Editor,
I frequently look over the view of South Georgian Bay from atop Grey Rd. 7 and I think:
How do we in Meaford look at sustainability? Should it involve TCE and their PS project?
The Niagara Escarpment has a solid history of being a protected geologic anomaly simply because by its very nature it was too difficult to develop. However, times have changed and not in a good way. Now, along came us Premier Ford, Stephen Lecce and TC Energy. Our entire Escarpment and all of Grey Bruce had a “natural” approach to “working” our lands and where we humans fit in the scheme of things. For several reasons our natural landscapes have been preserved with our “Environment First” approach. Today TC Energy is poised to change the future sustainability of our natural world.
We humans do have a history of “rolling over” nature. Just review past decisions in the Ontario Greenbelt scandals and the proposed Hwy 413, look at the loss of agricultural lands in our “Golden Horseshoe” or remember what happened to Walkerton’s water supplies.
Grey Bruce provides a great farming resource which can be sustainable for millennia with careful planning to manage the inevitable human invasion. This will require plans that work from the ground (or water as the case may be) and up: all changes should be those that enhance PROTECTION of our resources FIRST and then how to DEVELOP them for human uses. This is how we can move forward retaining our environment, our ecologies and our water while at the same time protecting our tourist and farming economies. “Build Baby Build” does not work here: do we want or need another GTA, Barrie or Collingwood? Or would another Niagara on the Lake or Banff be more appropriate?
The TC Energy Corporation has another “take” on OUR economic and eco friendly history and potential. This “potential” according to TCE is HOW TO EXPLOIT OUR RESOURCE and NOT how to sustain it. They do not have any interest except to move in, tear up our Niagara Escarpment areas for 7 years and damn the consequences: there are economic power and profits here: but for whom? Certainly NOT the Ontario rate and taxpayers! Certainly NOT for our “One Canada” project now underway! TCE has proceeded to invoice Ontario taxpayers for $285 million to cover THEIR expenses and have the audacity to begin work on their ill-advised pumped storage project before ANY approvals have been made and no final approvals from SON. Have a look at the waterfront towards our western shoreline: that is TC Energy’s barge doing testing that WE are paying for! We need to challenge those with more power be it corporate interests or Provincial and Federal Government oversight.
Does “Build Baby Build” provide real Value? Is this direction one that Owen Sound, Thornbury, Meaford and all of the Georgian Bay area should be taking to preserve our Values? Are there more suitable options? YES!
Is the idea of tearing up our escarpment and natural beauty of our lands a sane approach so a corporation can construct an archaic and obsolete energy storage system? What happens to the homeowners along our shorelines? The landowners in the immediate area? Screw them? This does not seem like the “Meaford” I thought I knew! It does not look like a long-term sustainable option that suits Grey Bruce nor the Indigenous Lands. Are our governments and those who support this project being sold a dangerous bill of goods? Yes! Why are governing bodies paying more attention to corporate agendas going forward without serious ongoing consultation with the communities they represent? Despite several letters to the Independent, Stephen Lecce, Doug Ford and lots of others I have had zero responses: corruption thrives in silence people and this PSP project operates in silence.
Can a sober second look create any horrible consequences? Should we always continue to question? I can go into advantages, disadvantages and EXISTING technologies that make this PSP project obsolete TO SAY THE LEAST. Why not do what IN THE LONG TERM will create more options for sustainable future here in Meaford and our entire province? This is our immediate challenge: how do we protect our lands. How to protect indigenous lands? Do we industrialize and pave our municipality creating urban societies or is there a better way for Georgian Bay and the Niagara Escarpment? Step One: Cancel this Pumped Storage now!
Pat Maloney, Meaford
