A Second Open Letter to Premier McGuinty re. Need for nuclear consultation
April 18, 2007
Premier McGuinty:

I am again writing you on behalf of Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant County residents to: 1. request timely answers from your government; and 2. request the initiation of public consultation with regard to the future of energy production in our area.

Since first writing you with these requests on February 23rd, our area has seen two energy related information sessions – one focussing solely on a nuclear presentation by Duncan Hawthorne of Bruce Power, and the other including a varied group of energy and environmental stakeholders – to initiate discussion on this issue. We are still awaiting your response and this government’s plan of action to ensure public information and input on an issue that could have long-ranging impacts for residents across our area.

As I cited in my February letter, your Minister of Energy opened the door on this issue in August 2005 when he asked the Mayor of Haldimand about interest in a nuclear plant to be built locally.  Since then, your government’s interest in a Haldimand nuclear facility has generated considerable debate throughout my riding of Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant.

Once again, given that your government has set the agenda for the possible construction of new nuclear in Ontario and raised the issue locally, I am reiterating my request for your government to conduct public consultation meetings at the earliest opportunity.

I am also repeating my further request for the government’s position on nuclear at Nanticoke. More specifically, I am requesting a breakdown of the facts for nuclear energy vs. alternate power production on two fronts:

• a cost-benefit analysis.
• a risk-benefit analysis.

While people recognize the local economic benefits of new power generation, there have also been concerns with a nuclear plant on Lake Erie – concerns about cost, health and safety. As well, in spite of no Ontario government carbon emissions strategy, people recognize that options exist – renewable energy, increased efficiency, and carbon sequestration.

Clearly, given the questions this debate has raised – and the precedent you set last summer in bypassing the environmental consultation process on nuclear energy - a public consultation process on the impact of nuclear power at Nanticoke is long overdue.

Further to these requests, I stress the need for new investment into clean air technology at OPG Nanticoke in the interim, and the advisability of considering all options with respect to local energy generation.

Premier McGuinty, people continue to await the “open and public debate” you promised.

Sincerely,

Toby Barrett, MPP - Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant
cc.           key stakeholders