September 9, 2010
Ontario

Wind farm protesters greet Ontario premier

CBC News, www.cbc.ca 9 September 2010

Protesters showed up at what was supposed to be a carefully scripted photo opportunity for the Ontario premier on Thursday.

A small group opposed to the province’s plans to expand wind farms, confronted Dalton McGuinty in the town of Lindsay.

While McGuinty was trying to promote his government’s role in the expansion of a local community centre, the protesters showed up to make their feelings known.

“We don’t want wind turbines in our area.” they told the premier.

McGuinty listened then told the group his government “made a very important decision. It was not an easy one to make. We decided to get off coal.”

His words did not ease the concerns of Cindy Sutch, a mother of three, from the nearby town of Pontypool.

“We do not want these turbines in Pontypool, or near our schools, and our children. End of story,” said Sutch.

McGuinty said he would consider their concerns but made no promises. He says he’s tried to strike a balance on wind turbines.

“Trying to reconcile where the wind blows – you gotta fish where the fish are ,you gotta put turbines where the wind is – and not unduly infringing on people’s lives.”

But for Cindy Sutch, wind turbines are a big infringement “They’re massive steel structures they’re enormous you can see them for miles and miles,” she said.

The passion suggests the issue of wind farms is likely to be an election issue, especially in Ontario’s rural areas.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/09/wind-farm-protesters-greet-ontario-premier/