Royal Botanical Gardens Receives Financial Shot in the Arm

MP Mike Wallace and MPP Ted McMeekin Announce Funding

This morning I attended the much anticipated and welcome announcement of infrastructure funding at the Royal Botanical Gardens. MP Mike Wallace announced $7million in Federal Funding. Minister Ted McMeekin MPP announced a matching $7million. The $14 million funding is for the rejuvenation of the famous Rock Garden at RBG.
As an  RBG Board member, I am thrilled with the announcement. This funding is badly needed as the Rock Garden has structural problems that need immediate fixing, such as the septic and irrigation systems.
The Rock Garden is actually located in Hamilton whereas the RBG Centre, in the photo above is located in Burlington and is therefore in Halton Region.
The Rock Garden gets rave reviews but it is the things that are unseen by the public that were a concern to the RBG staff. The overhaul is long overdue and will add new vitality to what is the anchor tourist attraction in the Region. $14 million will make a huge difference to the RBG in a similar vein to the addition of the award winning  Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium, pictured above  and the adjacent Aldershot Escarpment Garden.

Georgetown Bach Chorale Offers Gorgeous Performance

Antique Harpishord

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Georgetown Bach Chorale's 2011 Christmas Concert at the lavishly decorated residence of their conductor, Ron Greidanus.
It is hard to say who stole the show as there were several worthy candidates. Was it the eye popping decorations that reportedly take a week to install? Or perhaps the readings of the always entertaining  Vera Macdonald and Yvonne Oldaker? Or could it be the haunting rendition of Silent Night?
All three were the subject of much discussion at a social event following the presentation.
The residential venue itself is unique with beamed cathedral ceilings, mellow paneling and stone hearths all aglow with thousands of baubles and flickering candles.
The musical offerings had their origins in English, Irish and Basque traditions accompanied by Ron Greidanus on harpsichord and Avery Maclean on recoder.
The evening offered a unique and enjoyable Christmas experience rarely found in communities this size.

GDHS Music Students Overcome Loss of Teacher With Impressive Performance

On Friday December 9th Georgetown District High School lost a great teacher and mentor when Ms Eleanor Wallace was transferred without notice to another school. Ms Wallace provided 28 years of dedicated excellent leadership to the music students at GDHS. Through those years the GDHS bands garnered many awards of merit in provincial and national competitions.
My daughter was a band member for 5 years and so I was well aware of the wonderful program available to our local students. It was definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of high school for my daughter.
Plans for the GDHS Christmas concert had to be completely reworked when it turned out that no teachers would be available to lead the bands and choir. Although the students were distraught over the loss of their beloved teacher, they rallied by deciding to put on the show by themselves.
I was invited by the students to attend their concert and took them up on the invitation. It was one of my best decisions of the year.
I have attended many GDHS concerts but this was an outstanding one. It had been billed as "A Classy Christmas" and it certainly was.
The very poised master of ceremonies welcomed us and introduced the first performance.
The Wind Ensemble, all 60 members filed onto the stage quietly, sat and awaited their student conductor, Geoff Chen. The tuxedo clad Chen strode onto the stage, bowed to the audience and then took control of the Ensemble.
And then it began - a  performance to make a teacher proud. The students obviously intended to pay tribute to their teacher and illustrate the passion and musical precision that had been instilled in them . They certainly succeeded.
Each band and choir was lead by a different student conductor and each time the musicians paid close attention and performed marvellously.
And just to take it over the top, we were treated to a string quartet performing chamber music, a gifted opera singer belting out an aria in Russian no less, and finally a showstopping performance of Rachmaninoff  by Grade 12 concert pianist Thomas Dobrovich. Wow!

It is sad that these kids have lost their leader but on the bright side, they have had the benefit of wonderful mentorship and inspiration. They have proven that great leadership produces great results. Wherever inspiration shows up the kids respond. And now these kids have proven to themselves what they are capable of and that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Thank you Ms Wallace for making such a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of grateful students.

New bridge links North and South Hungry Hollow Trails

Pictured above is the new installed bridge that links the north side (Dawson Cres.) and south side (Miller Drive) trails through Hungry Hollow in Georgetown. Also shown is construction under way on the boardwalk on the north side. The boardwalk is necessary to protect the delicate environment and make the trail passable during wet weather.

This new link will be welcome by all of the trail users since it doubles the trails that are available from any entry point to the trails network.

In conversation with the contractors I heard that virtually every resident who has approached the construction site has commented on how pleased they are that the Town is investing in the valley. This is great feedback. It isn't surprising since anyone who has walked these trails will appreciate what a treasure we have in this valley and how accessible it has become with the formalization of the trails.

Providing our residents with the ability to stroll through a natural area in a valley setting allows them to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life. Suddenly you can hear the birds singing. Most of the time you can't see any housing or buildings of any kind. You would be hard pressed to know exactly where you are. It really is a great escape.

Congratulations to our Town staff for designing this wonderful project and thanks to our contractors for doing such a great job with very limited damage to the surrounding area.

What is Canada Doing?

Climate Change Conference -Durban, South Africa

So it has come to this. China is in a position to criticize Canada for our lack of  action on climate change, and they don't look silly doing it. Virtually every other country in the world including China has a presence at the conference, showing off what they are doing to be progressive, while Canada apparently has nothing to show. We have a closed door that says clearly to the whole world "Canada doesn't care". See Globe and Mail report from Dec 7th http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/low-profile-in-durban-relegates-canada-to-margins-of-climate-debate/article2262549/
This is a federal agenda  that stands at odds with what I see and hear every day as a local and regional municipal politician. Canadian municipalities and provinces are taking climate change seriously and investing  huge amounts of staff time and resources into making changes to reduce our carbon foot print. Our small town of Halton Hills alone has invested in geothermal heating for all of our new buildings constructed in the last 5 years. That includes 2 fire halls and 2 libraries, not to mention one heritage house.
How can our federal government be so disconnected from the people it governs? How can it care so little about our reputation internationally? How can it deny there is a problem?
To quote  Geoffry York in the referenced  Globe and Mail report, "While Canada remains low profile, its reputation is taking a beating. "It's incurring diplomatic damage that will take years to repair," said Radoslav Dimitrov, a Canadian professor and member of the European Union delegation at Durban.
Add to this that we are now ranked 54th out of 61 countries on an index for carbon emissions and climate policies according to a German environmental group. This is not the sort of publicity that I would like for my Country.
I can remember thinking of Canada as a LEADING country, not a laggard. The odd thing is that I still think of Halton Region and Halton Hills as leaders and innovators. I believe that people in municipalities across this country think the same way about their cities and towns. I have learned about progress across Canada via my attendance at the Canadian Federation of Municipalities annual conferences.
The performance of Canada on the world stage is a great disappointment and embarrassment to this Canadian.
Meanwhile there is an on-line petition that can be accessed at http://www.avaaz.org/.  protesting efforts to derail climate change talks. At the time of writing the petition was over 640,000 and growing by the second. As people sign up  their name comes up on a scrolling list which  includes a little nationality flag. People from around the world are signing and lots of Canadian flags are showing up too. I don't think they are too happy with the Canadian performance at Durban either.

