Meadow Wood Rattray Ratepayers Association
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.