The Green Party of Ontario (GPO) unequivocally opposes TC Energy’s proposed Ontario Pumped Storage Project in Meaford, calling it an environmental and economic mistake that benefits corporate insiders at the expense of local communities.
At a town hall held on Sunday, February 9, hosted by GPO Leader Mike Schreiner and Green Party candidate for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Joel Loughead, residents voiced frustration that their municipal leaders had reversed positions on the project, leaving them feeling unheard. Questions were raised about why the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has twice rejected the $7 billion+ project, yet Ford’s government is forcing it through. The threat to Georgian Bay’s drinking water, local fish populations, and the Niagara Escarpment were top concerns.
“You can’t build storage systems by blowing holes in the Niagara Escarpment and destroying the ecosystem of Georgian Bay,” said Schreiner at Sunday’s standing-room-only meeting at Meaford United Church. “There are cheaper, better, and far less destructive options available. This project is yet another example of Doug Ford handing out favours to wealthy insiders —and that’s wrong. We stand with the people of Meaford who are standing up to this project.”
Beyond the pumped storage project, the discussion expanded into the broader challenges facing rural Ontarians—from healthcare and infrastructure to affordability and the electricity grid.
“Seven years of Doug Ford’s policies have been a slow march toward privatization,” said Loughead. “We see it in our healthcare system, where ERs are closed after 5 p.m. because they aren’t properly funded. We need to be investing in family health teams and utilizing nurse practitioners, not just talking about doctors. Rural Ontarians deserve better access to care, right in their communities.”
Key Issues Raised by Residents:
- Municipal Tax Burden & Aging Infrastructure – Many residents are struggling with rising property taxes as the province downloads costs onto municipalities without providing support.
- Electricity Grid & Climate Change – With more electric vehicles hitting the roads, residents questioned how Ontario will modernize the grid while tackling climate change.
- Affordable Housing & Farmland Protection – The need to balance housing development with farmland protection was a major concern, with residents asking how the province can ensure new builds remain affordable for local families.
- Seniors & Healthcare Costs – Attendees agreed that seniors are being misled into paying out-of-pocket costs for cataract surgeries and other medical services that should be fully covered.
- Working Across Party Lines – Residents applauded Schreiner for his track record of working across party lines to deliver results—including securing funding for the University of Guelph and key infrastructure projects.
The Green Party of Ontario released their full platform n February 11. They have a dedicated platform for rural Ontario which includes enhanced funding for the business risk management programs for agriculture, rural hospitals, and infrastructure.
“The people of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound want leaders who listen—and stand up for them,” Loughead said. “That’s exactly what we intend to do.”