Innovation and Care in Condo Construction Pays Dividends in Milton



Today a group of Halton Regional representatives had an opportunity to tour a new residential condo development in downtown Milton that is just 3 weeks away from occupancy. The development is by Del Ridge Homes and the tour was lead by  Dave De Sylva and George Le Donne, the driving forces behind this new style of condo development.

Pictured above is the tour group on the roof of the Green Life Condo where the racking structure that will support the photo voltaic panels is being installed. This is the most obvious difference between this and the average condo. However it is but one of many features that make this building completely different from anything else on the market.

It is ironic that CBC radio has been airing a series on the glass towers of downtown Toronto. These towers are being referred to as "throw away buildings". The contrast is quite remarkable. The Toronto towers feature window walls that offer next to zero insulation and require elaborate engineering to overcome their deficiencies. The window walls are predicted to fail within 20 years.

Contrast that to the Green Life Condo. It has super insulated walls right down to the second basement level. The basement/parking levels (pictured above) require no heating as the area stays above freezing all winter relying only on mother nature for its warmth. The thick walls, having been bulked up with insulation, create attractive wide window ledges framing the triple glazed windows. Geothermal heating and cooling is complemented by a heat recovery system.

The walls achieve R 44 and the roof is at R 70.

The net result is a building that will not need to be supported by nuclear plants or coal fired plants or even gas pipelines. The residents will have next to zero condo fees and their energy bills will be unbelievably low - forever.

This is the kind of building that people will deed to their children and the kids will fight about who gets to move in. 

Contrast the impact on society between the 2 building philosophies. In one case, the glass is beginning to fall off the side of the buildings and will cause untold financial hardship on the buyers. The energy requirements to heat and cool the buildings will continue for the life of the building. All of this has an impact on green house gases and the cost of infrastructure to support its energy needs.

In the other case, the building is solid and care has been taken to reduce its net carbon footprint to zero. 

The thing is that apart from the solar panels, none of it is rocket science. Insulation is old technology. And everyone knows that glass is a conductor of energy not an insulator. Heat exchangers are simple things. 

What I cannot understand is why the Green Life style of building is not mandatory. Why do we have a building code that allows anything less? 

As a municipal politician it is my job to push developers in our town to build at a higher standard. I am proud to say that in Halton Hills we do have a Green Checklist that developers must satisfy before we allow them to build. But there is more to be done to make housing more efficient and more durable. 

Congratulations to Dave De Sylva and George Le Donne for proving that attention to energy efficiency does not mean the building is unaffordable, unattractive or lacking a market. Green Life sold out in a flash and new projects are taking shape in Oakville and Markham. Someday I hope to see them in Halton Hills.  

7 Billion and Growing

Today our planet reached a human population of 7 billion people. That number is beyond comprehension, but the more remarkable part is the rate at which we got to 7 billion. However, my subject is not our numbers but rather, the pressing need to adapt.

Can we adapt fast enough to sustain this growth in human population?
Adaptation is essential and the concept is likely well accepted. However, on most fronts adaptation  is sluggish and lacking in  focus and urgency.

If I was to form an action plan based on my  view  from my window, I wouldn't change a thing. From my personal perspective  it is hard to imagine a more benign environment on the entire planet than the one I see here in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. It is only when I look at the scientific data and the long term trends that the urgency becomes apparent.

For me it is a real joy to meet people who believe in adaptation and are willing to invest in it and  talk about it with enthusiasm and optimism. Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear such a person who isn't just talking about it, he is doing it. That person is Dave de Sylva, partner in Del Ridge Homes along with George Le Donne.

They have made business choices based on principles of sustainability. They are shunning old building practices and adopting new ones that make more sense on every level including economic.

They are set to build the Green Life Business Centre, Canada's first Net Positive Condo Office Building in Milton, Ontario. Net positive means that this office building will create more energy than it uses. It won't be a drain; it will be a faucet, pouring energy into the grid instead of sucking it out, burning it up and spewing waste into the atmosphere.

This is not their first project to be at or near "Net Positive". They have built residential condos that have condo fees so low people wonder what the catch is. There is no catch. These buildings are built in a different way to firstly, reduce energy waste and secondly, use the renewable energy that is in the ground  below and in the sky above.

Dave de Sylva and George Le Donne understand that we have a very big problem to solve and so they have set out to do what they can to solve it. They get absolutely no help from any level of government to do this and yet they are steadfast in their personal pursuit of responsible action.

The things that Del Ridge Homes is doing should be incorporated into our building code so that all of our new buildings, whether they are residential, commercial, industrial or institutional are built to reduce energy wastage and make optimal use of sustainable energy sources.

In my opinion this is a wonderfully optimistic story of determination and positive action to adapt to important threats that are all to easy to ignore if one is looking out the window in Georgetown Ontario Canada.

http://www.sbmagazine.ca/archives/42

Buy American - A Threat to Canada's Economic Recovery

President Barak Obama Presents Jobs Plan

http://www.thespec.com/opinion/editorial/article/594360--fighting-buy-american-policies-again

Above is a link to a very good editorial in the Hamilton Spectator that emphasizes the impact to both Canada and the US economic recovery.
The problem with this plan is just as true for the American economy as it is for the Canadian economy.
For example, an American company that makes a water pump for a sewage treatment plant may source some of its component parts from Canada. Perhaps these parts make up 5% of the cost of the pump. Under the proposed legislation, the American company that is producing a 95% American manufactured product is disqualified from federally funded infrastructure projects.
This is not an unusual scenario. During the last go round, American companies that were negatively affected got busy organizing their protests against the unintended consequences of disqualifying Canadian content. A long list of major manufacturing organizations wrote letters to President Obama indicating their displeasure and asking for changes in the legislation.
Unfortunately, during the last Buy American program the deal that exempted Canadian content was only reached at the very end of the legislation's life and so the beneficial effects were minimal.
It would seem that legislators in Washington are uninformed of the true nature of the trading relationship between the US and Canada. There is an integration that exists that is quite remarkable. A product made in the US may use Steel that began in the US, traveled to Hamilton  for processing and then went back to the US for assembly. Yes, the product was assembled in the US and was predominantly produced there but the brief journey across the border contaminated the total product and disqualified its use in federally funded infrastructure.
When the issue is jobs, anything that strangles the US-Canada trading relationship is counter productive for both economies. Kudos to Minister Edward Fast for jumping on this issue immediately.

