Some of the First Nations deemed to be in support of the Dutton Dunwich area wind power project by U.S. firm Invenergy are 1,000 km away—yet they are allowed to be in support of the project under the Wynne government process, for points toward a successful bid
McDowell Lake First Nation is north-west of Lake Superior … but able to help a U.S. firm get a southern Ontario wind power contract
London Free Press, April 12, 2016
By John Miner
First, they found out they’re getting giant wind turbines even though they didn’t want them.
Now, residents of a Southwestern Ontario township are learning the support of six Ontario First Nations communities — more than 1,000 kilometres away, some not even in the same time zone — helped give a Chicago-based energy giant an edge in its winning bid to build the unwanted wind farm.
One of the native communities is along Hudson Bay, the others in the province’s northwest near the Manitoba border.
One of the native communities is along Hudson Bay, the others in the province’s northwest near the Manitoba border.
It’s another sign that for all the changes Ontario has made to ensure the controversial projects aren’t imposed on areas that don’t want them, as they have been in parts of Southwestern Ontario, problems — and surprises — persist.
“It’s ludicrous for them to do something like that,” said Jamie Littlejohn, a spokesperson for Dutton/Dunwich Opponents of Wind Turbines.
Littlejohn heads a citizens’ group opposed to the project in Dutton-Dunwich Township, southwest of London.
Progressive Conservative MPP Jeff Yurek said he was “shocked” that communities so far away could influence an energy project in his riding, and he wants the ruling Liberals to shelve the wind farm.
“It’s ludicrous for them to do something like that,” said Jamie Littlejohn, a spokesperson for Dutton/Dunwich Opponents of Wind Turbines.
Littlejohn heads a citizens’ group opposed to the project in Dutton-Dunwich Township, southwest of London.
Progressive Conservative MPP Jeff Yurek said he was “shocked” that communities so far away could influence an energy project in his riding, and he wants the ruling Liberals to shelve the wind farm.
“I don’t think it’s fair to residents of the municipality — it’s a huge loophole the government needs to close,” said the Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP.
Residents in Dutton-Dunwich, in rural Elgin County, are vehemently opposed to Invenergy LLC’s project.
Under Ontario’s new bidding system for wind-energy contracts, participation by a First Nation gives companies an extra edge.
Invenergy, which won one of the coveted contracts for its proposed Strong Breeze Wind Farm in Dutton-Dunwich, found its First Nation support — and investment — in Ontario’s northernmost community and remote reserves near the Manitoba boundary.
One of the First Nations communities participating in the project, McDowell Lake, has only 59 members. …
Under Ontario’s new bidding system for wind-energy contracts, participation by a First Nation gives companies an extra edge.
Invenergy, which won one of the coveted contracts for its proposed Strong Breeze Wind Farm in Dutton-Dunwich, found its First Nation support — and investment — in Ontario’s northernmost community and remote reserves near the Manitoba boundary.
One of the First Nations communities participating in the project, McDowell Lake, has only 59 members. …
Read the full article here.
6 Comments
Pat Cusack
Surely they should be trying to improve the communities in which they live instead of being lured into these projects; or is it that they will be given money to spend on drugs and alcohol?
ScepticalGord
The Wynne government knows exactly what it’s doing in this manufactured “win-win” scenario:
Use First Nations as your pawn to further your ridiculous agenda, throw in a bit of red ass-kissing and dispense “climate change” platitudes, then wait for anyone to criticize this setup so you can play the racist card.
The fact of the matter is, deceitful schemes like this only accentuate and promote distrust and disrespect between Ontario citizens of all races.
This is just the kind of
ScepticalGord
… thing that the hypocritical Ontario government campaigns against.
Barbara
Lawyers get paid to find loop-holes in laws.
This whole thing was put together so fast that energy issues were not looked at. Build a 30 storey building in Toronto without inspection? No way!
Not enough qualified inspectors to check wind turbines so OK just install them anyway.
Proper equipment for sound testing not available so do the IWT thing anyway. And on and on!
There could be some long-term liability issues for the province with what has and is happening?
Sommer
Liability issues need to be thoroughly investigated. Who could do this kind of work?
We need to know about liability issues from many different angles of this ridiculous situation.
Little ol' me
Liability issues..darn right.
“Canadian royalty” in London On tomorrow morning. Do you think it would do any good to meet Justin Trudau and tell on Kathleen Wynne??