Dear Member,

Here is an opportunity to make your voice heard.  Please find attached and below a recommendation from GBA and SSCA for you to make a  submission on this Ministry of Environment (MOE) discussion paper by the deadline of Sept 7^th.

From GBA:

The Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) has recently tabled a discussion paper on Off Shore Commercial Wind Development for the Great Lakes (copy attached). They have done so through a posting on the Environmental Bill of Rights registry (EBR # 011-0089). The public has until September 7^th to reply with any comments they might have. The GBA has developed the attached letter of response. We encourage your association and/or individual members to comment as well. The government and the Environment Commissioner take all comments received quite seriously as they form their final policy.

The relevant email addresses that comments should be sent to are as follows;

Primary recipient – Barry Duffey -   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

cc recipients    -     Premier McGuinty - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

-          Minister Wilkinson (Environment) - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

-          Minister Jeffrey (Natural Resources) - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

-          Minister Chan  (Tourism) – c/o - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Bob Duncanson

Executive Director

Georgian Bay Association

18 Fenwick Avenue

Toronto  ON M4K 3H3

(416) 219-4248

Here are some potential discussion points to consider including in your submission:

• The 5km exclusion zone to protect the near shore users of the Great Lakes. (read the GBA’s posting on this – it gives great insight into a solid rational for extending this zone.) Those close to Sandy Island with understanding of the environmental importance of this “Barrier Island” should make connections to this in discussion. Other research suggests that internationally (Denmark, UK, Germany) many countries have located farther away from shore as general practice for a host of different reasons.
• Light pollution -  Local municipalities and elected officials have promoted “dark sky” policies.  For those of you that find the Rogers tower light on Frying Pan Island will relate to this.
• Tourism and the Parry Sound Economic concerns with industrial wind development.
• Decommissioning plans and the need to secure funds to finance the removal of all structures and impacts related to all potential environmental damages to return wind-farm sites to Natural State following their useful lifespan.

We hope that you will be able to support our collective efforts in this respect and will consider sending in a submission with your views on this important topic.

Many thanks

Bert Liverance

President

Attachments:

EBR Submission 011-0089 Off-shore Exclusion Zone - Final Edit Aug 31 10.doc	Administrator	105 Kb	04/09/10 17:16
MOE Off Shore Wind Development Discussion Paper.pdf	Administrator	48 Kb	04/09/10 17:17