Save the Bala Falls

1. On May 5, 2010, we sent this letter to Transport Canada. They promptly responded that it would take “a couple weeks” for a full reply, but 12 weeks later we still have no reply. So we don’t know Transport Canada’s view of how the proponent has addressed the many safety issues raised.
2. On June 30, 2010 Mitchell Shnier sent this letter to the Ministry of the Environment. As of July 27, 2010 (a month later) a reply has not been received. So we don’t know:
   • Who currently has this file (the initial and subsequent project evaluators have since been assigned to other responsibilities).
   • What questions the proponent was to answer after the recent 60-day period, or what information they provided.
   • When we can view the public file (we requested this in June also), even though we were previously told this would be possible.

Time for Action
The October 25, 2010 municipal elections are quickly approaching and it is time for us to make it clear that we will only elect councillors who will protect Bala and the natural beauty of Muskoka.

It is time for action, please read our poster.

Muskoka Mirror Poll
The Muskoka Mirror newspaper is conducting an informal poll “Do you approve of the Bala Falls Hydro project?”. Please get everyone in your household to vote, as the paper will be publishing the results in their next issue. The Poll Question is about half-way down the centre of the page here.

Below is a summary of the last three updates to our web site SaveTheBalaFalls.com …

Election Issue
Our elected local Mayors and Councillors have the power to save the Bala Falls by not allowing land owned by the District of Muskoka to be used for this proposed power station. But our politicians apparently believe they are acting in our best interests by “standing on the sidelines as spectators” watching the provincial government ruin Bala. We need to let our politicians know:

• They were not elected to be spectators.
• They were elected to represent us.
• We do not want the proposed power station.
• Our politicians need to actively work to save Bala’s natural beauty, history, and economy.
• We will only vote for people who realize they have the power to save the Bala Falls and that they have the mandate to actively save the Bala Falls.

Lobbyist
The proponent has hired a well-connected Toronto- and Ottawa-based government lobbying firm to promote the proposed hydro-electric generating station at the Bala Falls. We need to respond to this highly-political move by making this a major election issue.

Further Study
Perhaps as a result of the huge public response that the proponent’s environmental screening report did not adequately address significant issues, on May 14, 2010 the Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch wrote this letter to those who requested that the project be elevated to require a individual environmental assessment.

The letter requires that the proponent conduct “further study with respect to navigtion matters and economic impacts” and to report back in 60 days (presumably by July 14, 2010).

The good news is that the Ministry of the Environment apparently agrees that the environmental screening report avoided responding to serious issues.

The bad news is that we don’t know exactly what information or level of detail is required from the proponent or whether we will have an opportunity to see this additional information. And over 7 months after the public comments on the environmental screening report have been provided to the Ministry of the Environment, we still don’t know whether they agree that this project requires an elevation to an individual environmental assessment.

This e-Newsletter
Sign yourself up for this e-Newsletter at SaveTheBalaFalls.com (click the link below Subscribe to Our e-Newsletter).

SaveTheBalaFalls.com