Bullet News QUEEN’S PARK — Four motions to put a halt to wind energy development across the province that were introduced by Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson are wiped of the slate with the proroguing of the Ontario Legislature.
On the first day of fall session of the Ontario Legislature, she tabled motions to suspend wind energy development in the province until a federal health study that’s currently under way is complete and the results are published, and Ontario-based economic viability, environmental impact, and social health studies are complete.
“I tabled these four motions to stand up for rural Ontarians who are concerned about the impacts of wind turbines on the health of their communities,” Thompson said.
Oct. 16, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty stepped down as leader of the Liberal party and asked Lieut.-Gov. David Onley to prorogue the Ontario Legislature, saying it would give the government time to work two strategies: negotiate wage freeze agreements with labour and meet with Opposition to put in place legislation for a wage freeze.
As a result of proroguing, all bills and motions are erased from the order paper. Thompson said other private members’ bills related to issues such as harness racing industry and municipal referendums to develop gambling facilities were also killed by the move to shut the legislature until a new Liberal leader is selected.
“These are important issues, and we cannot afford to shut the Legislature doors so the Liberal members can campaign for Leader,” she said.
In December 2011, Thompson tabled a private members motion calling for a moratorium on wind energy development until third-party social, physical and economic health, and environmental studies have been completed. Her motion was defeated in March 2012.
8 Comments on "Legislature shut down kills motions on wind energy moratorium"
Move on to something that really needs your attention, Lisa, and leave the wind issue alone, because you know it is going to benefit our communities. Just ask Steven Harper, he will tell you.
That’s a truly naive comment there Paul, totally reinforced by your belief that Harper has it on his agenda to be truthful with Ontarians. Wind turbines can be a very effective replacement for coal power as the Liberal government has attempted. There are, however, many projects that should never have gained approval given their location in proximity to sensitive natural areas and the unknowns regarding how they affect human health. To wait until studies have been done is an entirely reasonable request.
To those of you who don’t seem to understand what a prorogue is – McGuinty’s stepping down is in no way a demonstration of his corruption. In the event that a premier step down it is absolutely necessary for government as a whole to regroup. Do you really want someone who wasn’t elected to be leader to make decisions for the province? You’ve failed to understand McGuinty’s actions within the context of democracy. As for Melanie – if you think coal is the answer you’ve sure got it backwards. Weather wind is the best alternative is certainly debatable. Coal, however, is on its way out. It’s just plain foolish to continue to invest outdated technology – especially after it’s been proven to cause health problems to the extreme that it does.
Come on now. Anyone who has been educating themselves on the subject knows that is blatantly untrue. Even the Liberals know it’s not true. They are scrambling to cover their tracks and weave some lies, but it is too late. I am incredibly embarrassed to admit it, but I have voted Liberal in the past when it did not stand for dictatorship. Now I see that someone like Dalton McGuinty can spread corruption anywhere. He has devastated this province and then gone into hiding. PROROGUE…meaning, “In favour of the rogue.” This taxpayer-funded holiday he has insisted they all take while he tries to think up some more lies is just one more example of his disrespect for the people of this province.
TO date there has been absolutely NO benefit from wind turbines. In fact they have increased emissions due to coal and gas having to remain hot at the ready for when wind does not blow. They destroy and/or displace wildlife. They have destroyed rural Ontario. They have allowed some farmers to retire on the backs of the rest of us. If they are so good why can they not make it on their own without our government subsidies? Why must we take their power first when we have a surplus, then we have to dump water at Niagara Falls and actually pay other jurisdictions to take it off our hands. Bad business all around. People have abandoned their homes! Some can not sell at any price. To date the contribution from wind is less than 1 % world wide…The truth is they simply do not do what they claim they do. The wind developers are spewing out name plate capacity then boasting how many tons of co2 that they are preventing. The turbines never reach name plate capacity. Germany has had to build 26 new coal plants to back up their wind turbines. China is building an unprecedented amount of coal plants. Democracy should never allow a government to force a business on the people. Governments do not pick winners. I could go on and on for pages …stop drinking the green Kool Aid. Do some research.
Kill the wind turbines. They are a giant waste of money, and a major health hazard to humans and animals. Do the research. Even Europe is getting out.
I am so sick of everyone being so negative. I am not referring to this website specifically but the public discourse in general. Everyone is talking about what they are against, but no one is saying what they are standing for. If you don’t support wind energy then please, by all means, tell us what you support! Are you pro coal, or pro nuclear? I personally think that we should work on something that could harness the energy in all of the “hot air” that is constantly being spewed by so many of us. Let’s be proactive people and share some ideas. If our province is in the mess that I’m being told it is, we will need some good ones.
How many 500 foot industrial wind turbines do you see when you look out your windows? If the answer is none, then how many petitions have you signed to get a dozen or so built 1/2 a kilometre from your home? If the answer is still none, then you are a green hypocrite which is 1,000 times worse than a Nimby. If you go to build a new home for your family, do you look in the industrial area of your city to find a lot? Of course not. Nor would you be given a permit to build a house there for all sorts of reasons, including noise and safety. So then why is it okay for the provincial Liberal government to build massive industrial complexes around pre-existing homes, with no regard for noise or safety? If wind turbines are so great, why don’t they build them closest to where the greatest demand for power is?? The GTA?? They could build them all the way from Hamilton to Oshawa. Thousands of 500 foot tall industrial wind machines, just like they’re doing all over rural Ontario. Care to try to answer any of these questions?
Bonnie,
I’m not sure if your post was directed at me but I will try to answer some of your questions as best I can.
“How many 500 foot industrial wind turbines do you see when you look out your windows? If the answer is none, then how many petitions have you signed to get a dozen or so built 1/2 a kilometre from your home? If the answer is still none, then you are a green hypocrite which is 1,000 times worse than a Nimby.”
I would put one in my yard if the town of Goderich would let me. I’ll sign any petition put forth to me to have some built close to my home.
“If you go to build a new home for your family, do you look in the industrial area of your city to find a lot? Of course not. Nor would you be given a permit to build a house there for all sorts of reasons, including noise and safety. So then why is it okay for the provincial Liberal government to build massive industrial complexes around pre-existing homes, with no regard for noise or safety? ”
I would certainly build in an industrial area if it was legal to do so and the price was right. I would love to find some of these people that are abandoning their houses. I’ll take them off your hands!
“If wind turbines are so great, why don’t they build them closest to where the greatest demand for power is?? The GTA?? They could build them all the way from Hamilton to Oshawa. Thousands of 500 foot tall industrial wind machines, just like they’re doing all over rural Ontario. Care to try to answer any of these questions?”
I think that’s a great idea.
I hope I was able to answer some of your questions.