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Vol. 7 Edition 44
EPA charges withdrawn
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2019
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Attorney General takes over, and immediately pulls charges
By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com
Concerned well owner Christine Burke’s second day in court took place in a shorter time span than her first one two months ago. And there won’t be another. At least not in regard to her charges against several wind turbine companies, a provincial ministry and its cabinet minister. That’s all thanks to the Attorney General’s office, who stepped in Oct. 30 at Provincial Offences Court to take over the case. Brian Wilkie, the AG’s representative in the courtroom, immediately withdrew all charges under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA) against Ontario Environment Minister Jeff Yurek, the Ministry of the Environment and three industrial wind companies with projects in Chatham-Kent — Pattern Energy Group, Samsung Renewable Energy Inc., who operate the North Kent Wind 1 and 2 projects in the former Dover and Chatham townships, and Engie Canada Inc. which operates the East St. Clair wind farm. Mere minutes after the Justice of the Peace took his seat, Wilkie made his
announcement that left rural homeowners in attendance with well issues stunned, and Burke in tears. In the Aug. 14 court appearance, Wilkie asked the court for an adjournment for 60 days to review the information surrounding the case, which was put forward by Burke’s lawyer, Eric Gillespie, of Toronto. On Oct. 30, Wilkie said he reviewed the material and made recommendations to the Crown. “Based on the review, I’ve been instructed to intervene and also to withdraw the charges,” he said. Wilkie added the belief is there is too little likelihood for a conviction. “The allegations are that the wind farms north of Chatham contaminated the well water,” he said. “Our conclusion was that there wasn’t sufficient evidence. If we were to go to court, we would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that was the case.” Outside the court, Wilkie added, “There wasn’t sufficient evidence to connect the wind farms to the wells.” Nearby, Burke was in tears.
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Sarah Schofield/The Chatham Voice
Mayor Darrin Canniff is seen with three year-old Jesse Sterling and his mother Misty LaFleur on Oct. 31 at the Mayor’s Office. Sterling was gifted a Captain Positive costume from Opti-Woman after she heard that Sterling wanted to dress up as the positive local superhero for Halloween.
Small, but positive!
By Sarah Schofield sarah@chathamvoice.com
With rain pouring outside, three-year-old Jesse Sterling’s spirits couldn’t be dampened as he went
to the Civic Centre on Halloween dressed in a Captain Positive costume to get a photo with the mayor. Accompanied by his family, including his
mother Misty LaFleur and his grandmother Mary Primeau, Sterling was greeted by the smiles of municipal staff as they snapped photos of the little superhero.
Sterling’s costume was custom-made by Captain Positive’s negativity-fighting partner Opti-Woman played by Leesa Ervin.
Continued on page 2
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