Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Letters

Reader: Taxpayers Will Foot the Bill For Pumped Storage

Dear Editor, Now we know. TC Energy's pumped storage proposal, which started at an estimated $2.2 billion in 2018, will actually cost $7 billion by the time it is built. TCE admits that in a January 11 press release and agrees to cap it at that level. But that's not counting pre-construction costs it wants Ontario taxpayers to pick up the...

Reader: Let’s Spend Billions For Less Net Electricity

Editor, I noticed two contributions to Letter to the Editor on January 18 attempting to legitimize the expenditure of what will eventually be $10 billion for the Pumped Storage Project (PSP). I spent 20 of my 40-year engineering career directly involved with the design and construction of hydro-electric dams and water storage facilities internationally. The following comment is based on Laws...

Budget Thoughts

Dear Editor, I agree with your assessment that the draft budget as presented appears much better than that of other municipalities. It's certainly the most responsible we've seen in recent years. There are still some concerns, though. First, compared to most neighbouring municipalities, Meaford's property taxes are quite high. (Owen Sound is often thrown in to sway the average; it doesn't...

How Much Profit is Enough?

Editor, This letter concerns corporate policies, not those of individual store franchisees and operators, who are forced to comply with the corporate line. Loblaws Co. Ltd. continues to be the food industry pacesetter in corporate greed and dismissal of affordability. They have changed their 50% discount on fresh foods nearing an expiry date down to 30%. Customers whose income forces them...

Reader: Many Questions Need Answering Regarding Pumped Storage

Editor, Ford Government looks to Trudeau Government to Help Fund TCE's Pumped Storage Scheme with Taxpayer Dollars Many questions need answering about TC Energy's (TCE) proposed pumped storage project on the Department of National Defence's training base in Meaford. In particular, queries about the cost of the scheme and who is paying for it. Costs have more than doubled from $2.2 billion...

Support For Opposition to Pumped Storage Proposal Expressed by Bay Area Councils

Editor, It is not surprising that other townships on Georgian Bay are waking to the substantial threats posed by the above project. The tone of arrogant 'know it all' adopted by DM Keaveney ignores the truth in that voters and council candidates have wished for a referendum on this issue but been ignored. Representations have been made to council by many...

‘Ill Informed’ Opinions About Pumped Storage Proposal

Editor, I ask you, what thoughts come to mind when you read opinions from groups of people who “vehemently” assert as facts, things about which they know very little. They remind me of Climate change deniers, anti-vaxers and partisan political action groups. We have our own subset of these types of groups in the Georgian Bay region. They make broad negative...

Doesn’t Anyone Bother to Check the Facts Anymore?

Dear Editor, Sadly, I am forced to conclude that Mr. McTaggart has still not found the time to attend a free Coffee Chat at the easy to find and easy to get to TC Energy office at 390 Sykes Street North, Meaford, Ontario. I attended one last summer and learned the correct answers to the same concerns he raises over...

Reader is Skeptical of Pumped Storage

Dear Editor, I am still skeptical of TC Energy’s (TCE) claims about a new inlet and outlet port design for the proposed Ontario Pumped Storage (OPS) project. John Mikkelsen stated, “We have and will continue to undertake studies to test the proposed design, including computer modelling and sediment mapping”. This seems to indicate that there is no existing experience data...

Reader Questions Motives of Save Georgian Bay

Dear Editor, Welcome back. I hope your break was relaxing. I was reading the Nov. 16 issue about "Concern about harbour area development proposal" and I realized a sad truth about Save Georgian Bay. It seems to me they do not want to save Georgian Bay but their own million dollar castles. They claim the TCE project will put people in danger...