Energy Probe
(October 7, 2013) In Ontario it’s a well-known fact that the Green Energy and Green Economy Act (GEA) was developed because a small group of people convinced a past Energy Minister, George Smitherman, it was needed. That group, the Green Energy Act Alliance (GEAA), even claim they helped him write the Act!

Several Ministers later and things haven’t changed even though current Energy Minister, Bob Chiarelli has talked a lot about engaging communities, smaller municipalities and other stakeholders in revisions to the siting of gas, wind and solar generating plants. Minister Chiarelli has even invited input on revisions to the Long-Term Energy Plan (LTEP). Despite the rhetoric however, it still appears that the time spent by all but the environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs) will fall on deaf ears.

The writing was on the wall from the first announcement by Minister Chiarelli on April 16, 2013, when he was the keynote speaker at the Ontario Power Conference, where he told all present that revisions to siting, the feed-in tariff (FIT) program and the LTEP would shortly occur and that Ontarians would have a chance to provide input. Since that announcement the renewable energy approvals (REAs) issued by the Ministry of the Environment have not stopped. All have been issued without the consultations that were promised by Minister Chiarelli back on that April day! Read article

By Christina Blizzard, QMI Agency
TORONTO – When is a charity not a charity?  When it dabbles in politics, according to Senator Nicole Eaton.  Eaton welcomes federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s recent budget announcement that he plans to make changes to the Income Tax Act to crack down on charities that use donations for political purposes.

Flaherty’s budget last month said, “Economic Action Plan 2012 proposes measures to ensure that charities devote their resources primarily to charitable, rather than political, activities, and to enhance public transparency and accountability in this area.”   Read article

by Bob Runciman, Toronto Sun
TORONTO – There’s no question that the ORNGE scandal merits the concentrated focus of Ontario’s opposition parties and the creation of a select committee to thoroughly investigate what happened and why, and, if possible, recover millions of taxpayers’ dollars.  However, one hopes these same parties don’t continue to ignore an even larger scandal, one laid bare in December by the provincial auditor general.  This one affects every resident and business in this once-prosperous province – the past, present and future impacts of the Green Energy Act.

We need to take a closer look at the people who profited from it and the people who, behind closed doors – without cabinet, caucus or public consultation – developed policies that will give Ontario the highest electricity rates in North America and cripple our future economic prospects.   Read article

Terence Corcoran: McGuinty’s half-hearted apology more sand than substance
Excerpt:   For starters, Mr. McGuinty’s green activist friends at Environmental Defence of Canada and elsewhere have rallied behind his comments, amplifying his original statement and rejoicing in their new talking points against oil sands development. Mr. McGuinty has, above all, given new life to an economic idea that makes the rounds every now and then: Dutch Disease, a concept greens instantly embraced.  Read entire article

By Denis Langlois, Owen Sound Sun Times
SAUGEEN SHORES – Tractors, farm equipment, pickup trucks and other vehicles are expected to roll through Port Elgin on Saturday afternoon to protest a controversial wind turbine at the Canadian Auto Workers’ Family Education Centre. The goal of the parade is to boost public pressure on the CAW to abandon the operation of the union-owned turbine and to create a “united call” for a provincial moratorium on all wind turbine developments, said Karen Hunter, a spokeswoman for the group STOP. Read article

Orangeville Banner
I have followed the discourse between mayors Bill Hill and Don MacIver and Kristopher Stevens of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association with some interest.  The high handed-approach taken by Mr. Stevens toward some of our elected municipal officials and their staffs is regrettable to say the least, but all too familiar an approach.  One wonders what Mr. Stevens expected to achieve by lecturing Mayor Hill and Mayor MacIver in the public media and suggesting they and members of their staff are not “up to speed,” I cannot guess! Continue reading →

Kris showing off his karate moves

I am following the letters from Kristopher Stevens, executive director of Ontario Sustainable Energy Association, a wind lobby group, to the mayors of Amaranth and Melancthon.  I recall there were a number of requests to have senior ministry officials from the province meet with council about some very serious issues in a local wind project and instead they sent district office staff that acknowledged the problems but could not offer any answers when it came to policy questions or mitigation of problems. Continue reading →