June 4, 2011
Ontario, Press releases

Wind Concerns Ontario supporters to launch campaign for endangered species outside Sierra Club Canada’s Annual Meeting

Ottawa – At 4pm today volunteers from Wind Concerns Ontario will meet in front of the Chateau Laurier and head to 1 Nicholas Street – the location of Sierra Club Canada’s (SCC) Annual General Meeting to deliver flyers to Sierra Club members confronting their silence on plans to ‘kill, harm and harass’ threatened species including the Blanding’s Turtle on Ostrander Point. The public has until June 9th to express their opposition, but John Bennett, the Executive Director of the Sierra Club Canada has stated in writing to local environmentalists, they have no intention of doing so.

“Evil prospers when good people remain silent. Wind Concerns Ontario will be doing all we can in these final few days before the June 9th deadline to save the Blanding’s Turtle.” Said John Laforet, President Wind Concerns Ontario.

Wind Concerns Ontario has launched savetheblandingsturtle.ca to empower Ontarians by giving them the tools to urge the Minister of Natural Resources before June 9th to refuse a permit sought by Gilead Power Corporation to ‘kill, harm and harass’ the Blanding’s turtle population on Ostrander Point.

“In 2010, the Sierra Club of Canada participated in a spirited campaign to protect Blanding’s Turtle from a development proposal in the Ottawa area. John Bennett, Sierra Club Canada’s Exeutive Director has confirmed they have no intention to comment on plans to ‘kill, harm and harass’ the Blanding’s Turtle on crown land at Ostrander Point. Bennett has instead decided to criticize environmentalists standing up to protect Ostrander Point and the Blanding’s Turtle. We believe Sierra Club Canada members need to know about this because of the impact it has on the image of Sierra Club Canada.” Said John Laforet, President of Wind Concerns Ontario

“Environmentalists who belong to Wind Concerns Ontario are distressed by this position of Sierra Club Canada and wanted to take the opportunity to ensure environmentalists who are members know of Bennett’s apparent pro-industry stance on the Blanding’s Turtle at Ostrander Point. Laforet added. “We will be handing out flyers to explain the situation and to empower Sierra Club Canada members as individuals to do what Sierra Club Canada should be doing – standing up to irresponsible development and protecting environmentally sensitive areas and the lives of threatened species like the Blanding’s turtle.”

Wind Concerns Ontario is a coalition made up of fifty seven grassroots community groups opposing irresponsible industrial wind development, including Gilead Power’s nine turbine proposal on Ostrander Point in Prince Edward County.

For more information:

John Laforet
President – Wind Concerns Ontario
647 724 0600


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/04/wind-concerns-ontario-supporters-to-launch-campaign-for-endangered-species/