March 6, 2012
Ontario

Walker urges Liberal backbenchers to support moratorium

The Meaford Independent, www.themeafordindependent.ca 6 March 2012

Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker wants Liberal backbenchers to put an end to the rural-urban double standard in Ontario politics and pass a moratorium on wind energy this Thursday at Queen’s Park.

“The tale of two Ontarios continues today. When it came to the health concerns of people in Scarborough, Oakville and Mississauga, this government responded by instantly bringing in moratoriums on offshore wind and gas plant projects,” Walker said. “Clearly, this is a double standard. Obviously, there are two sets of rules where, one could argue, the voice, concerns and wishes of the vote-rich cities commands this government while concerns raised in rural Ontario are ignored.”

Walker said the Liberal backbenchers need only consider the genuine health concerns of rural residents, the Auditor General’s 2011 report and the uncertain state of Ontario’s finances.

“Everybody agrees that wind farms were done in haste, without proper planning and science,” Walker said, adding that the government’s green energy policies devoured billions of precious tax dollars and delivered no real jobs.

“Today I challenged the backbenchers across the floor to forget about party lines, to level with the rural people, and to vote for the motion to put a moratorium on further wind development, which will be presented on March 8 by my colleague and Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson,” said Walker.

The motion was drafted by Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson. It will be the PC party’s sixth attempt at halting wind energy development, calling for a proper third-party health study and fighting to restore local planning powers that were suspended under the Green Energy Act in 2009. Their efforts have been supported by more than 80 municipalities, and recently the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA).

“It is my hope the Liberals will show respect for democracy, and finally listen to the people of rural Ontario.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/06/walker-urges-liberal-backbenchers-to-support-moratorium/