Issues & Documents:
For news on issues facing our neighborhood, please
see the
latest newsletter.
For the latest updates on issues facing southwest Mississauga
and the city as a whole go to www.miranet.ca.
Video re: Alternate Site for a Gas-Fired Power Plant
Watch the video from
MIRANET (May 30, 2010): Why
Not Nanticoke? (YouTube,
7min 10sec): "The
Nanticoke is a win-win for residents of the Clarkson-Aokville
Airshed and Haldimand County, Ontario... Why NOT Nanticoke?"
Power Generation, Our Airshed, Our Community
Response
The following document, used at the panel discussion
at the April 28, 2010 MWRRA AGM, gives a brief overview and
timeline of developments concerning the proposed gas-fired generating plant
in our local area:
Power Generation, Our Airshed, Our Community Response
In the late 1990’s, Sithe proposed
a gas-fired generating plant to be built in the Southdown
Industrial District in Mississauga.
Local communities in southwest
Mississauga and east Oakville then formed a citizens committee
called the Clear the Air Coalition that successfully negotiated
a pollution mitigation agreement with Sithe in 2001.
No contract was awarded.
No plant was built in Mississauga. However, a twin to the
proposed plant was built by Sithe in Brampton (Goreway)
and is now operating.
Citizens concerned over poor air quality in
southeast Oakville and southwest Mississauga supported the Ministry of the
Environment proposal, in November of 2001, to carry out an air quality study
in the so-called Clarkson/Oakville Airshed (bounded by Chartwell Rd.
in Oakville on the west, Lake Ontario on the south, Lorne Park and Bexhill
Roads on the east , and just south of Dundas Street on the north).
The first part of the Clarkson/Oakville
Airshed Study identified sources of pollutants. Part II
of the report, released in 2006, confirmed that at times
the Clarkson/Oakville Airshed is a “taxed” airshed
with respect to inhaled particulate matter. Part III of the study was
to measure the output of each source of pollutants. Part IV of the study envisaged
an advisory committee to liaise with industry to develop
and implement an air monitoring program.
In 2007, the Lakeview coal generating plant
was finally shut down. Currently, all power used in the
southwest GTA is remotely generated at Nanticoke and the
Bruce [and Pickering and Darlington]). A commitment has
been made that Lakeview will not be a site for any future
power plant.
In February 2009, the Ontario Power
Authority was directed by the Ministry of Energy to announce
that it would entertain bids for a gas-fired generating
plant to be located in the southwest GTA.
Four companies, including
Sithe with its existing proposal, came forward with proposals:
three in the Southdown Industrial District, and one
in southeast Oakville on Ford of Canada lands.
Citizens in Clarkson and
Oakville signed petitions to stop a power plant in the
Clarkson/Oakville Airshed. These petitions were tabled
in the Legislature by MPP Charles Sousa.
In August 2009, the Ontario
Power Authority announced that TransCanada had won the
bid to build a plant on land to be severed from Ford of
Canada. Immediately, in protest,
Oakville citizens organized the Citizens for Clean Air
(C4CA).
The Ministry of the Environment has
established an Air Quality Task Force chaired by Dr. David
Balsillie to develop a comprehensive action plan for the
reduction of emissions in the Clarkson/Oakville Airshed
from local industry, traffic and residences to improve
air quality in the southwest GTA, and specifically in the
Clarkson/Oakville Airshed.
The final report of this
task force, and its action plan, are to be ready by the
end of June 2010. Local industries have a
committee called CASIAC to address pollution issues in
the Clarkson/Oakville Airshed.
C4CA has asked for a full environmental assessment
that is not currently required by the MOE for a gas-fired
plant. TransCanada has completed
its required self-assessment.
The Town of Oakville has
passed several by-laws limiting emissions from any gas-fired
power plant. The Town of Oakville’s
Committee of Adjustment has turned down a severance application
from Ford of Canada and a “set back” application
from TransCanada. These by-laws and decisions are being challenged
in court and at the Ontario Municipal Board.
On March 22, 2010
a mass public rally was held at Queen’s Park against
the proposed power plant. On
April 22, 2010, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn’s private
member’s bill (Bill 8) received second
reading in the Legislature on a vote of 28-1.
The bill will now be referred to the Committee on General
Government.
Mississauga MPP Charles Sousa has stated that
Bill 8, if enacted without change, “would not apply to gas-fired plants
that have all of their permits in place on the day the Act comes into force. My
community has raised concerns that the Bill, as written, may reopen discussions
to build a gas plant in the Clarkson Southdown Industrial District.”
