HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-03-15, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012. PAGE 15.
Approximately 70 people attended
Huron East’s March 6 council
meeting to express their displeasure
with the council’s decision to back
off on a bylaw that would address
wind turbines and their alleged
adverse health effects.
Gerry Ryan, co-founder of Huron
East Against Turbines (HEAT), led
the group’s charge, saying that they
were not happy with the decision
because they felt the battle isn’t over.
“There was a comment made that
we wouldn’t be happy, no matter
what the outcome; that we would
never be happy. Well we aren’t
happy,” Ryan said. “We have no idea
what happened in closed session.”
Ryan said he felt it wasn’t right
that the decision to step away from a
potential bylaw that would protect
the health and well-being of citizens
from potential adverse health effects
caused by wind turbines was made
in closed session and he told
councillors that he felt they were
opening themselves up to potential
legal action by going into closed
session over something Ryan felt
should have been dealt with in open
session.
“How did you choose the lawyer?
What did you ask for?,” Ryan asked.
“This is not a good situation when
you go into closed session. This is
public information.”
Huron East Mayor Bernie
MacLellan said the recommendation
was made by the lawyer, Fred
Tranquilli of Lerners LLP in
London, who made the
recommendation that council not
proceed further on the bylaw.
Ryan then suggested that Huron
East was tailoring its
correspondence with Tranquilli to
ensure that a bylaw could not be
drafted.
“Are you asking the right
questions so that we don’t get a
bylaw?” Ryan asked.
After Ryan made the argument
that the information should be made
public, Councillor Bill Siemon made
a motion to make the
correspondence from Tranquilli
public. He said he didn’t see the
harm in it, considering that the
process had concluded and the
decision had already been made.
Siemon said that because the
Municipality of Huron East would
technically be a third party to the
proceedings, they would be unable
to make a bylaw. If someone has
been affected by perceived adverse
health effects from wind turbines,
they have to take it to the
Environmental Review Tribunal.
“We can’t really make a bylaw,”
Siemon said. “If you have something
to lose, you can take it to the
Environmental Review Tribunal.”
Ryan, however, was direct in
saying that he felt Huron East
Council had been misinformed by
not one, but two independent legal
opinions.
“I would suggest that you have
been given some bad information,”
Ryan told council. “We’re very
familiar with the Chatham-Kent
tribunal and it states that turbines
cause health problems, it’s just to
what degree.”
Council, however, disagreed with
Ryan’s statement, referring him back
to Tranquilli’s advice and the press
release issued at the end of the Feb.
16 council meeting, stating that “The
tribunal found that based on the
evidence filed (in the Kent Breeze
project appealed by the Chatham-
Kent Wind Action Group), there was
insufficient evidence to suggest that
there will be serious harm to human
health if the Ministry of the
Environment noise guidelines are
followed.”
HEAT co-founder Rob Tetu said
that the ruling on the Chatham-Kent
case referred to direct health effects
such as people being injured by ice
throw from a turbine. It ignored, he
said, secondary health concerns such
as stress and lack of sleep as a result
of living near wind turbines.
Tetu also stated that the press
release used half-quotes from the
tribunal and that doing so could be
actionable on Lerners LLP.
Councillor Larry McGrath,
however, said that the writing is on
the wall that a bylaw regarding wind
turbines and the health and safety of
area residents simply will not stand
up to scrutiny.
“It’s been to court twice and it’s
failed twice,” McGrath said. “The
people who get rich are the lawyers
and the professionals and we get
buried.”
Ryan then questioned Tranquilli’s
expertise in municipal law, saying
that perhaps he wasn’t qualified to
deal with municipal affairs. Council,
however, was satisfied with
Tranquilli’s municipal law
qualifications and stood by his
recommendation.
Ryan was still not pleased, saying
that he and the rest of the people in
Seaforth that night felt abandoned by
their elected representatives, saying
that they did not have the best
interests of the public in mind when
making last month’s decision.
“You haven’t done anything to
protect the people who elected you,”
Ryan said. “You’re not doing
everything you can if you miss these
opportunities.”
Total receipts for Brussels
Livestock for the week ending
March 9 were 1,996 cattle, 411
lambs and goats. On Tuesday fed
steers and heifers sold fully steady.
