I was very please recently to hear that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) had joined local councils in Hamilton and Niagara and are area wind action groups to urge the McGuinty government to suspend further unwanted industrial wind projects from being forced on families in Hamilton and Niagara.  The OFA is Canada’s largest voluntary farm organization representing 38,000 farmers across Ontario, including many here in Hamilton and West Niagara.

In its statement, the OFA expressed the concerns of many residents in our riding, including the unaffordable price of wind power, minimum setback issues, health concerns and the absence of municipal decision-making.

From Glanbrook to West Lincoln to Pelham, you have shared these same concerns with me.  At my recent New Year’s Levee in Glanbrook, unwanted industrial wind farms were the number one issue that you brought forward to my attention.  As your MPP I will continue to bring your concerns to the government at Queen’s Park.

The concerns that you have raised – now supported by the OFA – are very real.  As your MPP I will continue to bring your concerns forward, even as Dalton McGuinty tries to ignore you.  I will continue to vigorously fight further unwanted industrial wind turbine developments – not only in our communities, but across Ontario.

I’ve seen first-hand how Dalton McGuinty has polarized local communities by taking away their decision making powers, alienating people and ignoring competing communities needs and policies.  I am please to hear the OFA agrees, has joined our cause, and is demanding these democratic rights to be restored.

Since the return of the Legislature, my colleagues and I have fought to restore local decision making powers to municipalities.  Regrettably both the Liberals and NDP voted to defeat our efforts, keeping local residents, businesses and municipal councils from having a say in where these massive machines will be located.

Locally, the communities of Hamilton, West Lincoln and Wainfleet have joined the nearly 80 Ontario municipalities that have passed resolutions calling for a moratorium on industrial wind farm projects.  As well concerned residents in West Lincoln and Hamilton have formed the West Lincoln and Glanbrook Wind Action Group to oppose industrial wind turbines being forced on them.

I believe that residents and municipal leaders in Hamilton and Niagara know what’s best for their own communities.  Dalton McGuinty on the other hand believes Queen’s Park knows what is best for West Lincoln and Glanbrook and is forcing these unwanted industrial wind farms in our community, all the while driving up the cost of energy for families and businesses.  I will continue to be the voice of concerned communities until they once again have a say in what happens in their own back yards.