The Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-11-26, Page 5Wednesday, November 26, 2014 • Lucknow Sentinel 5
www.lucknowsentinel.com
letters to the editor
Court Challenge on Wind Turbines
Dear Editor:
The long awaited Divisional Court
Charter Challenge of three industrial
wind turbine projects wrapped up on
Thursday, November 20th. The Appeal
went before Justices EN.
Marocco, D.M. Brown and J.R. Hen-
derson at the Courthouse in London.
Arguments were made by Julian Fal-
coner and team, counsel for the four
families (Drennan, Dixon, Ryan &
Kroeplin) objecting to the proximity of
industrial wind turbines to their homes
in the 140 turbine K2 (Drennan) and 15
turbine St. Columban (Dixon & Ryan)
wind projects currently under con-
struction in Huron County, and the 92
turbine Armow Wind Project being
constructed in Bruce County. Counsel
for the Ministry of the Environment and
the wind developers argued in support
of the current legislative regime for the
development of wind projects in
Ontario. The matter of a stay of con-
struction of the K2 and St. Columban
Wind Projects was also heard. The
Appeal was well attended each day by
an attentive audience of supporters of
the four families, press and other inter-
ested parties. This Charter Challenge
Appeal was to the constitutionality of
certain provisions of the Environmental
Protection Act which was amended by
the Green Energy and Economy Act.
The Stay action was also spoken to. At
the end of the Appeal Hearing, the
learned judges reserved their decision
on all matters before the court. The four
families are not seeking any type of
financial settlement in this action.
It is important to note that on the first
day of the Appeal intervenor status, in
support of the four couples, was
requested by the County of Lambton as
well as by a community coalition of
fourteen different groups from across
the province.
Serious harm to human health, aris-
ing from exposure to industrial wind
turbines, was at the heart of this
Appeal. What became very clear during
the Appeal was the disturbing data gaps
when it comes to a solid understanding
of how these turbines impact human
health. Proper, scientifically based set-
backs for these projects are critical for
everyone - people living within the pro-
jects, wind developers, governing bod-
ies and, in fact, all residents of our prov-
ince. The focus of the Appeal was, of
course, part of a much broader ongoing
discussion across the province on the
wind turbine front. Other concerns
include the economics of wind energy
development, animal health, property
values, tourism, source water protec-
tion, wildlife habitats, migratory routes,
loss of longstanding municipal rights
and authority, loss of local democracy,
loss of prime agricultural land for food
production, loss of future development
potential within wind developments, a
drain on local extractive resources and
the loss of trust among family mem-
bers, friends and neighbours - people
who have lived and worked together for
years and who now feel deeply divided
and betrayed.
SWEAR (Safe Wind Energy for All
Residents) is a group which formed in
2011 to support Shawn & Trish Dren-
nan as they embarked on their legal
journey to address their concerns about
health impacts from wind turbines.
Other avenues had been exhausted
and, sadly, the legal route became the
one remaining option. A considerable
record has been created since that time
and was brought to bear at Divisional
Court. The Dixons, Ryans and Kroep-
lins, along with their supporters (HALT
and HEAT), came under the SWEAR
umbrella for this Appeal and we will all
move forward together. Since its incep-
tion, all funds contributed to SWEAR
have gone directly to legal costs. All
other incidental costs have been and
will be borne by SWEAR members.
It is our belief that the Green Energy
& Economy Act, 2009, is a particular
instance of a piece of provincial legisla-
tion gone terribly wrong. Going for-
ward, it is quite possible that a similarly
deeply troublesome piece of legislation
will be passed pertaining to some other
matter and will profoundly impact the
day-to-day lives of other ordinary peo-
ple in this province. Let's be thankful
that the four families in this situation
have had the courage to stand up and
fight for governmental accountability.
Let's do all that we can to send a cau-
tionary message to our provincial
legislators.
If you share our concerns, please
help to fund this important case which
is essentially public interest litigation.
It is unfair and unreasonable to expect
a few to fund something which stands
to benefit so many. In all likelihood,
further action will be required, regard-
less of the outcome of this Appeal.
Cheques can be made payable to
"SWEAR" and sent to Dave Heming-
way, R.R.#2, Bayfield, ON NOM 1GO.
Donors can also go online to the
SWEAR website at www.swearontario.
wix.com/swearontario, and hit the
"DONATE" button. For further infor-
mation on this case, go to www.falcon-
ers.ca and www.halt-safe.ca.
Manic you.
Dave Hemingway, President
Anita Frayne,
Secretary/Treasurer
On Behalf of SWEAR
Because you love
MedicAlert®.The bracelet with
an emergency hotline linked
to your child's medical record
Call 1-866-734-9425
or visit www.medicalert.ca
MedicAlert
Lets You Live Life.
Dungannon and St. Helen's News
Shag Campbell
As of this writing we can
thank our lucky stars we are
not in Buffalo snowed under
by over a meter of snow.
However our own snow-
plough operators have been
on the go night and day
keeping our roads clear.
Many of our neighbouring
farmers are having a hard
time getting their beans and
corn off due to the rainy fall
and this snow sure isn't
helping matters.
This cold weather has
been bringing our the smell
of wood smoke from stoves
and furnaces around the
area. The smell of cherry and
other woods make a nice
aroma in the air.
Jake Alton finished 3rd
overall in the 50CC interme-
diate class in the summer
racing series and claimed
3rd in the 50CC expert class
in the fall series. He brought
home 2 trophies from the
annual banquet. Way to go
Jake!!!
The potluck dinner in
Dungannon was cancelled
due to the unseasonable
weather.
The Dungannon Seniors
euchre has been changed
rom Wednesday to Thursday
at 1:30 p.m. This is preceded
by their coffee hour at 10
a.m. Come and bring at
friend.
Do you have news you
would like to see in print?
Call Shag Campbell at
519-529-7734.
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