Choice steers and heifers sold $120
to $124 with sales to $126.75.
Second cut sold $115 to $119. Cows
sold $1 to $2 higher. On Thursday
veal sold on a steady trade. Lambs,
sheep and goats all sold on a good
active trade at prices steady to last
week. On Friday calves and
yearlings sold on a fully steady
market.
There were 76 fed steers on offer.
Mike Alexander of Walton,
consigned 15 steers averaging 1,455
lbs. selling for an average of $121.54
with five black steers averaging
1,422 lbs. selling to Horizon Meat
Packers for $124.75. Keys Farms of
Varna, consigned one black steer
weighing 1,480 lbs. selling for
$124.25. Murray Wagg of Mitchell,
consigned 12 steers averaging 1,599
lbs. selling for an average of $122.46
with six black steers averaging 1,550
lbs. selling for $124.25.
Loomis Farms of Ailsa Craig,
consigned 10 steers averaging 1,614
lbs. selling for an average of $120.36
with one gold steer weighing 1,445
lbs. selling for $124. Simon BM
Martin Jr. of Clifford, consigned
four steers averaging 1,351 lbs.
selling for an average of $122.04
with one limousin steer averaging
1,340 lbs. selling to Norwich
Packers for $122.75. Fred Riehl of
Gadshill, consigned four steers
averaging 1,319 lbs. selling for an
average of $116.21 with one
limousin steer weighing 1,325 lbs.
selling for $122.50. Leroy Weppler
of Ayton, consigned two steers
averaging 1,103 lbs. selling for an
average of $118.14 with one rwf
steer weighing 1,155 lbs. selling for
$121. Brian and John Mizen of
Allenford, consigned nine steers
averaging 1,473 lbs. selling for an
average of $118.37 with three gold
steers averaging 1,448 lbs. selling
for $119.75.
There were 100 fed heifers on
offer. Bill Frank of Listowel,
consigned 16 heifers averaging
1,385 lbs. selling for an average of
$122.24 with one simmental heifer
weighing 1,340 lbs. selling to
Horizon Meat Packers for $126.75.
Costa Plenty Farms of Wingham,
consigned two heifers averaging
1,260 lbs. selling for an average of
$124.12 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,255 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $124.25. Brad
McAlpine of Ailsa Craig, consigned
two cross-bred heifers averaging
1,433 lbs. selling for Norwich
Packers for $124. K/C McAlpine
Farms of Ailsa Craig, consigned four
limousin heifers averaging 1,290 lbs.
selling to Norwich Packers for
$123.75. Lyle Kinsman, Kippen,
consigned four black heifers
averaging 1,301 lbs. selling to
Norwich Packers for $123.25.
Holmdale Acres of Elmwood,
consigned 10 heifers averaging
1,685 lbs. selling for an average of
$114.02 with one limousin heifer
weighing 1,515 lbs. selling for $123.
Paul Murray of Seaforth, consigned
two heifers averaging 1,325 lbs.
selling for an average of $116.25
with one charolais heifer weighing
1,325 lbs. selling for $120.50. Neil
Rapien of Monkton, consigned six
heifers averaging 1,201 lbs. selling
for an average of $119.52 with five
black heifers averaging 1,174 lbs.
selling for $119.75.
There were 243 cows on offer.
Export types sold $71 to $84 with
sales to $90; beef cows, $76.50 to
$92 with sales to $93.50; D1 and D2,
$57 to $64; D3, $52 to $57; D4, $37
to $47. Dennis Dolmage of
Londesborough, consigned one
simmental cow weighing 1,645 lbs.
selling for $93.50. John VanBakel of
Bornholm, consigned one limousin
cow weighing 1,475 lbs. selling for
$92. DJ Dalton Farms of Walton,
consigned three cows averaging
1,535 lbs. selling for an average of
$85.06 with one black cow weighing
1,445 lbs. selling for $90.
There were six bulls selling $55 to
$85.50 to $90. Murray Wilson of
Cargill, consigned one limousin
bull weighing 2,230 lbs. selling for
$90. Chris Hoskins of
Wingham, consigned one red bull
weighing 1,755 lbs. selling for
$85.50.
