberal government treats vote rich cities versus how they treat vote poor rural Ontario. It is not a pretty picture and again reaffirms politics over doing what's right.

"A new policy outlined by Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli last week would require large wind farm proponents to "work directly with" municipalities on where to locate any new turbines." Municipalities would also be given the power to tax wind farms more heavily. Mr. Walkom suggests that the Liberal government are simply offering municipal politicians "goodies" in hopes of bringing them onside. Meanwhile rural residents are still very angry over how their concerns have been brushed aside over the last five to ten years.

The recent World Trade Organization decision has also gone badly for Ontario. Government attempts at building a local manufacturing base around wind and solar projects has been seriously hurt by the WTO's dismantling of the 60% domestic content requirement. Further a lawsuit by giant Next-Era Energy against a Blogger in London Ontario does little if anything to dismiss the appearance of big business versus the little guy. Our provincial government are firmly on the side of big business in this one.