The City of Mississauga and the Environmental
Health branch of the Region of Peel are against any gas-fired
power plant in the Clarkson/Oakville Airshed. Mississauga
is investigating enacting a by-law similar to the Town
of Oakville’s
regarding controlling emissions from gas-fired power plants.
In 2008, a group of Mississauga resident
associations, including yours, formed MIRANET to give a
larger voice to the many issues (not just air quality or
power generation) that arise and affect the citizens
of Mississauga.
The Meadow Wood Rattray-Ratepayers
Association, MIRANET and C4CA have been actively involved
in the fight to improve air quality in our airshed.
The following are some other ongoing issues:
Good Neighbour or Nightmare?
With the warm weather comes the opportunity to see our neighbours more,
get to know each other better and apparently that isn't always a good
thing.
Occasionally, we receive complaints about "unneighbourly" behaviour,
most complaints concern unleashed dogs, unwanted noise, and property/pool
maintenance issues. All we can do is remind residents to use common sense
and apply the Golden Rule. For those who won't voluntarily act like good
neighbours, we have municipal by-laws. A complete list of by-laws and
how they are enforced is available on the city's website www.mississauga.ca.
Dogs: There are no "leash free" zones in our neighbourhood,
there is one in Jack Darling Park and another just west of Petro Canada
on Lakeshore Road. No dog is exempt from the by-law, but if you don't
leash your dog as a rule, be prepared to leash it around small children
(Meadow Wood Road Park is not a "leash free" zone) or when
asked. Unleashed dogs should never be permitted to wander on another
resident's property. Common Sense.
Noise: One person's party is another's headache. Noise is considered
anything that disturbs a neighbour at any time. This includes mechanical
noise, music, or even shouting or speaking loudly. Obviously, we all
want to use and enjoy our homes and properties - that means respecting
each other's desire to occasionally make noise and likewise to enjoy
some peace and quiet. Golden Rule. If a friendly approach fails to resolve
the situation, contact by-law enforcement at 905-896-5655.
Visioning for Rattray Marsh
With the sewer infrastructure leaving the marsh new opportunities for
restoration of native habitat are opening up. Credit Valley
Conservation would like to institute a new restoration plan
for the marsh addressing issues of plant loss due to the infiltration
of non-native carp, water levels and fluctuations. The carp are a difficult
problem and enclosures will be expanded to control the level of destruction
to the marsh. Eventually there is hope for a barrier at the outlet allowing
for restoration of native ecology. For information call Bob
Morris at CVC, 905-670-1615 ext. 254.
Petro-Canada's Emergency Notification Program
Petro-Canada how has in place an automated telephone call-in system
that will provide a recorded message related to the sounding of the plant
siren. Residents can hear this message by calling the following toll-free
number: 1-866-644-5678.
This number may be called at any time. Typically, the mesage will explain
that there is a test of the emergency siren every Monday at noon and
that there is no abnormal or emergency condition at the time of the call.
If, however, an abnormal or emergency condition does arise and the siren
is sounded, Petro-Canada will update the message with available information
specific to the situation.
Our Municipal Emergency Response Workers continue to be responsible
for communication in the event (whatever the cause) our safety is threatened.
Gypsy Moths
Many of you will have read or heard about the problem with Gypsy Moth
infestation. The good news is that our area is considered a low density
infestation area and is not to be aerial sprayed. A simple control device
for concerned citizens who wish to take vigilante justice is to wrap
a tree with a strip of burlap at chest height. The burlap does not kill
the caterpillars. They stop in the shade of the burlap on their trip
down the tree top from feeding and can then be removed from the tree
and destroyed. An easy way to dispose of them is to dunk the burlap,
caterpillars and all in a pail of water containing a tablespoon of liquid
detergent. More info available at www.mississauga.ca. Just follow the
Gypsy Moth link on the front page.
Neighbourhood Changes
Redevelopment has its good and bad points. Property values have risen
dramatically, especially those properties that are seen as prime "building
lots', and those new homes in turn continue to raise property values
for everyone. Some would argue that the newer homes are changing the
streetscape and not always for the better. Here are a few facts of interest
regarding our neighbourhood of 780 homes.
Our association receives and reviews copies of building applications
and strongly supports the enforcement of guidelines and by-laws in place
to manage and preserve our streetscape.
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