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The Rural Voice, 1994-12, Page 14FALCONER'S of Godsrich 84 Kingston Street, Godench, Ontario N7A 3K4 Phone/Fax (519) 524-6962 CABLE • Galvanized Aircraft Cable 1/16" to 3/8" • Wire Rope 3/8" to 3/4" • Stainless Steel Cable 1/4" • Clear Coated Cable 1/8" - 3/16" ROPE • Polypropylene — 1/4" to 1/2" • Nylon 1/4", 1/2", 5/8", 1" • Hemp 1/2", 3/4", 7/8", 1" CHAIN Grade 30, 3/16" to 1/2" Wide range of thimbles, shackles, cable clamps, etc. Above are stock items Other sizes and grades available by order 519-524-9671 • Season's G reetings i►. :Paul Klopp M.P.P. Huron Constituency Office 19 Victoria Street, Clinton, NOM 1L0 519-482-3132 � 1-800-668-9320 i Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p m. 10 THE RURAL VOICE Agrilaw Making your voice heard - who pays? A landfill; a waste processing facility; a new hydro -transmission line; or a pipeline — these are some examples of projects which may be imposed on farmers, uprooting families; altering landscapes; infringing on lifestyles; interfering with farm operations; diminishing production; and depreciating land values. What all such projects have in common is that, before they can proceed, they must receive environmental approvals from government ministries and regulatory agencies. How can farmers concerned about such projects make their voices heard? In Ontario, the Intervenor Funding Project Act provides that, where a proponent of a project is required to obtain approval of the Environmental Assessment Board, the Ontario Energy Board, or a combination of one or both of these Boards with the Ontario Municipal Board (i.e., a joint board), qualified intervenors may apply to the board for funding of their legal and expert consultant costs to represent their interests in the proceedings before the Board. If granted, the proponent of the project will be required to pay to the intervenor the anticipated costs in advance of the hearing and, if there are additional costs incurred during the hearing, the proponent may also be required to pay these costs upon the conclusion of the hearing. To qualify for such funding, a person whose interests are affected by the proposed project must be able to demonstrate that the interest of a significant segment of the public will be affected. In considering a funding application, a funding panel of the Board will consider whether this interest should be represented; the You may get support to argue your case financial need of the intervenor; the demonstrated commitment of the intervenor; and attempts by the intervenor to co-ordinate related interests in an "umbrella" group. Whatever Board approval is required for a particular project, the project proponent is required by both the Ministry of the Environment and Energy and regulatory agencies to consult with affected parties early in the planning process and before application is made for Board approval. The Ministry's guidelines and policy with respect to this pre- submission consultation provide: "Pre -submission consultation has developed in Ontario as a vital part of the environmental assessment process. Proponents and affected parties alike have found it in their interest to participate in consultation during the planning of an undertaking." "Pre -submission consultation means that affected parties help plan the undertaking. Consultation is not a separate procedure conducted parallel or subsequent to a planning process. Instead, the planning process is constructed around the involvement and contributions of affected parties." "Consultation is based on mutual respect of participants. The proponent, as initiator, has the responsibility of establishing a co- operative atmosphere by respecting the needs of affected parties to be adequately informed, to question, and to be listened to. Affected parties, in turn, have the responsibility to share in a co- operative search for the best solution." Unfortunately, at the present time the Intervenor Funding Project Act does not contain provision for mandatory funding of intervenor costs by a proponent until after the environmental assessment has been completed and the proponent has made application to the appropriate board. Nevertheless, in recognition