LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Trying to fathom ideological bias Dear Editor, A letter to the editor last week promoted the Conservative position, pushing an affordable energy act. The objective of the act, lost on second reading, was to give more power to municipalities, allowing them to control what energy projects (principally wind turbines) they would allow within their jurisdiction. It also stuck in a provision protecting the Niagara Escarpment and the Oak Ridges Moraine from wind turbines. The bulk of the letter by Rolly Ethier (Trying to fathom green energy initiative, April 18, 2013, page 7) concerns wind turbines. The whole issue of the value of turbines is complex, but Ethier’s contention that turbines are an “economic catastrophe� and a government “scam� is hyperbole. I should mention that I fit Ethier’s description of a person who has what he calls “left wing environmental bias,� which he contrasts with “common sense.�
Turbines are undoubtedly expensive. Perhaps not as expensive as nuclear energy, but expensive. Some say they also damage the health of nearby residents. A 2010 report by Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, called The Potential Health Impact of Wind Turbines, concludes that while people living near turbines may experience dizziness, nausea, and sleep disturbance, “the scientific evidence available to date does not demonstrate a direct causal link between wind turbine noise and adverse health effects.� Other studies refute this claim. The number of conflicting studies out there makes the issue confusing to say the least. Read material by the proponents of wind power and—hey, presto—no health concerns. Read studies from those that reject wind turbines and you’ll find lots of evidence for serious health concerns. Ethier picks on Denmark and their purportedly “crumbling� offshore wind turbines. He says, “the Danes have the
most expensive electricity costs in Europe.� The offshore wind turbines indeed have foundation problems. Growing pains of a new industry? Unsolvable problems endemic to offshore turbines? The answer depends upon what you read and how you imagine we plan for long-term energy. Read a report by the Washington-based Institute for Energy Research, for example. It absolutely damns the Danish turbine initiative. The institute promotes non-governmental energy sources controlled by market forces. That includes, for example, the Keystone XL pipeline. Canadian oil, as our federal government boasts, is run by private interests, unlike the mixed system in Denmark that returns much of their huge oil profits to the people; the institute likes this arrangement. At the other end of the spectrum, there are credible reports refuting the Danish critics. Taking various conditions into account, [they] say these reports claim Danish energy costs are not the highest
in Europe. A Danish institution, Coherent Energy and Environmental System Analysis, published a report claiming the more right-wing studies fail to understand how international energy markets function. Assessing the damage alternatives like coal-fired or nuclear energy plants impose on the planet is not an easy matter. If we pay more directly for wind power, do we pay more indirectly for the damage created by coal-fired plants? By nuclear plants? I have my suspicions, but I don’t really know—and the experts are having lively ongoing discussions about that too. The Ontario Federation of Agriculture, says Ethier, has “condemned the installation of turbines.� That’s not accurate. They are seriously concerned about their effect on rural Ontario, would like to see more municipal control and have some pretty austere requirements if turbines are installed – but they don’t condemn. That’s rhetoric. Ethier’s letter contains more vit-
riol than considered discussion on the value (economic and environmentally) of turbines. Of course, that’s a predictable thing for me to say: I’m a biased environmental lefty. And Ethier’s a ‌ well, you can figure out his ideological position. Bottom line: beware of simplistic letters to the editor, especially those that take an ideological position, then debunk their opponents with questionable stats, generating a bit of unwanted hot air energy in the process. (And yes, dear reader, I’m aware of the possible self-referential aspects of that last statement.) I’m not a Liberal, but last year the Liberals began a process that returns some of the autonomy to municipalities re: wind power projects in their area. A scam? A smokescreen? Too little too late? A government responding to rural concerns? Depends which flag you fly. Sincerely, Peter R. Snell, Tweed
Attack ads; it’s money not well spent Dear Editor, leader, but because they are doing it at the expense of entire I’ve been receiving regular nasty grams from the Harper Government attacking segments of the Canadian mosaic, be they teachers, Muslims Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, which I assume are meant to inflame the Conserva- or the current enemy du jour causing many to pay a hefty tive base. However, their approach seems to be scattershot in that it seems to be price for the actions of a few. I want my tax dollars spent on going to Canadians of every political stripe. I even heard from a Liberal friend worthwhile projects that bring us together not push us apart. living in Paris, France, that he’s been receiving them too. The fact they are using The Harper government can pass all the laws they want my tax dollars to insult my intelligence is getting really annoying. (But then again to put an end to bullying, but the best way to prevent it is by spending $55 million in the first quarter of this year advertising a program that ended more than two years ago seems like nothing short of insanity too, but that’s just me.)This government went to great pains to express their ire with Mr. Trudeau for stating that it’s appropriate to find the root cause of terrorist incidents in order to prevent them from happening in the first place. What pray tell is wrong with that and why if you deem it to be such a bad idea, has our government invested $10 million to do just that. We used to be a country of co-operation and compromise, but under the current government we are becoming a country of fear mongering and acrimony because of the dissemination of half-truths and outright lies. The Harper government EMC News - At its recent board meeting, the directors of has spent a good part of its mandate pitting Canadian against Canadian, religion Trenval Business Development Corporation announced the against religion, province against province, employed against unemployed, and appointment of Glenn Kozak as its new executive director. “We are very pleased to make this announcement,� said using our tax dollars to do it. That’s wrong on so many levels it’s breathtaking. I’m not only angry because they are slandering a man I believe will be a great Carl Swan, chairman of the selection committee. “Glenn’s experience and track record as a board director [most recently as its chairman], and as a successful entrepreneur suit him very well to advance Trenval’s mission of supporting and creating jobs in the Belleville, Quinte West, Stirling-Rawdon, Deseronto, and Tyendinaga region.� Mr. Kozak replaces retiring Bruce Davis, who has served as executive director for the past three-and-half years. “The board appreciates the hard work and dedication that Bruce has put into elevating the Trenval brand during his tenure. We wish him the very best in his retirement,� said Mr. Swan. Trenval is a Community Futures Development Corporation that has served the Quinte communities since 1987. Its
example. The only example the Harper Government has set recently is that of professional bully. It’s time to decide once and for all what kind of country we want to be versus the kind of country we are becoming. Our government has it in their power to change that. I have little hope that they will. Denyse Mouck, Stirling
Trenval announces new executive director
offices are located at the Quinte Business Development Centre, 284B Wallbridge-Loyalist Road, Belleville, Ontario.
Trenval’s retiring Executive Director Bruce Davis, left, congratulates his successor Glenn Kozak who takes over the Executive Director duties on Monday, May 13.
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NOTICE
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RESCHEDULED Corporate & Financial Services Committee Meeting
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Please be advised that the May Corporate & Financial Services Committee Meeting has been rescheduled to Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
6 Belleville EMC - Thursday, May 2, 2013
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DonnaLee Craig City Clerk City Hall 7 Creswell Drive PO Box 490 Trenton, ON K8V 5R6 donnaleec@quintewest.ca
Belleville police report EMC News - The Belleville Police Service responded to a disturbance at a downtown bar at approximately 6 p.m. April 27. After a brief investigation two brothers were arrested for being intoxicated in a public place. The brothers spent a few hours in custody and were later released with a provincial offence notice. In the early morning hours police responded to a disturbance around the area of Bridge Street East and Church Street. Two males in their early twenties were arrested for public intoxication. After further investigation, one of the males was found to be in possession of a small bag of marijuana. The male was charged with possession a controlled substance and later released on a promise to appear with a court date in late May. The other male was found to be in possession a prohibited weapon, brass knuckles. He was charged with weapons offences and released to a court date in late May.