"Buy American" Resurfaces with Obama Jobs Plan

It comes as quite a surprise to learn of President Obama's "American Jobs Act" which was unveiled this week since it contains the same "Buy American" provisions that Canada fought against 2 years ago.
Pictured above is the Canadian firm, Hayward Gordon, located in Halton Hills. It was John Hayward who raised the alarm when Buy American was first introduced that effectively barred Hayward Gordon from doing business in the United States. This was a huge blow to this manufacturer of pumps used in major waterworks installations.
In response to Mr. Hayward's plight, Halton Hills Mayor Rick Bonnette went on the offensive and introduced a counter-measure. Halton Hills Council amended its Purchasing By-Law to say that the Town would not buy any product from any company that was located in a country that had trade restrictions against Canada. In other words, as long as Buy American prevailed, Halton Hills would not purchase anything from the United States. We would buy from anywhere else but not the USA.
Of course this was a case of the "mouse that roared". But this small act of defiance was just the start of a bigger campaign to convince other Canadian municipalities to likewise strike back. There is a lot of buying potential when one considers all of the purchases that municipalities make across Canada. Collectively, they carry a big stick.
This pitch was made at the annual conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities where the delegates agreed to give 6 months for the issue to be resolved before FCM would encourage its members to follow the Halton Hills lead.
The net result was this threat became an effective tool in the toolkit of Stockwell Day who ultimately was able to win an exemption for Canada.
So here we go again. It is a big surprise because the last time around even the American Chamber of Commerce was writing the President to say how this was negatively impacting their members.
In the meantime, the Halton Hills Purchasing By-Law is still in effect, so watch out Obama!
See today's article by John Ibbitson of the Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/trade-minister-vows-to-fight-latest-buy-american-measures/article2165668/

Solar Power Leaps Forward In Georgetown, Ontario

This photo taken at a roof top celebration at BRC Sustainable Elements on Armstrong Avenue in Georgetown, Ontario held on Aug. 31st, 2011.

This massive installation sits about 10 feet above the roof, supported by a steel grid.

Owner and President of Solarform, http://www.cdnsolarform.com/ Bill Melnik gave a rousing endorsement to the future of solar. In a reference to the concept of "Peak Oil" he reminded the audience of how the search for new oil has now reached to areas beneath the polar caps. The difficulty in securing new sources is creating larger and larger risks to the environment which in turn is driving up the cost of oil. On the other hand the cost of solar is trending downward, as innovation leads to greater efficiency. At this rate it is possible that solar and oil costs could reach a par within 5 years. If that were in fact to happen it would literally change everything in the energy world.

Just think of the possibility of solar panels on all of our industrial buildings that would be completely unobtrusive and completely free of risk to the environment. Compare this to the environmental degradation we are experiencing from our own tar sands projects in northern Alberta.

As I write this, Australia is proposing a carbon tax, undoubtedly because of the climate change related droughts of recent years. Japan is proposing its own version of the FIT program, in response to the tsunami.

If solar can go up in efficiency and down in price then it will most certainly become a major source of sustainable energy for all of us. As Bill Melnik said in his remarks, Solar is limitless and renewable without any nasty environmental side effects.

Canada has the opportunity to be a world leader in solar technology and Ontario is in the vanguard. And apart from the environmental benefits, the high tech jobs are the icing on the cake.

Innovative Solar Installation Celebrated in Georgetown Ontario

Solar Panel Installation at BRC in Georgetown

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a unique celebration that certainly illustrated the innovation  and creativity of its chief proponent and owner, Bill Melnik.

The celebration was held on the roof of the building in this photo. Guests climbed the stairs seen on the left  to a magical space atop BRC Sustainable Elements on Armstrong Avenue in Georgetown, Ontario.

Try to envision arriving on the roof deck to find a spotlessly clean spongy floor with a steel superstructure hovering above supporting hundreds of solar panels. That was cool just by itself, but now add in a live band and impeccable catering service and you have a special celebration that no one has experienced before.

This installation is unique, possibly in the world. One would normally expect the solar panels to be attached to the roof but that is not the case at BRC. In this application a new steel superstructure was constructed to support the massive solar array. The advantage is that when the roof needs to be renewed, it can be done without interference from the solar panels.

Bill Melnik owns both BRC and its building as well as the solar company, Solarform which did the installation. Another building further down Armstrong Avenue has just received the same treatment from Solarform and the building next door has just signed on as well.

The BRC installation covers the 35,000 sq. ft. building and is expected to generate 365 megawatts of electricity annually or enough power to service 30 homes. Annually this will save over 197 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Bill Melnik is a real believer in the future of solar energy. In his remarks he noted that Japan has started its own FIT program similar to Ontario's as it weans itself off of nuclear energy. In the past few years the efficiency of solar has improved by 20% and the cost has declined by 40%. At this rate of improvement he foresees solar becoming competitive with oil in as little as 5 years!

It would appear that Ontario is on the right track with its FIT program when it is obvious that it has triggered innovation and efficiencies within Ontario in this emerging technology.

Total Community Effort Recognized By Health Minister Deb Matthews

Health Minister Deb Matthews, in making her remarks to large gathering at Georgetown Hospital on August 31st,noted that although $2.6 million for Georgetown Hospital may sound like "a rounding error" in a budget the size of the Ministry of Health, the fact is that there are dozens of hospitals across the province that are asking for that same money. So why were we successful in getting the money when Halton Health Care has already received its fair share of the pie?

The Minister said that the "all out" community effort played a pivitol role in our success. In particular she noted Mayor Bonnette had been tenacious in pursuing the funding and that our Council's unanimous support via a special levy was very important in illustrating that we were all committed to the project and recognized it as a top priority for our community.

The Minister was also gracious in her remarks about the effort our MPP Ted Arnott had made to put this issue in front of the Ministry. Likewise she noted that our Liberal  Candidate, Councillor Moya Johnson had also spoken passionately to her about the importance of this project.

The people in the picture above all played key roles in making this funding a reality. From left to right John Fleming, Chair of the Board of Halton Healthcare, John Oliver, CEO HHC, Graeme Goebelle, Chair of Mississauga Halton LHIN, Dr. Don Trant, Minister Deb Matthews, Cindy McDonell, Georgetown Hospital Site Administrator, MPP Ted Arnott, Mayor Rick Bonnette, Councillor Moya Johnson, and seated in front Dr. Jeff Sutherland, chief of staff Georgetown Hospital.

Minister Deb Matthews Announces $2.6 Million for Georgetown Hospital

Pictured above is Minister Deb Matthews as she made the wonderful announcement this morning that the Ministry has approved $2.6 Million for the Emergency Room Expansion and CT scanner room at Georgetown Hospital. There was a "standing room only" crowd on hand in the Activity Room at the Hospital to hear the good news.
The Minister acknowledged the fact that this hospital was built in 1961 and hasn't had an expansion or overhaul since that time. The crowd burst into cheers and applause at the announcement because although they expected good news, they didn't expect the Minister to exceed the ask of $1.9 million.

The Minister also joked that she now thinking of herself not as the Minister of Health but now the Minister of Halton Healthcare, given the recent announcements of funding for Oakville Trafalgar Hospital and most recently funding for Milton Hospital. Although Joseph Brant Hospital isn't in Halton Healthcare, it is in Halton Region and has also received positive news on funding an expansion.

This support from the provincial government is great for Halton Hills and illustrates that the current government does recognize that growth areas are in need of provincial investment.

It has taken a very long time to make this commitment a reality at Georgetown Hospital. The crowd was made up of many community leaders who have pushed for this funding for quite some time. The Halton Healthcare CEO John Oliver would be among those since he was the CEO of Georgetown Hospital in the early 90's prior to amalgamation. Dr. Don Trant, another former CEO of Georgetown Hospital was on hand and noted that he really thought he was never going to see the day when this actually happened.