There were 147 head of veal on
offer. Beef sold $120 to $165 with
sales to $171; good holstein, $95 to
$105 with sales to $110; medium
holstein, $85 to $90; heavy holstein,
$90 to $100 with sales to $105.
Mosie J. Shetler of Lucknow,
consigned 11 veal averaging 677 lbs.
selling for an average of $142.35
with one black heifer weighing 650
lbs. selling for $171. Premier Blues
of Dublin, consigned one cross-bred
heifer weighing 775 lbs. selling for
$170. Lamar Frey of Listowel,
consigned 10 veal averaging 737 lbs.
selling for an average of $157.71
with one limousin steer weighing
690 lbs. selling for $169.
Lambs, 50 - 64 lbs. sold $239 to
$300; 65 - 79 lbs., $224 to $269; 80
- 94 lbs., $181 to $205; 95 - 109 lbs.,
$185 to $198; 110 lbs. and over,
$181 to $198.
Sheep sold $60 to $90 with sales
to $115.
Goats: kids sold $80 to $150 to
$170 per head; nannies, $50 to
$100 to $110 per head; billies, $150
to $250 with sales to $350 per
head.
Top quality stocker steers under
400 lbs. sold $124.50 to $206; 400 -
499 lbs., $162 to $204; 500 - 599
lbs., $110.50 to $184; 600 - 699 lbs.,
$126 to $168.50; 700 - 799 lbs.,
$126.75 to $157; 800 - 899 lbs.,
$132.25 to $156.75; 900 - 999 lbs.,
$121.50 to $152; 1,000 lbs. and over,
$120 to $139.25.
Top quality stocker heifers, 300 -
399 lbs., $117 to $189; 400 - 499
lbs., $134.50 to $173; 500 - 599 lbs.,
$136 to $161; 600 - 699 lbs., $135 to
$156; 700 - 799 lbs., $124 to
$138.25; 800 - 899 lbs., $124 to
$138.50; 900 lbs. and over, $134 to
$138.
By Nathan Stevens
Animal welfare is a growing
concern for farmers and society. In
particular, the Ontario Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(OSPCA) is a topic of growing
importance to farmers in Ontario.
While there is no doubt that animal
welfare issues are a serious concern
and must be dealt with properly, the
approach in Ontario when it comes
to farming needs to change.
There are incidents in the rural
countryside that are drawing
attention. Throughout the last year,
there has been a focus on issues in
Eastern Ontario. Last week, farmers
in Huron County were subject to the
OSPCA executing 16 warrants
following an investigation into
multiple animal cruelty complaints.
The investigations resulted in orders
being issued related to animal
housing and some medical
treatment. OSPCA is working with
owners on the issues and will follow
up. Fortunately, no charges have
been laid at this time.
On the political front, MPP Jack
MacLaren has put forward a bill
regarding the OSPCA. The bill aims
to change the powers of the OSPCA
substantially, including removing
their powers to enforce provisions
under the act. According to Farm
and Food Care Ontario this move
could create the monumental task of
training thousands of busy police
officers in animal care assessment.
The Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario believes that a new, made-
in-Ontario solution is necessary to
adequately balance these concerns in
a manner that doesn’t draw
unnecessary media attention to an
issue. We believe that the vast
majority of concerns can be resolved
firmly and properly, but done in a
quiet manner and with respect
between parties. The vast majority of
farmers today are professionals who
take pride in their work and their
animal husbandry practices, but the
possibility of irresponsible action
exists. As a sector, we must be
willing to take responsibility for this
and discipline them ourselves.
The approach to animal welfare in
this province needs to evolve into
something different. There are
flashpoints that are drawing serious
attention from farmers, and there are
efforts on several fronts to develop
new solutions. The CFFO recognizes
that this is an important issue and we
believe the sector needs to
come together and provide a new
way of handling these issues in
Ontario.
Council drops turbine bylaw, angers HEAT members
Province needs new approach
to animal welfare says CFFO
TUESDAYS
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FRIDAYS
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Call us 519-887-6461
Visit our webpage at:
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AgricultureBrussels Livestock report
Fed steers, heifers sell on fully steady trade
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
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