Sep 302014
 

Exhibit 1: In 2010, the proponent convened a “Flow Distribution Committee”, with complete control over the members, agenda, number of meetings, and mandate. The presentations made, information discussed, and minutes of these meetings have never been made public.

Exhibit 2: As shown here (it is a large file, may take a minute to download), as part of the proponent’s environmental approval, in 2011 the Ministry of the Environment stated the proponent “has committed to forming a Public Advisory Committee during the detailed design phase to allow the public to provide input for the final appearance of the landscaping and other aesthetic elements of the Project.”

However, as noted in this September 17, 2014 issue of What’s Up Muskoka about this Public Advisory Committee, the proponent is keeping the meetings, members, agenda, mandate, and everything else secret. This is not fulfilling the Ministry of the Environment’s requirements.

Exhibit 3: As shown in this video below (click to start it, or click here to see it on Youtube) of photographs taken September 16, 2014, the proponent meets privately with elected officials.

The proponent for the proposed hydro-electric generating station at the Bala falls rudely demonstrates a lack of professionalism and respect for the community (that would be the third photograph in this video). It is also wrong that these elected officials – that have, and would continue to make official decisions on this developer’s proposed project – are socializing with and meeting informally with the developer.

Exhibit 4: The proponent continues to avoid the public and privately meet, listen to the proponent’s architect in this segment of MooseFM interview of October 16, 2014 (click on the triangle at the left end of the player below).

 

then we met with some potential new Council members

Observations
This is a proponent that would receive a $100,000,000 subsidy from the taxpayers of Ontario, this is a proposed project that would be on public land, and use public water.

It is unacceptable that there be secret meetings which claim to represent the public.

It is known that Councillors Don Furniss and Gault McTaggart and candidate Greg Knight have met privately with the proponent. This is wrong, instead we must work to keep government open and transparent, we don’t want elected officials holding secret meetings, and we don’t want to deal with proponents that work this way either.

  3 Responses to “Proponent’s secret meetings”

  1. Ms.McGEE was probably just ordering one her pals to get her another donut?

  2. Please stop the destruction of our scenic Northern small towns and do not destroy the tourism that keeps them so valued.all for a small amount of power and a big pay cheque to Swift River!

  3. Totally unacceptable in a democratic society and a treasured tourist attraction and heritage property!

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