Minister Matthews said that this announcement was not only about the funding but was also approval for the project to proceed. This is just as important as the funding and means that this project can go to tender immediately.

The ball is now in our court to raise the community share of $5 million. This represents the largest fundraising campaign ever in our town. With Fred Helson's exceptional personal gift of $1 million we are well on our way. We are a generous community and so I expect that, with this provincial support in hand, the campaign will quickly meet its goal.

Moya Johnson wins Liberal nomination for Wellington-Halton Hills

Last night I attended the Liberal nomination meeting for the riding of Wellington Halton Hills. There was a large enthusiastic crowd at the Rockwood Library to hear Moya make her first speech which was very well received. I am enthusiastic about Moya's campaign as I have worked with Moya for 14 years as ward mates on Halton Hills Town Council. It was my previlege to officially nominate Moya.
For the record, here are some exerpts from my speech.

The search for the best possible candidate, meant finding someone who has significant political experience, someone who is well respected, someone who has illustrated a passion for the liberal party goals and aspirations, someone who is articulate, and someone who is courageous enough to put themselves out in front of the public eye and someone who cares enough about the future of this province and in particular the future of this community and riding to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve success.


I am here tonight to nominate that special person, my friend and long time colleague, Moya Johnson.
Moya and I go back a long long way. We were both members of the Georgetown University Women’s Club 20 years ago and participated in a number of small political activities such as a group from the club who took turns attending town council meetings and reporting back to the club.
At that time a fellow club member Gail Rutherford decided to run for council and both Moya and I volunteered to help her out in the campaign. Gail was elected to represent Ward 3. After 3 years Gail decided that she didn’t wish to carry on and so there was an opening for someone to fill. Moya stepped up to fill that void. I had no political aspirations of my own at the time but was filled with admiration for Moya taking the plunge into local politics.
 However, 3 years later, there was another opening in Ward 3 and I also threw my hat in the ring. Since that time 14 years ago, Moya and I have worked together for the betterment of Ward 3 and the Town in general.

 I am here nominating Moya because I have seen first hand in Moya all of the qualities that I listed previously.

 Moya has proven herself through her role as chair of the Accessibility Committee, where she was a champion for more accessible town facilities and services. And as Chair of the Fire Services Committee, championing improved facilities, and now as Chair of the Heritage Committee, where she has supported the preservation of our local heritage buildings.

Her concern for safety and health are ever present

She has an inquiring mind and asks many questions to ensure that she has a full understanding of the issues.

She has been fearless in presenting her view even when her view differs from the majority, such as voting for public transit.
 She is unafraid of hard work and made holding down 2 jobs look easy. But believe me, few people would be on that early GO Train after getting home at midnight following a long drawn out council meeting. But Moya did it.

When a complaint comes from the public, Moya is right on top of it, finding out more about the problem and working to find a solution.

•For 17 years she has provided the public with exemplary service

•Stepping up to run for a seat in provincial parliament is a big decision. It means putting a lot of things in your life on hold, such as babysitting one’s cherished grandchildren. It means contemplating getting back on the GO train for another 4 years. It means letting go of local projects and letting others pick up the slack. It means getting to know communities throughout the vast riding and making all of them equal priorities. It means changing focus from purely local issues to adding in broader provincial issues.

.But Moya is up to the challenge. She is enthusiastic and energetic and will make a fabulous MPP.

So I am very pleased and proud and honoured to be nominating my friend and colleague Moya Johnson as the Liberal candidate for the riding of Wellington - Halton Hills.

Local Resident speaks out about highway 4.3

Below are exerpts from a letter send from local Halton Hills resident Peter Belshaw Ph. D. Chemistry/Biochemistry. The letter was sent to the GTA West Consultant Project Manager Neil Ahmed project_team@gta-west.com with a copy to the Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org.

Building this highway extension through rural farmland and residential areas will have an enormous impact on the environment, far greater than what is claimed in the phase 1 environmental assessment. The proposed route of the highway will divide south Halton Hills creating a new southern boundary for the town, in the years to come, it is likely that every inch of land between the 401 and the proposed 4-3 extension will be developed commercial/industrial as a result of this new highway. In addition a band of commercial/industrial development would also occur to the immediate north of the 4-3 extension. The net result would be that all the farmland in rural Halton Hills would eventually be developed/paved. The environmental assessment in the draft report only appears to consider the direct impacts of the 4 lanes initially proposed, not the future development of the highway, nor the commercial/industrial development that is likely to follow. The increased vehicular traffic and future commercial/industrial development will also result in a significant lowering of air quality and an increase in noise pollution in the region. The proposed 4-3 extension would also result in the loss of some of the best farmland in Canada. Given that only 8% of Canada’s land is tillable (source: former MP Julian Reed of Halton Hills, citizens meeting open comment June 23rd, 2011 Glen Cairn Golf Course), we should not be paving/developing our best farmland. Given global warming and peak oil, we will need these resources when a few million climate refugees arrive on our doorstep in the foreseeable future (just look at the water wars already happening in the US southwest).

In my judgment (as a Ph.D. scientist Chemistry/Biochemistry), the environmental assessment in the draft report is a complete joke worthy of derision and jest were it not so frightening/impacting towards the south Halton Hills region.

Dr. Belshaw makes many other points in his letter regarding alternatives to the new highway which he has given me permission to share as I will continue to do in a future blog.
In the meantime, be sure to pick up a postcard and send it to Minister Wynne if you are also concerned that this proposed highway spells the end of your vision for Halton Hills. Postcards are available at the many locations around town, including the Civic Centre. Check out the town's website for locations http://www.haltonhills.ca/

Did Anyone Ask the Farmers?

This is a typical piece of southern Halton Hills where the province proposes to construct a new 400 series highway. This is exactly where option 4.3 will  go if it is approved.
At yesterday's Planning at Public Works Meeting at Halton Region where we discussed option 4.3, there was also a presentation by the Greater Toronto Area Agricultural Action Committee. I took the opportunity to ask their representative, Janet Horner, if the GTA West team had consulted with the GTA AAC. To my absolute astonishment, she said no. And then she emphasized the word NO!
Think about it. The GTA West corridor from Vaughn to Tremaine Road in Milton runs almost exclusively through farmland, most of it the very best farmland in Canada. The GTA West consulting team was charged with the responsibility of consulting with all affected parties. And they didn't ask the farmers! Of course the 300 residents who came out to the meeting on June 23rd at Glencairn Golf Course all felt that they had not been consulted either and they live in the path of the highway.
But really, not consulting with the farming community is so unacceptable it is beyond belief. It was only a couple of months ago that I attended a GTA AAC Farming Summit that was very well run and very well attended. It was sponsored by the Government and yet they same Government didn't consult with them.
If you read the EA report you will find a glib statement that in the design of the highway, impacts to agriculture will be mitigated. How do traffic engineers have any idea of what to mitigate if they didn't even talk to the farmers who will be affected?

