Too dangerous
- On June 14, 2008, 19-year-old Victoria Cunningham was drowned due to a hydro-electric generating station in Québec. The Coroner stated the upstream safety boom apparently contributed to the danger as it was so large it both tipped the boat she and her friends were in, and it was not possible to hang onto it.
- On June 3, 2013, 17-year-old Dacano Arno was drowned due to the intake of a hydro-electric generating station in Maine.
- On July 26, 2008, 16-year-old Josue Sebastian Perez was drowned due to the tailrace turbulence of the Wilson's Falls hydro-electric generating station, which is about 45 km from Bala.
Grieving parents just want to know this could not happen again, yet not only would the proposed Bala hydro station be many times larger than two of the above generating stations, the Bala station would be in the middle of a swimming area. This would be irresponsibly stupid dangerous.
The proponent refuses to disclose their Public Safety Plan, no doubt because it can't be safe to operate a hydro station in the middle of a swimming area. For example, in the past the proponent has suggested useless steps such as having upstream buoys or an information kiosk for the first few years to educate people about the dangers. These would not solve the actual dangers, such as a stalled motorboat leaving the municipal docks, or someone falling out of a canoe upstream.
Too expensive – for 40 years!
Energy can cost more to generate from renewable sources, but as noted here, Ontarians would be paying more than double what other provinces and states would be paying for renewable energy. And this would be for 40 years, we would be paying this Liberal Mega-Donor even when Ontario doesn't need the power and even when Ontario could get less-expensive power elsewhere. Our children will rightfully be asking why our government was so stupid. Now is our time to stop the stupidity.
Doug Ford's promise to stop this scam of a project
On February 27, 2018 Doug Ford promised his government would have an investigation and that he would return to Margaret Burgess Park so we could hold him accountable. Would he rather do this now to stop this scam of a project, or after it has caused a drowning when he'll have to say how sorry he is for not doing it sooner to save a life.
Remarkably, the Premier doesn't even need to cancel anything, all we need is for the government to accept the request of the Township of Muskoka Lakes, and not issue the permit this deadly generating station needs to operate.
What you can do now
Send an e-mail to Premier Doug Ford, copying the Minister of the Environment (click here for the e-mail addresses), and add your local MPP's e-mail address too.
Let them know that it would be inexcusably dangerous to build a hydro station in the middle of a swimming area, and we know that the Ministry of the Environment has an obligation to protect human life.
Ask that the Ministry of the Environment not issue the Permit to Take Water. The public deserves this protection so this dangerous industrial facility cannot be operated until the public has been shown a Public Safety Plan that works. And ask for a reply.