County News
‘Right is on our side’
Joe Crowley c/o Ontario Nature.
The Blanding’s Turtle has assumed an exalted place in Prince Edward County this morning. On Thursday the Environmental Review Tribunal that heard the appeal to the industrial wind project at Ostrander Point, ruled that the roads systems and construction would cause serious and irreversible harm to the Blanding’s Turtle and that the proposed mitigation plans were insufficient to protect the endangered species.
The decision nullifies the Ministry of Environment approval of the project. It and the developer, Gilead Power Corporation, have thirty days to appeal the decision. But according to those familiar with these quasi-judicial panels—any further appeal must be based on errors or omissions made by the tribunal.
As those who observed the many weeks of testimony will attest, the panel of Robert Wright and Heather Gibb made extensive effort to ensure that both sides, and the Ministry of Environment were heard and the matter adjudicated fairly within the prescribed timeline.
The Minister of Environment may overrule the panel—but that is seen as a unlikely option. Every nature group around the world would heap scorn upon a government that would reverse a decision to protect an endangered species. Just as problematic is the upheaval such second guessing of an appointed tribunal would cause in the administrative ranks of provincial policy.
For now the champagne remains on ice for the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists. They celebrated victory last night observing chimney swifts in Picton.
We were all out last night counting chimney swifts, cheering, and slapping each other on the back,” said Myrna Wood, of PECFN. “Then we all went out for a beer afterward to celebrate.”
“Of course we are just ecstatic,” said Wood. “We were astonished with the speed with which the ruling was delivered. We weren’t surprised by the finding because we figured the Environmental Review Tribunal would agree that this is no place for development.”
“We knew the facts about the site its place for providing wildlife habitat for all species of all different kinds would lead the Tribunal to the same conclusions,” said Wood. “We felt we had right on our side.”
While confident about the outcome—PECFN has struggled to raise the necessary funds for the appeal. Since news broke donations have begun to rise but Wood says more is needed.
“Eric and Nathalie Smith have done such terrific work and we must repay them,” said Wood. “That is why we are still on fundraising. We need another $50,000 for sure. People can donate online at saveostranderpoint.org.”
More to come.
Today it is the turtles but soon it will be the public’s outrage over the hidden slaughter taking place at Wolfe Island and other locations that kills these turbines. A report will be released soon. After reading this report the public will understand that hidden behind bogus documents, there is a wind turbine genocide taking place behind the gates of wind farms.
Glad to see some brains and ears working for once!
Forgive me to think that the MOE and the big wind companies
Are working hard as we speak to re-write environmental laws
As they seem to do undercover so this pesky species thing wont slow
Them down again!
Such laws to “harm, harass and kill” have been welcomed into our
Province for the sake of energy we dont even need as we already
Have too much.
Already throwing out laws to actually protect our species by taking laws to study them every 5yrs to now 30yrs is complete crap and will only prove that greed wins out over ontarios environment as a whole. Thats a pretty big risk if u ask me. Wealth over health!
Congrats on the first ever win over turbines. Unfortunately the panel did not rule on health issues, in spite of a dozen witnesses presenting with noise-related health problems (from other wind projects). Shame on the Ont government. They continue to build new turbine fields at an alarming rate.