Dear Editor,
I saw from your IAAC coverage that Mr. Tom Buck of Save Georgian Bay has raised the cost of the Meaford Pumped Storage proposal again.
I don’t think he gets to do that.
It seems that every time a Director of Save Georgian Bay gets close to a microphone, the future cost of the proposal goes up by a billion dollars.
It would be very helpful if Mr. Buck and the balance of Save Georgian Bay Directors and members would learn how we do large projects in Canada. Including the Province of Ontario’s electricity projects.
We don’t make up a number here, then abandon the proposal if we imagine the total cost will be higher than the number we plucked from the thin air.
Our process in Canada requires us to produce a real professional estimate of the expected project cost using proper engineering, social, environmental, and accounting costs. We rely on proper engineering, economics, and accounting to prepare a genuine estimate of benefits. ALL the benefits. We do not ignore any benefits that may prove to be inconvenient to certain people. Any more than we include any costs that they made up. Then we compare the expected costs and the expected benefits to make a determination on whether the proposal should go ahead.
It’s the same thing responsible governments and organizations do pretty much everywhere, but let’s stick to Canada and the Meaford proposal.
One thing we don’t do in Canada is say “I think it will be $10 billion. That’s too much. We must abandon this idea immediately.”
Canada probably would not exist as the country as we know it if Sir John A. Macdonald had looked at the back of someone’s napkin to see that they thought the Canadian Pacific Railway that joined us from coast to coast might cost $52 million (One billion dollars in today’s money). Thankfully Sir John A. considered the benefits of securing our country and its future. Not just the costs.
It would be very helpful if Mr. Buck and the balance of Save Georgian Bay Directors and members could learn how we do large electricity projects in the Province of Ontario. Others too, but let’s stick to the source of the misinformation.
Since 1999, the official policy, strategy, and law of Ontario, has been to promote, encourage and accept “blended ownership” to add to and strengthen our electrical grid. Anyone with access to a computer and Google can learn about blended ownership.
“Blended ownership is a current trend in Ontario’s electricity sector, primarily referring to partnerships between private companies, the provincial government, and Indigenous communities in the development and ownership of energy projects, including hydroelectric facilities. This model is expanding in northern Ontario.”
“This approach aims to ensure local benefits, accelerate infrastructure development, and leverage private capital and expertise for critical energy projects.”
So, it is both the law of Ontario and a stated goal of the Provincial Government – for the last 26 years – to grant sole rights and exclusive rights to privately owned, wholly for-profit facilities. That’s how Ontario has done business – since 1999.
Like the Meaford TCE proposal is. TC Energy and SON. TCE and SON are leveraging private capital for critical energy projects with local benefits. Like Ontario wants. What Ontario wants MORE of.
If you’d like another example of blended ownership? The Province of Ontario is not building any BESS plants either. Investors are. Sometimes First Nations. Often corporations. Or First Nations in partnership with a corporation. To leverage private capital and deliver local benefits.
One thing we don’t do in Ontario is say “This Meaford proposal must not be allowed to proceed until it is put out to tender and awarded to the lowest bidder. Like it should be.” We should never have to hear that from Save Georgian Bay, the Georgian Bay Association, or any of the six appallingly uninformed municipal Councils in Ontario that Mr. Buck listed, again. (Sadly? We will.)
In light of their policy and goals for blended generation, imagine the level of stupidity it would require for the Ontario Government to approach TCE, SON, and the Department of Defence to say “You had a really great idea. Put together a great team. Chose a great location for your idea. It meets every criterion the law both allows and calls for in Ontario. And it’s exactly what we want far more of in this province. We hope you won’t mind, but we’d like to put your idea out for tender. To whoever wants to bid on your idea. You’re welcome to bid on your own idea. Hopefully you’ll be the lowest bidder. Thanks for the hard work though. Oh! And good luck!”
The first time Ontario did that would be the last time they saw another proposal for blended generation. And rightfully so. Stupidity has costs too.
Anyone – Save Georgian Bay, the Georgian Bay Association, Township of the Archipelago Council (and the other befuddled Councils who were fooled by TOA Council’s failure to even think) – who doesn’t like that?
They have no complaints with TCE, SON, or the DND. None.
They need to call their MPP. To say they want Ontario laws, goals, and policy changed.
Our MPP is Paul Vickers. I hope they can look him up for themselves.
Bruce Mason, Meaford
