Looking for Forever Homes

 

May 30, the Ontario Minister of Energy, Bob Chiarelli announced that the province is increasing local control over future renewable energy projects.

This announcement means little to the South Dundas residents who are opposed the pending 10 megawatt wind energy project that will see EDP Renewables erect 10 industrial wind turbines in the Brinston area.

This project already has an agreement in place, with construction expected to start this summer.

“Working with the Ontario Power Authority and municipalities, the province will develop a competitive procurement process for renewable projects over 500 kilowatts. The new process will increase the existing large project stream of the Feed-In Tariff program and better meet the needs of communities,” reads the Ontario news release. 

“It will require energy planners and developers to work directly with municipalities to identify appropriate locations and site requirements for any future renewable energy project.”

Also, as part of strengthening municipal participation and supporting communities, the province announced that they are revising the Small FIT program rules, they will work with municipalities to determine a property tax rate increase for wind turbine towers and through funding will help small and medium-size municipalities develop municipal energy plans.

“From what I have gathered from the announcement, South Dundas and other municipalities will have more say, but the devil is in the details,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. He plans to learn more about the issue, this announcement and its implications. 

It is the mayor’s understanding that this announcement will have no affect on the South Branch Project.

Leslie Disheau, of the South Branch Wind Opposition Group agrees that this announcement will not apply to the South Branch project.

“Even if these new rules did apply to the South Branch wind project, it is quite apparent that the current South Dundas council is not willing to be proactive, but prefer to sit with their hands tied,” said Disheau.

Commenting on the announcement by Chiarelli, Disheau said, “The central planning still remains firmly in the hands of the Energy Ministry, not municipalities. What the announcement didn’t do was to provide municipalities the power to simply say, ‘we are not willing hosts’, which is what 36 of approximately 90 municipalities have said so far, by passing bylaws proclaiming that phrase.”

“As far as I can read, Mr. Chiarelli still has yet to divulge the real details of just how this ‘revised’ Feed In Tariff program will appease the taxpayers of Ontario and municipal governments,” said Disheau. 

Of the portion of the announcement outlining the province working with municipalities to determine a property tax rate increase for wind turbine towers, Disheau says, “This is interesting as the former Minister of Finance instructed the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation to assess industrial wind turbines at $40,000 per MW, despite the fact that the capital costs per MW were in the $1 million to $1.2 million range. Wind developers have a great financial relationship with the Liberal Government of Ontario and thanks to us, the taxpayers, they will continue to ‘roll in the dough.’”

[…]

Tim Mills, superintendent of education for the Upper Canada District School Board says the accommodation review process is a ‘team approach’ to deal with the 10,000 vacant student spaces throughout the school board. “It’s not […]

 

Organizers Brian and Tracey Shaver couldn’t have imagined any better results as they set to work on their second decade of running their annual Ball Hockey Tournament in Support of the Dundas County District Council of Easter Seals in Williamsburg.

For their 11th event at the outdoor rink in Williamsburg this past Saturday, the Shavers were absolutely thrilled to see records set in the money raised, $6,020, and the number of teams (11) participating.

The only constant of the day was the third consecutive tournament win by team Morrell which included James Morrell, Ben and Jon Macpherson, Billy DeJong, Greg Millard, Colin Moran, Kelly Verhoeven, Lindsay Waddell, Laura McDonnell and Meghan Macpherson.

The Morrell team defeated Jamie McIntosh’s Delft Blue Veal in the A final.

For the first time ever, the event included a dance which was held at the Cedar Glen Golf Club with music by Wreckless.

The dance was sponsored by area businesses Wells and Son, Sevita International, Pioneer Winchester and Whitford Construction and added $518 to the day’s returns through ticket sales and another $156 when Wreckless passed the hat and collected another $156 to play another hour.

Through the community’s generous pledges to the ball hockey players and donations, the tournament raised a record $5,346, well up from last year’s $4,208.

“Brian and Tracey have done an amazing job getting this all in place,” said Easter Seals administrator Deanna MacKillican, who with Dundas County Easter Seals council chair Ian McLaughlin attended the event. “They organized and got all the sponsors. They do everything. They are amazing.”

In total, this year’s event received the support of 52 area businesses and individuals who put up prizes and/or made cash donations.

“It’s been a good year for businesses to donate,” said Brian Shaver. “This is really impressive for a small community. We had a handful of businesses step up and pay for the band so all of the ticket money is going to go back to Easter Seals. That is fantastic.”

“And as well, the prizes are very impressive, and for probably only the second time in 11 years, the weather is great.”

Coming in with the most pledges for the second consecutive year was Ben Henry at $700. Once again he was followed by Jason Rooney with $300. Jon MacPherson brought in $270, Janet Mackey $225, Scott Barkley $157, Bill Streng $145, Christine Carswell $140, Tammy Merkley $140, Greg VanBridger $124 and Adam Froats $105.

Each of the players is asked to raise a minimum of $25 in pledges.

“We have all set the bar high for next year, so we look forward to the challenge of beating it,” said Tracey Shaver.

The Easter Seals Society assists families who have children with physical disabilities.

Last year, the Dundas County District Council of Easter Seals counted on just under $20,000 raised at various local fund raisers which include the annual Ball Hockey Tournament, along with the Paper Eggs Initiative, Snowarama, a Curling Bonspiel and a Blooperball tournament.

There are approximately 11 families in Dundas County that are registered with Easter Seals Ontario.

[…]