Regional Councillors support Halton Hills Position on GTA West Highway 4.3

Halton Regional Staff Report responding to the GTA West Corridor recommendations was supportive of option 4.2 that brings the proposed 400 series highway north /south beside Heritage Road and then swings into Halton Hills to join the 407 - 401 Interchange. However, the report was ambivalent concerning the proposed additional leg of this highway known as alternative 4.3 that would run east/west somewhere between Georgetown and Steeles Avenue.
In my mind, this was not a time for ambivalence. In consultation with Mayor Bonnette and Regional Councillor Clark Somerville we wrote an amendment to the report that in my opinion was more in keeping with the Region's Official Plan and the newly endorsed Strategic Plan.
The Strategic Plan was crafted with the input of many Halton Residents particularly the Citizen's Refernce Panel. Input from a wide variety of sources confirmed more or less the the vision that was already articulated in the Official Plan.
To quote from the Amendment " the Strategic Plan says "the Region's vision is to preserve for the current and future generations a landscape that is rich, diverse, balanced, productive and sustainable and a society that is economically strong, equitable and caring. The Region must plan for communities where urban sprawl is minimized, where infrastructure is maximized, where natural heritage is protected and natural spaces and farmland are preserved. the overall goal is to enhance the quality of life for all people of Halton today and into the future".

"This vision will be very difficult if not impossible to maintain if alternative 4.3 is approved since the proposed route essentially bisects the agricultural area of halton Hills, thus fragmenting farms and making the industry much more difficult to sustain."

"There is a serious concern that alternative 4.3 will encourage urban sprawl. Measures to protect against urban sprawl were not articulated in the Draft Transportation Development strategy report."

"Alternative 4.3 which bisects the agricultural area south of Georgetown would pose an extremely serious blow to agricultural sustainability in Halton, would threaten the open-space character and landscape heritage of Halton and is therefore contrary to the goals in the official plan and Halton's vision for a sutainable future. For those reasons Halton cannot support alternative route 4.3."

All of the above was incorporated into the recommendation and was endorsed unanimously by the members of the Planning and Public Works Committee. The next hurdle is to have the recommendation endorsed at Regional Council next Wednesday morning.

Gaining unequivical support for the Halton Hills position from Regional Council is absolutely critical to our strategy to stop this highway and get it taken off the map. It is a great relief to have achieved unanimous support at the committee level as it means that we have support from all Halton local municipalities. It gives me confidence that we will also get a ringing endorsement at Council.

It is but one step in our fight against this highway, but it is an important one. I am very grateful to my Regional colleagues for their support today.

Canadian Road Cycling Championships a huge success in Downtown Georgetown

Women's Elite at the starting line

Crowds line Main Street in Downtown Georgetown

Men's elite racers cresting the Park Street Hill

The Canadian Road Cycling Championships and Festival were a big hit with the cheering crowds that gathered all along the 1.1 km Criterium course in Downtown Georgetown in Halton Hills, Ontario today. The crowds were treated to many thilling moments as the cyclists flew around the tight corners whilst jockying for position.

Downtown Georgetown was transformed into a first class cycling venue that was a delight to the eye. Colourful banners, tents  and flags along with the brilliant floral displays added to the ambiance. The riders themselves were no less colourful in their club livery.

I was very proud of the warm reception that Halton Hills gave to these athletes and their families from across Canada. There was a friendly and welcoming spirit in the air. The Halton Hills staff did a wonderful job in making this such a successful event. A great deal of planning went into making things run smoothly. We are blessed to have so many enthusiastic and accommodating people working for the Town. And I can't say enough about the over 75 volunteers who committed their Sunday to making this a great event.

Canadian Road Cycling Championships coming to Georgetown on Sunday June 26 2011

The Canadian Road Cycling Champions are running over an 11 day period in a variety of venues around Halton and Peel. Pictured above is a triumphant Clara Hughes who made a stunning comeback into the sport of cycling by winning the Women's Elite Race with a time of 30.25 yesterday in Bellfountain.

The Criterium Races will be held in downtown Georgetown on Sunday June 26th starting at 12:00pm. Perhaps fans will  have an opportunity to see Clara in action right here in town. Local cyclist and new resident of Georgetown, Heather Logan-Sprenger is confirmed as a participant in Sunday's Race. Heather moved to Georgetown about 18 months ago and races internationally for Team Colivita. She is a former member of the Canadian National Women's Hockey Team. It will be exciting to see such an outstanding athlete perform in her new home town.

The Criterium Races are for both Men and Women and are both National and Ontario Provincial Championship races.

Although the Cycling Championships are organized by the Midweek Cycling Club of Toronto, they have been working with a local organizing committee that has recruited 70 volunteers to man the barricades. Also, the committee has organized a Cycling Festival that will be fun for the whole family. There is a Youth Cycling Skills Challenge, a BMX demonstration by Joyride 150 of Markham and helmet fitting and safety information from the North Halton Injury Prevention Group. Participant prizes have been donated by Canadian Tire.

As part of the Race Schedule there will be a special kids race for ages 3 to 12 at 3:30 pm.

All participants in races and festival activities must have parental permission.

The Festival activities will begin at 11am in the Back Street Parking Lot and run until 3pm.

Streets surrounding the downtown area will be closed to traffic and so riding a bike to this event is highly recommended. Two bike parking areas will be operated by local service clubs.

More information can be found on the town's website www.haltonhills.ca/cyclingchampionship.

Town Unanimously Approves Funding for Hospital Expansion

Last night Town of Halton Hills Council finally gave an answer to Halton Health Care regarding their request for $ 4.546 million to support the renovation and expansion of Georgetown Hospital. Subsequent to this request, that was made on January 10th 2011, Mayor Bonnette made many attempts to coax the Province to fund this necessary project. However, we have not had a response as yet. Therefore, since we are at the deadline for placing a special hospital levy on the tax bill, we needed a decision from council. Last night we decided to go half way in last attempt to get the Province to the table. Below is text of my comments last night.

Hospital Funding




First I would like to thank Mayor Bonnette for his leadership for his report recommending partial funding of the Hospital’s request. It calls for a grant of $2.682 Million. (representing a 1.1% tax increase as a special levy)



Councillor Hurst, as a member of the Hospital Board has made a compelling case for the need for the Georgetown Hospital Expansion to house the CT scanner and to make improvements to the ER and diagnostic imaging department.



The hospital and medical care in general are extremely important services that are vital to the livability and general prosperity of our town. When these services have been found to be either threatened or insufficient in the past then our town council has rallied support and resources to address the situation. Although heath care is not one of the services that is the purview of the local municipality, we are the hub of local activism and the place where people expect leadership when there is an important local issue needing local action.



When we had a shortage of local doctors, we started a physician recruitment committee. When Acton had a problem with a lack of medical facilities we helped with the construction of the new Acton Medical building. We as a town subsidize the Acton Nurse practitioner. And of course when obstetrics was slated for closure there was a magnificent response from our community and local municipal leadership to win that battle. All of this has been done in the interest of ensuring that our residents get the medical attention that they need within their own communities.



