Over the past few years, some Dunvegan residents have become increasingly concerned that commercial wind turbines would soon start popping up north of the 417. And they worried that, once they did, it wouldn’t be long before the turbines spread southward. Well, the recent sea change in Queen”s Park appears to have put the Green steamroller in reverse.
Three months after taking power, Ontario’s new government has introduced legislation to restore the rights of local municipalities to control the development of commercial renewable energy projects (such as wind and solar generation) within their jurisdiction. When passed, the Green Energy Repeal Act, 2018 (Bill 34) will repeal the Green Energy Act, 2009 (Act) in its entirety and amend several other statutes including the Planning Act and the Environmental Protection Act.
It should be noted that Bill 34 would not eliminate the renewable energy approval process. It will, however, empower municipalities to prevent unwanted renewable energy projects in their jurisdiction, where no justification can be made for the development. The Act further states that no appeal can be made to the Local Planning Act Tribunal (formerly, the dreaded Ontario Municipal Board or OMB), the body that routinely rubber-stamps developers’ requests and ignores municipal and public concerns.
They came from near and far
When I asked committee chair, Jim Mullin, about the Glengarry Pioneer Museum’s 1812 Reenactment, he told me he couldn’t believe how many of this past weekend’s visitors were at the Dunvegan museum for the very first time. “(It) brought people here from Montreal and Ottawa, as well as tourists from as far away as England and Scotland,” said Mullin.
When I drove by on Friday, the site was buzzing with activity, as over 240 Grade 7 & 8 students from Terre-des-Jeunes, Tagwi and Char-Lan grilled the volunteer reenactors on life in the early 1800s. This learning station approach has been such a hit on past education days, the museum decided to incorporate something similar — Guided Tours — into the 2018 weekend schedule, and it went extremely well. “They were the highlight of this year’s event,” said James Prevost, chair of the museum’s Executive Committee.
Planning has already begun on next year’s 10thAnniversary reenactment. All in all, 2019 will be quite a milestone year. In addition to the 1812 event turning ten, the Harvest Festival will celebrate its 20thbirthday and the Dunvegan Recreation Hall will chalk up its 100th year. Maybe we can get a bulk discount on ice cream cakes.
Pothole politics
Municipal government is where the rubber meets the road, literally. Despite the lofty ambitions of many municipal candidates — and thank goodness they have a vision — I’ve long suspected the concerns of voters are more down to earth. Every election, the voting public has heard the shopworn bromides of turning Glengarry into a Shangri-La for tourists, housing developers and industrialists. And yet our population still declines, businesses close, our roads crack and heave and more and more rural properties become safe havens for rusting metal. Dunvegan Road is a perfect example.
With the voting set to commence at 8 AM on October 17 — assuming one is doing it by phone or on-line— I thought I’d ask candidates running in the Dunvegan area to share the issues, concerns and suggestions they were hearing from ordinary folks as they met with them one-on-one or in small groups. To be fair, I ran out of time and have not yet spoken with Kevin van den Oetelaar or Jacques Massie. However, I invite them to e-mail and tell me what they’re hearing on the street. Here’s the feedback I received so far, in the order in which it was received.
Brian Caddell, candidate for North Glengarry’s Deputy Mayor held a recent open house at the DRA Hall and reports that the overarching concerns he heard were the Alexandria/Maxville water project and MPAC’s impact on property taxes, especially farm property. At a more mundane level, Brien reports being asked: why one needs a permit for very minor repairs; why people are getting tax money to improve their rural properties; why the new hardware in Maxville received funds from the CIP project; why are there no academic standards in our schools; and why bother charging property tax defaulters an 18% penalty when they can’t even pay the original bill.
Louise Quenneville, candidate for North Glengarry’s Councillor at Large, sent in this report on what she’s hearing as she campaigns door-to-door: why have over two million dollars in back taxes not been collected; why is there only one voting poll in all of North Glengarry; why are some councillors not more visible during their term; will the new water system allow for grow in both Alexandria and Maxville; what will be the impact on the Loch Garry ecosystem and its fish population; why can’t Maxville homeowners stay on their well if they so choose; why is there not stronger by-law enforcement of animal control regulations and property standards.
Carma Williams, North Glengarry’s Deputy Mayor, told me that many issues have surfaced at the coffee parties she’s been hosting and during her door-to-door visits. These include: cellular and internet connectivity; sustainable land use; infrastructure such as roads, water, and sewers; the future of recycling; urban planning; and better communication with the public.
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