Insincere proposal

Council approves contribution to PECFN against peculiar protest

It should have been a straightforward matter. The issue had widespread support among members. All that was left was a simple vote. But a couple of councillors had a bit of mischief planned.

THE BACKGROUND
In mid-August a committee of council had approved a contribution of $20,000 to the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists’ legal fund. But prior to council’s ratification, the committee wanted another legal opinion that Shire Hall wouldn’t be viewed as a combatant in the Field Naturalists’ fight against the Ministry of Environment and an industrial wind developer seeking to erect 50 storey turbines on Crown land at Ostrander Point.

Armed with the opinion from lawyer David Demille that it, indeed, has a good defence against any potential claim the municipality was interfering in the matter, council was clear to validate its committee decision at its meeting last Tuesday night at Shire Hall. About half a dozen PECFN members sat silently waiting to witness the contribution and to offer thanks. But a pair of councillors couldn’t let the issue slip by without a protest of sorts.

Picton councillor Brian Marisett and Athol councillor Jamie Forrester have been consistently and historically in favour of wind and solar energy development on council. Other councillors have joined the pair on various issues over the past years, but as the spotlight has increasingly focused upon industrial wind turbine development at Ostrander Point and the threat they pose to human and animal health, Marisett and Forrester have increasingly found themselves among a smaller cohort.

THE MISCHIEF
So it was a bit of a shock when Forrester proposed that council withdraw its $20,000 pledge and instead make a contribution of $200,000.

“It’s time to get off the pot,” said Forrester. “I’m not going to vote for this, but it is time to make a statement.”

Marisett, reading the faces around the table, weighed in.

“I see a lot of smirks, but this is a serious proposal,” said Marisett in defence of his colleague from Athol. “I may not support this, but if council feels this way it should give them (PECFN) the tools to do the job.”

Two outspoken opponents of industrial wind turbines in the County, Robert Quaiff and Alec Lunn, welcomed the notion of a ten-fold increase in the contribution to PECFN—even as they acknowledged it was merely stunt.

“It was a long time coming,” said Quaiff, coyly recognizing the apparent change of view by Marisett and Forrester. “I’ll support this motion. This would finally give this municipality the backbone it needed since the Green Energy Act was imposed.”

Lunn noted that he has asked council since the beginning of the term to support the Field Naturalists.

‘IRRESPONSIBLE’
But most councillors decried Marisett’s and Forrester’s stunt as irresponsible.

Sophiasburgh councillor Terry Shortt spoke for many when he noted that “we may have to fight other fights.”

We need to do the rational thing—not make a political statement.”

His fellow Sophiasburgh councillor went further. “It’s a mockery against council,” said Kevin Gale. “The mover and seconder won’t vote for their own motion? They are mocking council and it’s pissing me off.”

Mayor Peter Mertens cautioned Gale’s language.

Forrester’s motion to increase the contribution failed, with only Marisett, Forrester, Quaiff and Lunn supporting it. A follow-up motion increasing the pledge to $40,000 also failed.

Marisett worked another tack.

“Are we only supporting winners?” asked the Picton councillor, suggesting the Alliance for the Protection of Prince Edward County also had legal bills. “If other groups come forward, what will we say to them? Where is council going with this?”

When council returned to the original $20,000 pledge, Forrester returned to form.

“I gave council the opportunity to step up to the plate with a serious contribution,” said Forrester. “But I will not support $20,000.”

Barry Turpin felt this was the wrong way for council to express its disappointment in being cut out of the decision-making process around industrial wind turbines.

“We should write to the minister of environment and the premier,” said Turpin. “We should explain to them our situation if we want to put pressure on them.”

Quaiff assured Turpin neither the premier nor the minister are listening to rural municipalities.

“Writing letters?” responded Quaiff. “We have sat with the ministers of environment and energy as well as the premier. It’s not doing any good.”

When the show was over Council ratified its $20,000 contribution to PECFN’s cause. Marisett was now among those voting in favour. PECFN members wandered out into the early evening still a bit hazy about the theatre they had witnessed.