Ontario’s Minister of the Environment has again refused to account for a contradictory promise on wind farm consultations – according to Wellington Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
Minister John Wilkinson’s opportunity came in a “late show” debate April 19 in the Ontario legislature at the request of Arnott, who took him to task for being less than candid with his constituents.
“On numerous occasions, this minister has failed to clarify his own remarks to his own constituents,” Arnott charged. “For failing to correct his own record, for failing to uphold even the most basic standards of truth, he owes his constituents an apology.”
No apology was forth-coming. Neither did John Wilkinson refute or deny Arnott’s main points – according to Arnott
“This minister still hasn’t taken responsibility for his own misleading statements to his constituents,” Arnott said following the debate.
“Either he didn’t know what he was talking about, or he deliberately misled the people who turned out to express their legitimate concerns about wind farm proposals for their neighbourhoods.”
Arnott was referring to a meeting held in May 2010, when the minister appeared to promise that if municipalities refused to sign off on wind farm applications, the Ministry of the Environment would not approve them. Both the Wellington Advertiser and the Drayton Community News reported his statements in their May 21, 2010 editions.
One of the minister’s constituents attended that meeting and, in a recent email to the minister, with a copy sent to Arnott, backed up the Newspapers’ account.
“You gave us the impression that the municipality had the right not to sign if they felt the company had failed to address concerns by the municipality.”
But by allowing a wind farm proposal for Mapleton Township to proceed even though it lacked the municipal consultation form, Arnott said Wilkinson betrayed his previous statements. Mapleton and Wellington County had each chosen not to sign that supposedly required form.
“Instead of doing the right thing and acknowledging he was wrong, he chose to attack me,” Arnott said.
“But it’s not about me. Opposition MPPs have a responsibility to hold the government to account; when a minister makes misleading statements, we must call attention to them.”
He concluded: “In the final analysis, his constituents will hold him accountable as well.”
Wilkinson’s response
Wilkinson also released a statement after the two MPPs held a debate.
He defended the wind energy project of the government.
Wind Energy projects provide lease income to landowners and new income opportunities for municipalities,” he said. “A 50 megawatt wind farm generates a minimum of $150,000 in tax revenue for municipalities and another $150,000 in annual lease payments for rural landowners.”
He added, “Municipal consultation is an essential part of the renewable energy approvals process. We want to hear from municipalities. Our act actually says that, by law, companies must provide municipalities an opportunity to have their say.”
He said, “Our renewable energy approval process is coordinated, efficient, and transparent.
But Wilkinson was not as adamant as he was in May 2010 when he said municipal consultation was going to be required.
He told Arnott, “Again, a municipal consultation form is the primary way we hear from municipalities. I encourage municipalities to fill it out – tell us your concerns – because we will make the company address any reasonable ones or the project will not go forward. But they are not limited to that form– we will take their comments in any form they choose to provide them.”
Wellington County decided it will not take part in the consultation process, but the county Warden, Chris White, has contacted Wilkinson over the issue.
Wilkinson said of that, “That’s why I’m pleased that Warden White and the County of Wellington wrote to me – their feedback is now included in the submission that will be thoroughly reviewed and decided on.
Wilkinson said, “I want to be clear. Not signing the form is not a veto, but we will say no unless municipalities have had an opportunity to have their say.”
He said a Progressive Conservative government would remove wind turbines as an issue and the Green Energy Act has benefited people in his riding and in Arnott’s.
“Many … are local farmers, small businesses and families in my riding and in the riding of the member opposite. That’s who I’m standing up for today – they work hard everyday to underpin our rural economy. That’s why I’m proud to be part of a government that is supporting them.
He added, “We already know that your leader [Tim Hudak] wants to rip up these contracts. Kris Barnier, staffer in his office said, ‘We need to be perfectly clear, a PC government will shut down all of the planned expansion of the micro Feed In Tariff plan. There will be no new contracts.’ Your plan will hurt farmers, hurt local business owners, and hurt parents wanting cleaner air for their kids. So you have repeatedly accused me of being contradictory so let me be very clear … We believe in the values of the Green Energy Act – cleaner air, transparent and consultative process, and new jobs and supporting our local farmers and businesses.”
