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By Bill Chaplin, Municipal Correspondent Twice Municipal Council has clearly voiced its opposition to wind turbines in Leamington: once when there was a threat that the lake would become infested with them just offshore, and once when they were given the opportunity by the Provincial government to clearly state that Leamington would not wish to be a willing host to wind generation. Since a proposal was recently put before Council to construct a wind farm that would be located on the northeastern part of the municipality and the southwestern part of Chatham-Kent, Council felt it would be prudent to once again gauge public opinion so their historic (and still effective) opposition would not unfairly deny farmers hoping to lease their land for wind turbine use if it was a matter of indifference to the population. It is important to note that the opposition stands until a resolution causes the by-law to be repealed and replaced with support. The first order of business on the Council agenda Monday evening, July 13, was a public meeting offering the opportunity to express support or condemnation of the wind towers. The Council chamber was full well before the meeting was scheduled to open. Many comments were made over the course of more than an hour. Every speaker was limited to no more than five minutes. Mayor John Paterson opened the public meeting by explaining the rules and emphasizing that the key to all of this was to “gain a better understanding of each other’s opinions.” Support for wind turbines was limited: those who had been approached to consider a lease for turbines were in support of having the opportunity to supplement their income with green technology that benefits many. One speaker who would not, himself, benefit cautioned Municipal Council, since most opposition came from town residents, “Do not forget our rural neighbours.” Another resident supporting wind turbines said he worked around turbines and had no complaints, moreover, the payments to the municipality would enable Leamington to spread the benefits throughout the municipality. One speaker, who lives in (former) Romney Township said he had a turbine right by his house, and even though there is sound, it is not uncomfortable. He invited Council members to come to his home and experience it firsthand. Two other supporters included an employee of the company proposing the development, and Gary Zavitz who came from London as an “environmental educator” interested in the topic. In opposition was Larry Landry, Executive Assistant to MPP Rick Nicholls, who conveyed Mr. Nicholls personal and political opposition to wind turbines. Chief Louise Hillier of the Caldwell First Nation made it clear that she and her Band Council were “dead set against” wind turbine development. She referred to Leamington as a “gemstone” that we must not “desecrate with wind turbines”. Reasons for opposition were varied. One speaker said, “I think they’re a safety hazard… they’re a distraction” for people driving by. Another said, “We don’t need to subsidize these for the next 20 years.” Another speaker urged Council not to be “enticed” by the payments being promised and to not forget that Ontario is “paying Americans to take our excess production”. Toward the end of the meeting, Mr. Allan King told Council that he arrived conflicted and, “I’m going to leave even more conflicted… We’ve heard some suspicious science both for and against.” Members of Municipal Council voiced their failure to be convinced by the supporters of wind turbines and their continued unwillingness to be a “willing host” was clear. Nobody on Municipal Council was willing to make a motion to reconsider the established opposition expressed in the by-law, and the meeting was adjourned. Municipal government opposition to wind turbines in Leamington continues.
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Hike Metal president and CEO Andy Stanton shares news of a contract for the Wheatley-based company to take on a $43 million project to build six Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue lifeboats. The federal government contract includes the option for an additional four vessels of the same kind, all to be utilized in the Maritimes.
Wheatley shipbuilder earns federal contract By Bryan Jessop
A few short weeks after being snubbed for a local ferry-building project, a Wheatley-based company earned the chance to tell the provincial government to take a ‘Hike’. Chatham-Kent-Essex MP Dave Van Kesteren announced Thursday, July 9 that Hike Metal Products of Wheatley is being awarded a $43 million contract to build six Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) lifeboats. The state-of-the-art vessels will measure about 60 feet in length and will be utilized in the nation’s Maritime region following completion. The contract also provides the option of building as many as four more of the same boats following its initial phase. The announcement was made as part of the federal government’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and will add an estimated 25 jobs to Hike Metal’s employee base, which currently sits at a somewhat lower than average 20. Additional jobs will be generated through sub-contracting positions necessary to create the vessels. Less than a month earlier, the Ontario provincial government awarded a $40 million contract to replace the nearby and aging Pelee Islander to a shipbuilder in Chile. Hike Metal’s bid to build the new ferry — expected to arrive in Leamington in 2018 — was dismissed in the preliminary stage of the bidding process. Hike CEO and president Andy Stanton explained that the Coast Guard lifeboats the Wheatley company is about to build are far more complex in design than a car-carrying ferry. He also debunked explanations that waters in the Wheatley Harbour area are too shallow to launch a new Pelee Island ferry. Stanton noted that the original plans submitted to the Ontario government by Hike called for the ship to be built in separate sections. Those (Continued on page 3)
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