Challenging the Minister of the Environment’s statements on industrial wind farms

Again challenging the Minister of the Environment’s statements on industrial wind farms,
Ted Arnott delivered the following statement on May 5, 2011 in the Ontario Legislature:

Mr. Speaker:

There’s only one thing spinning faster than the McGuinty Liberals’ wind farms — the
rhetoric of the Minister of the Environment.

It’s really no surprise, given the complaints streaming in about wind farms — some 750
in the last two years alone.

But instead of addressing the complaints and ensuring full compliance with the law, the
Liberals are content just to brush off citizens with legitimate concerns.

In fact, I am receiving emails from people in Perth-Wellington—the Environment
Minister’s own riding. They’re justifiably upset that their MPP isn’t listening. They’re
angry that he keeps changing his story, and his story is inconsistent with the facts.

Yesterday in a staged question, the Minister said his Ministry received some 45 wind
farm applications, 24 of which were rejected for insufficient consultation.

There’s just one problem — no one believes him anymore. I certainly don’t buy it.
That’s why he needs to release that list of applications, and he needs to show proof that
consultation was, in fact, the reason why those 24 applications were rejected.

Remember, this Minister approved a wind farm in his own riding even though the
municipality chose not to submit the consultation forms, which are necessary, or so he
used to tell his constituents.

The Minister said that if a wind farm application is incomplete, it would not be approved.

He’s never denied saying it. For changing his story, and for brushing off all who
disagree with him—including his own constituents—he needs to apologize.