We now face a situation that is common throughout the province of Ontario. We all know that the greatest challenge the provincial government is facing is the escalating cost of providing health services, and it is just going to get worse as we face the ageing baby boomers and the demands we are going to place on the system.



Although we all pay hefty income taxes and in turn expect that the health care system will be provided to meet our needs it is obvious that the province is struggling and when every community is demanding its fair share, we need to have a strong voice making those expectations known at the provincial level. I commend our MPP Ted Arnott for his efforts in putting forth our needs to the Health Minister, and I have read what Ted had to say in Hansard. I also commend our mayor for his efforts via meetings and letters. These initiatives are essential if we want to receive our fair share of the health care dollars.



When the hospital representatives came before us and asked for help, it was also at the time when we were considering our budget and in particular the arena debate was about to begin. The public provided a considerable amount of input via email and letters. Although this was never framed as an ‘either or’ debate, many people did weigh the relative importance of arenas verses hospitals. People generally either did not understand that municipalities look after arenas and provinces look after hospitals or they simply did not care. The vast majority said that the hospital was their number one priority and they wanted us to make it our priority.



Although Hospitals are primarily the province’s responsibility they have always been to some extent a local responsibility. The question is really about the ratio. We would like it to be 90% province and 10% local municipality but we can see that that is not going to fly unless we are willing to wait for some indefinite amount of time - maybe 8 years. Our community does not want to wait 8 years. And so we must act. We need to step up, as so many other municipalities are doing all around us.



We have waited as long as we can to get an answer from the province before we need to make a decision on funding. I am therefore seconding the motion to support the expansion of the Georgetown Hospital. At least our tax payers will know that their tax dollars are going to be spent in their own community for their direct benefit.

Hopefully the province see fit to share the responsibility and make a modest investment of $1.864 million to bring the Georgetown Hospital up to modern standards.

Food and Farming Part 2

I have been observing some very interesting things starting to happen at the grass roots level with respect to food production. These things are very welcome in my mind because I have also been watching the approaching "train wreck" of the on-going world-wide population explosion, climate change, degradation of the oceans, food price spikes, desertification etc. This list includes two trend lines that can't help but cross each other with serious consequences. One is the loss of food production and the other is the exponential growth in human population.

Over the past 50 years or so we have seen food production turned into big business with a focus on profit by shareholders and commodities speculators. There has been a steady loss of small farms in favour of  larger  farms that have shifted towards specialization and exportation over diversification and local markets. This is in the name of efficiency but at the same time apparently "sales-only" income for farmers is hitting rock bottom which raises the question of sustainability.

It was of interest to me this morning to read a Canadian report focused on Canadian food policy that calls for a restructuring of Canadian food production from start to finish. You can access this report at http://peoplesfoodpolicy.ca/files/pfpp-resetting-2011-lowres_1.pdf . It amazed me to learn that it was developed over 3 years and was the result of input by over 3500 Canadians. These people sat around kitchen tables and talked about what was important to them. This fact alone ties into my previous blog concerning apathy. It is obvious that people are not apathetic about issues that are important in their lives.

I was struck by the similarity of the Food Issue to that of Health Care in Canada. It seems obvious that change in food production and the way we treat those who produce it will only happen through changes in public policy. It will not be undertaken by corporations that control s huge proportion of the food  production system. It was the same  when medicare was adopted as a public policy. Medicare was never advocated by the medical profession but rather by a visionary politician, Tommy Douglas, who saw the need to re-organize the system to make it better for all of us.

To quote the People's Food Policy Report, Canada needs  "a policy which places the well being of the majority and the health of the planet at the centre of all decisions". 

Coincidentally, I will attending a Think Tank on Wednesday organized by Laurent Thibault who is chairing the Town's Economic Pillar of the Halton Hills Sustainability Advisory Committee.  Central to the discussion will be a position paper prepared by Laurent that emphasizes the importance of our local agricultural industry and the opportunities we have to capitalize on this resource.

I am looking forward to this week's discussion as we tackle locally issues that are clearly being discussed in many other communities across the country.

I also look forward your reaction to the issue of food production particularly in the local context.

"I Don't Believe In Apathy"

"I don't believe in apathy." is a quote from Dave Meslin, community activist in Toronto and guest speaker at the Urban Symposium held last week in Burlington. I attended this 2 day symposium and was energized by the wealth of great ideas that percolated out of the many presentations.

Dave Meslin spoke about how poorly City Hall engages its constituents. This notion is not new to me or my colleagues on Halton Hills Town Council as several of us have voiced this concern. But it was amusing to get Dave Meslin's take on the situation as it can be pretty funny. For example he showed us a typical newspaper announcement looking for public input into a proposal before City Council. Although the font was too small for anyone older than 21 to read, I knew generally what it said. However, you would need a degree in planner-speak to decypher its meaning. The format is guaranteed to reduce public input to near absolute zero.

If we were really looking for public participation the ad would be reformated by a marketting professional to include a picture of the project, and text in a large font that said " a 6 storey building is proposed in your neighbourhood. What do you think? "Then it would give the various ways people could communicate...email, facebook, phone, attend a public meeting. That is all that would be required. A real invitation that would attract attention. If it is legislated that we need to print a ton of other information then I think we should print two ads.

Meslin also posed a  good question. " How many people know that anyone can make a 5 minute presentation at any council meeting on any topic?" Not many I would guess. It is a fairly well kept secret.

We send out a Recreation Guide twice a year to all residents that tells about town and regional services but it doesn't tell people this bit of information.

Meslin was concerned about the number of people who ran in the last municipal election so he did something quite creative. He ran a contest modelled on American Idol, and called it City Idol. The contestants didn't sing but rather, they gave speeches about why they would be good councillors. The winner got the help of the contest organizers in their real election campaign. This attracted about 600 contestants and is pretty good indicator that people are not really apathetic. They just haven't been engaged as yet.

Muslin also asked why municipalities don't run big ads in January of election year that say 'Help Wanted' and then give the councillor job description, expectations and salary. Although we advertise the job, we don't market it. There is a big difference.

In Halton Hills the issue of how we communicate is on the agenda and I expect that we will continue to make improvements. Do you have any suggestions?

Do you believe in apathy? I think some people are apathetic but most are interested in their community and just need the right button to be pushed to get them started.

In the meantime, the Ward 4 councillors (Bob Inglis, Ann Lawlor and myself) are going to deliver a newsletter to residents in the next couple of weeks and are hosting a drop in neighbourhood meeting Wed. May 11th from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at the Gellert Centre. ( Ward 4 is  Delrex east of Sinclair/Sargent Road and all of Georgetown South). Hopefully the newsletter is eye-catching and some folks will take us up on the invitation to meet us and share their concerns and ideas.

Food and Farming - The Summit

On Wednesday March 30th I spent all day at the Food and Farming Summit meeting at the Delta Meadowvale Conference Centre. Pictured above is a view of the proceedings. The goal of the Summit was to develop an action plan to support profitable farming and food businesses in the Golden Horseshoe.

As I represent the people living in urban Georgetown it might seem peculiar that I would choose to spend my time talking about farming and food production in the Golden Horseshoe.

