As a result of unaddressed concerns about public safety for the proposed hydro-electric generating station at the Bala Falls, on September 11, 2013 we sent this letter to Premier Kathleen Wynne.
In response, on October 22, 2013 the MNR responded with this letter, and on December 16, 2013 the MNR provided this additional letter. Remarkably, the province plans on giving the proponent complete responsibility for the safe operation of the proposed generating station – which is an impossible task.
The MNR also claims that instead wading and playing the water at the base of the Bala north falls, visitors instead go to Jaspen Park – which is ridiculous for many reasons. People visit Bala for the unique experience of the Bala Falls.
The province further claims that public safety and scenic flow were addressed in the proponent’s environmental screening report, which simply is not true. And we are informed that the MNR provided Location Approval under the Lakes and Rivers Improvement Act on June 24, 2013.
Accordingly, on December 9, 2013 we sent this letter to the Premier.
We also noted that the Premier appears to be receiving invalid justifications for the proposed project, and that the proposed project would illegally obstruct the traditional and historic Portage on the Crown land, so on January 8, 2014 we sent this letter to the Premier.
The summary is the province still has not addressed concerns about flooding, public safety, or obstructing the Portage.