Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2016-01-20, Page 7Submitted Photo Uncontrolled electricity, also known as stray voltage, is being measured in a barn. This is a serious problem for livestock farmers and is being researched by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Building better plans to deal with uncontrolled electricity Brent Royce Board Member, Ontario Federation of Agriculture Unexplained electrical currents flowing under some Ontario farms have plagued farmers for years, dragging down animal health and productivity. Uncontrolled elec- tricity or stray voltage causes a constant underground electrical current to flow in the ground and in barns. Livestock exposed to uncontrolled electricity can exhibit odd behavior, have lower productivity, stop eat- ing or drinldng, and in extreme cases even die. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) has been working to raise awareness of the seriousness of uncontrolled electricity on farms. As part of aworking group of agri- cultural organizations, OFA has helped bring government and hydro companies together to address this issue. The Uncontrolled Electricity Agriculture Working Group is a diverse group that includes OFA, Farm & Food Care Ontario, Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario, farmers, electrical experts, consultants, Ontario Pork, Beef Farmers of Ontario and Dairy Fanners of Ontario working with elec- trical distributors, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Energy. The working group is tasked with collecting research and data on the scope and causes of uncontrolled elec- tricity. The group has visited farms affected by uncontrolled electricity where Hydro One representatives conduct extensive test- ing. The group is awaiting testing reports from Hydro One and a third party engineer- ing company to help determine the source of ground current problems and offer solutions. The working group is also making progress in the reporting process and policy development around uncon- trolled electricity. As a result of the work- ing orking group Hydro One has: • Simplified the reporting process - reducing the form to report ground cur- rent or stray voltage on a farm from 17 pages to one. • Committed to faster response to con- cerns - first site visit within five days of a report being registered. These changes will help identify uncon- trolled electricity problems on farms much faster and hopefully lead to faster solutions. Appropriate policy development is always a priority for OFA. Bringing the gov- ernment overnment and the Electrical Safety Authority to the table with agricultural groups to deal with uncontrolled electricity gives us a bet- ter understanding of the impacts this issue has on Ontario agriculture and individual fames. OFA continues to work closely with industry, farmers, government and energy companies to focus attention on the issue of uncontrolled electricity. As part of the work- ing orking group, chaired by OFA director Brent Royce, OFA will keep pressure on utility and energy regulators to help farmers affected by misplaced energy. For more information on reporting uncontrolled electricity: Hydro One Stray Voltage Investigation form: http: / /www.hydro one. com/MyBusi- ness/MyFarm/Pages/StrayVoltage.aspx Farm & Food Care Ontario Uncon- trolled Electricity reporting form: http://www.farmfoodcare.org/compo- nent/content/article/ 10 -farm -food -care/ environment/31 1 -uncontrolled -electric- ity -agriculture -working -group Wednesday, January 20, 2016 • News Record 7 Did You Live at Any of the Following Institutions or Know Someone Who Did? St. Lawrence Regional Centre between April 1, 1975 - June 30, 1983 L.S. Penrose Centre between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1977 D'Arcy Place between Sept. 1, 1963 - Dec. 31, 1996 Oxford Regional Centre between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1996 or in the "Mental Retardation Unit" or "MR Unit" between Jan, 1, 1969 - March 31, 1974 Midwestern Regional Centre between Sept. 1, 1963 - March 31, 1998 Adult Occupational Centre between Jan. 1, 1966 - March 31, 1999 Durham Centre for Developmentally Handicapped between April 1, 1974 - Sept. 28, 1986 Muskoka Centre between Aug. 28, 1973 - June 30, 1993 Prince Edward Heights between Jan. 1, 1971 - Dec. 31, 1999 Northwestern Regional Centre between April 1, 1974 - March 31, 1994 Bluewater Centre between April 1, 1976 - Dec. 20, 1983 Pine Ridge between Sept. 1, 1963 - Aug. 31, 1984 A Lawsuit and Proposed Settlement May Affect You. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice decided that a class action on behalf of a "Class" of people who lived at the above institutions is allowed to go forward. There is also a proposed settlement to end the class action. What is this case about? The lawsuit says the Province of Ontario failed to properly care for and protect people who lived at the Institutions. The Province of Ontario denies these claims. The parties have reached a proposed settlement to end the lawsuit. If you are having a difficult time dealing with these issues you can call 1-866-442-4465 (TTY: 1-877-627-7027). Are you included? You are included in this lawsuit if: • You lived at one or more of the Institutions between the dates listed above and were alive as of June 16, 2012; or • You are an estate trustee of someone who lived at one of the Institutions but who died after June 16, 2012. Who represents the former residents? The Court has appointed Koskie Minsky LLP (KM LLP) to represent the former residents as a Class. The proposed settlement The proposed settlement includes: • an approximately $35.9 million settlement fund; • a paper based claims process that will not require anyone to testify in court; and • a release by class members of all claims against the Province of Ontario stemming from the Institutions. Compensation and legal fees If the settlement is approved by the court, there will be a claims process allowing former residents who are part of the Class to ask for compensation. KM LLP agreed that it would only be paid if there was a settlement or a successful judgment. KM LLP will seek the court's approval of its legal fees of $3.7 million plus $481,000 for taxes. All payments to the class members will come from the settlement, after payment of legal fees, tax and a mandatory payment to the Class Proceedings Fund of $2.9 million. Your legal rights and options DO NOTHING: by doing nothing you automatically stay in the class action and wait to see if the settlement is approved on April 25, 2016. You can then make a claim if the settle- ment is approved. Staying in this Class will not impact the residence or supports received from community based agencies which are funded by Ontario. GET OUT OF THE CLASS ACTION: If you do not want to be part of the settlement and want to keep your rights to sue Ontario individually over the claims in this case you need to remove yourself. If you remove yourself, you cannot get money from this lawsuit. To ask to be removed, send a letter to the Class Action Administrator, postmarked no later than April 15, 2016, that says you want to be removed from Clegg v. Province of Ontario. Include your name, address, telephone number, and signature. You can also get an Opt Out Form at www. schedule l facilities.ca. STAY IN THE CLASS ACTION BUT OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT: If you want to stay in the lawsuit but you don't want the settlement approved, you can object to the settlement. If you want to object to the settle- ment, you have to write to the Court and tell them why. You must send your written objection to the Class Action Administrator. You can ask to talk at the court hearing on April 25, 2016. Approval hearing The settlement, claims process and counsel fees are subject to court approval. The approval hearing shall be heard on April 25, 2016 at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto, Ontario. Class members may attend the hearing. Any class members who wish to object to the proposed settlement should provide written notice of their objection to the Claims Administrator by April 4, 2016. Contact information If you need more information or wish to object, please contact the Class Action Administrator, toll-free, at 1-866-442-4465 or TTY: 1-877-627- 7027, write to Schedule 1 Class Action Administrator, 3-505, 133 Weber Street North, Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 3G9, or by email at: schedule l facilities@crawco.ca. Getting Notice to former residents Family members, caregivers and friends of former residents are asked to help in getting information to former residents. Please show this notice to people who are impacted by this lawsuit or their caregivers.