I chose to go because I represent people who need the food that these farmers produce and people who also want to keep their town small.

Georgetown is located  in the Greater Toronto Area and is separated from highway 401 by productive farmland that would appear to be earmarked for development by the provincial government. The question is not "will it be developed?" but " when will it be developed?"

I believe that my constituents want to see the conversion of this rich farmland  delayed as long as possible. I also believe that the only responsible strategy to achieve this goal is to find ways to make farming and food production profitable in the GTA.

Margaret Walton of Planscape Inc. has written a comprehensive report on the relative merits of farming and agri-business in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It is clear from the statistics provided in this report that the agri-food business is a significant economic driver. The estimated agricultural and food processing impact in the region is $12 billion! Employment in this sector is more than double automotive.

Although we have some of the finest farmland in the world with the bonus of having a benign climate and adequate rainfall we do not have policies to protect this valuable asset or to protect the businesses and help them thrive. It is a $12 billion business but it is constantly facing threats from increasingly restrictive policies and urbanization.

In time I believe that the value of this great gift will become increasing apparent as water shortages in the south western USA makes fresh fruits and vegetables in shorter supply. Population growth in India and China coupled with the rise of the middle class in these two countries is going to put further stress on the food supply chain. China has shown a great ability to plan ahead for its own food and energy security. It is securing these resources in other parts of the world to supply its own people. What are we doing to provide the same security for Canadians? 

My interest is in keeping the farming businesses profitable and to leverage the productive farmland into value added food processing businesses. Bucolic fields of corn and strawberries may not look like they are of great economic value but the reality is much different. The potential for increased production, increased food security and increased economic activity through food processing should be recognized. Policies to leverage our natural assets should be developed for the benefit of all Ontarians.

Acton Quarry Part 2

This is a story of 2 quarries. The top picture is of  the Dufferin Quarry on the 22nd Side Road south of Acton Ontario. The second picture is of a rehabilitated quarry on Vancouver Island. You may recognize it as Butchard Gardens, one of the top tourist attractions in British Columbia. It was one woman's vision and hard work that made this transformation possible.

This is a follow up to my blog from last week. The Town needs to decide if it would like to own the worked out Acton quarry or we would like to give it a pass. To me it is question of vision.

The current rehabilitation plan has a lake on the north side of 22nd side road and a dry bowl on the south side. Dufferin has submitted a plan for expanding the quarry as the existing licensed area will be worked out in 6 or 7 years. If granted, the new expansion areas will ultimately lead to further rehabilitation options.

There are 2 scenarios at play. In scenario 1, Dufferin does not proceed with the expansion and the existing worked out quarry is available to the Town. In this case the Town would take over the lands presumably on the basis that Dufferin has provided funding to cover the cost of the continuous pumping required to keep the dry bowl from flooding, or there has been an agreement with the province that would allow the dry bowl to flood, thus creating 2 additional lakes. The Town would then be on its own to create whatever recreational or environmental situation that it wanted.

In Scenario 2, Dufferin proceeds with its expansion. Dufferin would then be in a position to work in partnership with the Town to develop both the existing and the expanded sites into a much more substantial environmental and recreational preserve.

The land  in scenario 2 encompasses over 1400 acres and is 1.5 times the size of Kelso. This would entail a long term plan whereby the ultimate rehabilitation would happen in the extension areas only after they have been mined out. This could be 40 years into the future. The decision we are making today will potentially have a tremendous impact for future generations.

It is my opinion that this is truly a great opportunity for the Town of Halton Hills. We are a municipalitiy that is three quarters Green Belt. We need to be thinking about what we are going to do with it to turn it to our advantage. This quarry opportunity is one that would allow us to provide an environmental preserve that could easily have trails for different types of trail users including hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. It could have a BMX course in the old quarry. The lake could host a rowing club. The cliffs could provide a rock climbing venue. It could be hub for Bruce Trail users and the many cycling clubs that ride through Halton Hills. And yes, it could even be home to a spectacular garden.

In addition it would provide very important water security for our Town. The lakes would in fact be reservoirs that would be available for use should we suffer through a period of drought.

The job of our Town staff is to examine the issue thoroughly and provide council with the pros and cons of such an undertaking. There are always risks. However, I have only to think back to the last time our Town had the opportunity to acquire a piece of property for a dollar. It was the abandoned rail line from Georgetown to Palgrave. The Council of the day thought that it would be a headache. There would be liability issues that they were not prepared to accept. So now the wonderful rail trail goes from Palgrave to Terra Cotta where it abruptly stops.

I haven't seen the staff report yet so I have not seen the list of reasons why we shouldn't acquire the quarry but clearly I am leaning towards acquisiton.

What do you think? What uses would you like to see in the quarry and what uses would you really not like to see?

Darlington Nuclear Plant Hearing - Keeping Japan in Mind

I came across the group 'Lake Ontario Waterkeeper' whilst searching the internet on an entirely different topic. The letter below was posted yesterday by the Krystyn Tully, vice president of Waterkeeper and gives a very personal perspective on the Darlington Plant hearing that has NOT been delayed by the situation that is ongoing in Japan inspite of a request to do so.
Krystyn also quotes from her friend who lives near the nuclear plant in Japan and gives us an idea of just how frightening and devastating the situation really is.
Is this relevent to Halton Hills? Certainly it is since we are dependent of nuclear energy for a portion of our energy, we live relatively close to the nuclear plant and the plant is beside much of the productive farmland in Ontario, including the Holland Marsh. Darlington may seem far away when we are trying to drive there in rush hour. But it isn't far at all as the crow flys or the wind blows.
It is interesting to me that the decision was made to press on with the hearing at a time when I believe we should all take some time to assess the pros, the cons, and the risks involved.

Below is Kyrstyn's perspective which I found on the Waterkeeper.ca website

We never wanted to talk about nuclear meltdowns

Krystyn Tully, Waterkeeper.ca Weekly March 23rd, 2011

Lake Ontario Waterkeeper’s purpose is to protect and celebrate Lake Ontario. We work for you, for the water, for fish and birds, communities and culture. In the past we have stood firm against Lafarge; held an American company accountable for pollution in Canada; and fought for navigation rights. This week as we begin the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant hearing, we feel as though the ground has been pulled from beneath us. We struggle to bring you news from the hearing when the information is coming at us so quickly, when there is a nuclear tragedy unfolding in Japan, and when the hearing process itself is deeply, deeply flawed. We have opted to bring you a more personal take on the issue this week, written by our Vice President Krystyn Tully. This is a departure from our traditional newsletter format. We hope you understand.
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I am a child of the Durham Region nuclear family. I was born and raised and schooled in Oshawa, smack-dab in the middle of the Pickering and Darlington nuclear power plants. My friends’ parents worked in the nuclear industry when I was younger. My friends work there today.

I never wanted to talk about a “worst-case scenario” at a nuclear power plant.

