People in rural areas who are opposed to wind turbines are planning to make Premier Dalton McGuinty eat his words on April 3.
According to a Wind Concerns Ontario press release, McGuinty, speaking in the legislature on March 7, stated, “Our single strongest group of supporters and champions for feed-in tariff in Ontario, speaker, is Ontario farmers.”
That appears to have angered officials with WCO, which has opposed turbines for three years.
“McGuinty continues his assault on rural Ontario and blames unmitigated wind development on our farmers,” the press release stated.
“The reality is that the benefactors of Dalton’s wind scam will be at Toronto at the [Feed-in Tariff ] forum.
“The multinational wind companies benefiting from excessive Liberal government subsidies and lax regulation will be at the [event], with their plans to transform the landscape, the community vibrancy and homes of rural Ontario into an immense wind ghetto.”
WCO plans to protest at the wind industry forum on April 3 and 4 at the Metro Convention Center, 255 Front Street West.
Protest participants will gather on April 3 at 11:30am, and there will be speakers at noon, with the march starting at 12:30pm. The marchers will meet at Simcoe Park on Front Street, beside the CBC building and opposite the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
WCO has noted the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario have joined the call for a moratorium on further wind development.
WCO officials said it is “time for Dalton to stop misleading the public.”
Organizers hope to attract thousands to the march and the group will have buses to the event.
Residents of Bruce, Grey, Dufferin, Simcoe and Wellington Counties will have a coach or buses leaving the community centre in Chatsworth at 8:30am, with stops along Highway 10 across from Markdale Foodland for 9am, Flesherton Home Hardware for 9:15am, and the Dundalk Swipe and Go gas station at 9:35am, with additional stops in Shelburne and Orangeville if needed.
The cost will be $30 per person for the round trip. The buses will leave at 2 or 2:30pm.
To reserve a seat contact Lorrie at 519-922-3072 or lpcgillis@bmts.com.
