Oh, so now protecting the public from drowning is just “red tape and regulatory burden”
Permit to Take Water
The facts are:
- The proponent has still not shown how or if they could safely operate their dangerous generating station (it would be unprecedented to operate such a dangerous industrial facility in the middle of an in-water recreational area).
- To operate, they need a Permit to Take Water (PTTW) from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP).
- The MECP has the responsibility to protect human life, as is confirmed by both the Environmental Assessment Act and the Environmental Protection Act.
- Concerning the PTTW, on June 10, 2019 the MECP replied to us that: “At this time, the application is still under review by the ministry.“
- The proponent is apparently attempting to not fufill their public safety obligations by lobbying to get legislation passed so they do not need a PTTW. There is more detail here but the summary is that the Ontario Waterpower Association has convinced Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop that the requirement for a PTTW is just “red tape and regulatory burden”, rather than the MECP’s ability to protect human life.
Noise
As noted in our previous e-Newsletter, for their environmental assessment, the proponent committed to providing an updated Acoustic Assessment report as required for the Environmental Compliance Approval for noise. This is another permit the proponent requires before they could begin operation, and it would ensure that the constant noise that would be created this dangerous industrial facility would not exceed MECP requirements.
The MECP has now decided that instead of requiring this approval, the proponent can utilize a simpler self reporting process and begin operation without receiving approval from the MECP.
This is all very troubling
It is very troubling that the Ford government is doing everything to facilitate private profit and private developers at the expense of the public, in this case; needlessly increasing electricity costs for 40 years, endangering the public, and subjecting Bala to constant industrial noise without first ensuring it would meet MECP’s requirements.
This is a government that is appears to be “For Private Developers” rather than protecting the public as we’d expect from a government that claims to be “For the People”.
Our provincial government is showing they “stink of political interest and insider deals”, even though Doug Ford claimed this was the former Liberal government’s problem and that he would fix it.
Ford Fest 2019
E-mail us at info@SaveTheBalaFalls.com if you will join us to try to get into Ford Fest 2019 this Saturday June 22, 2019 to let Doug Ford know we haven’t forgotten his promise to stop this project.