I have dedicated my adult life to protecting and celebrating Lake Ontario, the defining, looming natural presence in the Oshawa community. I have dedicated much of the last two years of my career to researching the potential impacts of the new Darlington nuclear power plant on my lake. I studied about the impacts of cooling water on fish and fish habitat, the air emissions, the wastewater emissions, and the destruction of bird habitat that will be part of the normal operations of the new Darlington nuclear power plant.

I never wanted to talk about accidents, incidents, or anything “abnormal” that might happen at a nuclear power plant.

My friend Ava is also a child of Durham Region. She’s a teacher and a farmer, and I have known her since high school. Ava lives in Japan.

Two weeks ago, an earthquake hit Japan. Then a tsunami hit. These natural disasters set in motion the largest nuclear crisis in our memory, as fires, pressure, leaks, and other problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant released contamination into the air and water for days on end. Ava is safe, but her community has been ripped apart by the trio of disasters.

Two days ago, I embarked on a three-week hearing to assess the environmental effects of the new Darlington nuclear power plant. Even as I sit in the hearing room at Hope Fellowship Church in Courtice, Ontario, Ava sends me regular updates from the other side of the world.

In Japan, whole communities have been evacuated, drinking water systems shut down, and food sources banned because of contamination from the Fukushima Daiichi plant, Ava reports:

“Today, I just found out that I cannot eat local leafy greens in my neighborhood. My friend’s farm has been shut down indefinitely. We are no longer talking about food shortages for the newly homeless and victims of the tsunami, but also everyone else who happens to live in surrounding prefectures from the nuclear power plant. We are talking about millions of people whose lives have changed overnight!”

The widespread contamination is having a profound impact on her own community, which is about 170 kilometres from the nuclear power plant:

“Our little school has just learned that another teacher is leaving for good, and I am contemplating it too. That will leave only one core teacher left for next year. How can we teach when everyone is scared to death of eating local food, or getting enough gas to drive there, or getting stuck on a train when there are still rolling blackouts? Even if the “minor” contamination will pass, people are not so forgiving and the entire northern part of the country will be dealing with this devastation for years.”

I am overwhelmed by a heartbreaking montage of conflicting information. Ava’s updates describe the dark side of nuclear power in gut-wrenching, all-too-real detail. Yet even as I read her messages, sitting in Courtice in my suit, Ontario Power Generation spokespeople are standing one after the other to promise that accidents will never happen here: Their plan is bullet-proof. Nothing will go wrong, because this is Canada.

I want them to be right. I want to believe that we have nothing to fear, that my friends and their parents are safe each day that they go off to work near the nuclear reactors.

I do not want to talk about accidents. I always thought the day-to-day environmental impacts of the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant were bad enough. The new nuclear plant will kill as many as 46,000 fish and 28-million eggs and larvae per year. There’s no detailed plan for preventing air pollution, wastewater pollution, or the destruction of up to 40 hectares of fish habitat. I know how important the lake is to south Durham Region, and I felt honoured to be able to bring scientific evidence to a formal hearing that would help the Ontario and Canadian governments better protect our waterfront.

I never wanted to talk about meltdowns. Until I watched one.

On the first day of the hearing, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper (and others) asked the panel to reschedule the hearing until we had more information from Japan and more information from OPG about its reactors, cooling water system, and emissions.

I wholeheartedly believe that our official motion to reschedule the Darlington New Nuclear Power Plant hearing would give Canadians time to learn from the horrific events unfolding in Japan. I believe that, if millions of people’s lives were going to be permanently affected by the accident at Fukushima Daiichi, the very, very least we can do on our side of the world is learn something from the tragedy.

On the first day of the hearing, the panel declared that there is “no need” for postponement.

I know that Ontario isn’t particularly earthquake-prone, in comparison to Japan. And I know “Lake Ontario Tsunami” sounds more like a local punk band than a legitimate natural disaster. I also know that earthquakes and tsunamis are not the only events that can cause accidents or malfunctions. The Japanese crisis is a reminder that nuclear power plants have a very powerful dark side. Even on its best day, a nuclear power plant has an impact on air and water and the natural environment. If we are going to build more nuclear here, we must build it carefully, thoughtfully.
Ava agrees:

“We are learning by the hour of so many people, communities, industries and the entire country being affected by the nuclear disaster. I am so frustrated to know that Ontario is even considering moving ahead with more reactors! It’s like a giant slap in Japan’s face. I wish I could be there to speak up. I am so angry and frustrated and bewildered at people’s ignorance when it’s not in their own backyards.”

In light of what I hear from Japan, what I know about the impacts of the new Darlington Nuclear Power Plant, and what I have learned about due process and decision-making over the course of the last decade, I sit in the Courtice hearings, heartbroken.

This hearing is not good decision-making. There are no meaningful rules of evidence, no cross examination, and there are constant reminders to “hurry up” or “be mindful of the time.” There is no logical progression from one element of the complicated regulatory decisions to the next. There’s very little true science, with all the important studies planned to be done “later.” As the vice president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, I have been part of other environmental assessments, other licencing hearings, private prosecutions, provincial court appeals, and the Walkerton Inquiry. As a student of public administration, I have a tremendous amount of respect for due process and transparent decision-making. This is not it.

Ontario Power Generation and nuclear industry spokespeople have said often that they pride themselves on their abilities to learn continuously and to evolve over time. With respect, there are some mistakes that we cannot afford to make, even once.

I feel almost embarrassed now, to talk about what I came to Courtice to talk about: fish kills, destruction of fish habitat, and localized air pollution. When I hear about the rare tragedy that Ava and her friends and colleagues are experiencing in Japan, my first instinct is to stop. To watch. To help if possible. To learn.

Acton Quarry - When the Blasting Stops - What's Next?

On Monday March 21st Halton Hills Town Council was given a bus tour of the existing Acton Quarry prior to a public workshop discussion with representatives of Dufferin Aggregates about the future of the Quarry after mining is completed. The Quarry is located between the 3rd and 4th lines, straddles the 22nd Sideroad and is west of Limehouse in Halton Hills. 

Dufferin Aggregates has made an application  to expand the existing operation but the pros and cons of that application were not the topic of discussion at the workshop on Monday night.

The reason that the after use of the Quarry was being discussed is because the Town holds the right of first refusal to buy the existing quarry property after it is mined out for the sum of  1 dollar. Therefore the Town needs to determine if it wants to exercise that right. Now is the time to make that determination because Dufferin is in the process of rehabilitating phases 1 and 2 of the existing quarry. They are using as their guide the requirements from the Province which may not be exactly what the Town would want if the Town is to become the eventual owner of the property.

The picture above is of the existing phase 1. As you can see in the distance there is an attractive stone cliff left from the blasting and below that there is a pond. The picture is deceptive as the pond is fairly large and could be called a small lake that is currently 25 feet deep at the far end. Eventually the mounds of gravel in the forground will be removed and the depth will increase by 10 feet. Phase 1 is on the north side of 22 Sideroad. Phase 2 is on the south side and the rehabitation plan for Phase 2 is for a dry bowl which will require continuous pumping in order to keep it dry.

In my next post I will explain why this decision is complicated and what some of the opportunities are.

If you have any inititial questions or comments please send them to me and I will provide comments back.