Environmental Scan

Welcome by Ted McMeekin

Panel was introduced. Martin Ince (MK Ince and Associates, Environmental Engineering) and Kevin Lee (Masters Program in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University)

Martin gave an informative overview of renewable energy, in particular wind power.

• In contrast to other nations including Germany, Netherlands and India, Canada is still in the early stages of having productive use of wind generation. The Federal government and the province of Ontario are beginning to come up with investments and commitments to renewable energy.

• There is a problem with competing against electricity. There is an unfairness in the fact that other energy sources also have associated ‘costs’ ie coal energy is associated with poor air, nuclear energy has an associated stranded debt, that is not factored into the cost. In fact the extra costs are shouldered by the Ontario taxpayer

• What we need is ongoing long term renewable energy plan, which includes industrial development ie manufacturing plants, so that technology such as wind turbines are produced right here in Ontario

• There is also a need to negotiate ‘standard offer contracts’ (such as the one recently entered into with the Bruce Nuclear) as wind power providers would then be able to work with the knowledge of what price the producer can rely

Kevin Lee gave an update on transportation, in particular, the proposed mid-peninsula corridor.

• The corridor can be viewed in two sections, which are 1. our area to Niagara and 2 our area to Toronto

• Niagara wants development and would likely want to run the route above the escarpment

• Tolls have been mentioned, but nothing has been determined

• GO transit is expanding, but still limited or non existent especially in the Niagara area (in Ontario, public transit funding was scaled back severely between 1999 – 2001,then a trickle of funding was returned from 2001 – 2003. Now significant funding is flowing into public transportation)

Ted’s remarks on Ontario initiatives

• Coal-fired plants are being closed

• Greenbelt legislation now ensures the protection of 1.8 million acres of prime land. (Additional land was includes in the Pleasant View area located on the west side of highway 6 from #403 to Clappison Cors.)

• Places to Grown legislation introduced to ensure that urban boundaries are defined (and work with municipal plans ie Hamilton GRIDS)

• Commitment to ensuring safety of drinking water (24 key recommendations of the O’Connor Commission are being implemented). There is still a problem of Ontario’s farmers picking up too much of the cost of this, that must be addressed

• Clean air initiatives  –1.  Smoke-free Ontario, 2.  20 of the most harmful air pollutants need to be dealt with, 3. Vehicle emissions being addressed, 4. public transit investments (via gas tax investment), 5. Pesticides (which municipalities are moving forward with public demands)

• RBG – 1. Management issues 2. Need to have Federal involvement 3. Must capitalize on tourism

• Transportation – people are willing to take public trans., we must move on extending the GO through to Niagara

• Energy conservation – through Donna Cansfield MPP and government initiatives. This summer, the government is hosting a Shared Air Summit

• Bay area restoration – there is a need for $35 - $40 M. in funding

There are also local issues

• North-south route to Waterdown

• Waterdown Road interchange

• Proposed quarry in North East Flamborough

Group discussion/Qand A’s

Farm issues: include the greenbelt, water issues, and international markets. New technology has reduced the use of pesticides

There are issues surrounding new ‘roundup’ seeds, concerning genetic engineering. There are many pros and cons

Cost of food and source of our foods was discussed. There was consensus that food that is Canadian grown should be our priority, and also that we would be willing to pay more for food to acknowledge the real cost of production. Ted also raised the issue of food sovereignty and the growing idea of farmers that co-operating in’ farm to table’ production their agricultural products may be the way to sustain business in the future.

There are the realities of huge food chains taking in foreign grown foods that are very difficult to control or stop.

Ethanol – renewable energy is a good concept, could infuse business into the rural sector. There was concern about research, which indicates the energy cost of producing ethanol is greater than the energy outcomes

Aggregates and the environment:

This industry is always growing and changing, there is a need to be smarter about expanding this industry, of using (and recycling) products wisely

Canada is a huge consumer of aggregate, our roads far exceed the depth necessary for good construction, there needs to be changes to save and recycle aggregate

Aggregate operations must be sensitive to their surrounding environment and have minimal impact on our finite resources

Facts:

• The province purchases about 60% of all aggregate taken from the ground in Ontario

• 70% of the cost of removing aggregate is spent in trucking of the product

• Too many municipalities do not allow recycling – LaFarge wants to recycle, and recommend the government require a percentage recycled aggregate be used in road construction

• The MTO is now allowing some recycled materials, but more needs to be done

Conservation of water: the government’s plan to address source water protection has been applauded. Water is critical, it cannot be sold, and it cannot be trivialized.  We must manage and own all of our water resources and protect it

Other timely issues:

• There should be greater production of organic foods

• The rail line that served Dundas should be re-instated as a station and the Montreal to Chicago corridor rejuvenated

• The GO system is in demand and the government must invest in its ongoing availability to southern Ontario, especially the Niagara /Golden Horseshoe area

Final comments:

Ted thanked the group for their thoughtful input and will move forward with sharing the challenges and concerns raised, to the appropriate Ministers and Ministries.

Date of next meeting - Fall 2005