In the nine years the proponent has been pursuing this proposed project they have held only two public meetings, which were:
- Wednesday, August 29, 2007.
- Wednesday, August 13, 2008.
The proponent has not held any other meetings to which the general public has been invited.
And the proponent’s current “Alternative 1A” proposal which has a different site, orientation, and design than their previous proposals was first shown to the public in the proponent’s Addendum document, to which the public had only 30 days to review and respond. There was no public consultation for this proposal even though it had new and different risks to public safety and public infrastructure (such as flooding Lake Muskoka during construction, and infringing on the riparian rights of adjacent land owners).
Both the Ministry of the Environment’s Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Electricity Projects, and the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act require adequate public consultation. This has not happened. This is wrong.