FROM:           CALEWT Steering Committee

DATE:             August 20, 2010

RE:                  Environmental Registry #011-0907

A new policy proposal from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources dated August 18, 2010 (posted on the Environmental Registry #011-0907) has just been announced.  The link is: http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEwNjg0&statusId=MTY2MTE0&language=en

Essentially, this proposed policy from the MNR is attempting to identify off shore areas in the Great Lakes that would be restricted from Industrial Wind Turbine development.  Pigeon Bay and Lake St. Clair should fall into this category, we hope!! 

YOUR INPUT IS ESSENTIAL and extremely important.  We only have 47 days to respond.  We ask all of you to click on the Registry and post your comments.  Your input will help offset any lobby efforts put forth by the wind industry.

The Steering Committee feel we are making SLOW but STEADY progress in getting Pigeon Bay designated as “off  limits” to wind turbines.  The proposed policy would establish criteria which would constrain future development on Crown Land (i.e. Great Lakes) such as:

• Navigational lanes
• Commercial fishing activity
• Sensitive environmental and ecological areas (Bird, Bat & Butterfly migration)
• Important recreational activities
• Cultural heritage activity
• Areas of Natural gas activity
• Areas of inland lakes not subject to proposed 5 km exclusion zone
• Other inland water lakes (i.e. Lake St. Clair)

The above proposal is just that – A PROPOSAL.  In order for this to become an Ontario Government approved Policy, and to ensure Pigeon Bay is excluded, we respectfully ask that you provide your valued input within the 47 day time period.  Please copy CALEWT at CALEWT@gmail.com so we can maintain a complete file for our records.

The Steering Committee continues to work on your behalf.  On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, Bruce Crozier arranged for several members of the Steering Committee to meet with the Honourable Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Natural Resources.  Since this is a new portfolio for the Minister, it was extremely beneficial to meet with her and her Special Policy Assistant in order to ensure they are fully aware of our issues/concerns.  The Honourable Minister Jeffrey strongly urged CALEWT to provide input into the proposed MNR policy.  She explained how vitally important the comments are so that everyone’s concerns are given due consideration.

We need your help…  Your comments could make the difference between our failure or success.  Please forward this request to all your “email contacts” and ask them to write too. 

We plan to have a general CALEWT meeting sometime in the fall.  In the meantime, please continue to check our website www.lakeeriewindturbines.com for updates. 

Further, the Globe and Mail conducted an interview with me on Wednesday, August 18^th and that article should be published in the next few weeks. 

 We hope you have had an enjoyable summer.  Thank you for your continued support.

Jim Krushelniski

Chairperson, CALEWT Steering Committee

FROM:  CALEWT Steering Committee

DATE:    June 26, 2010

RE:          Friday, June 25^th Ontario Government Announcements &

Press Releases regarding Off-Shore Wind Turbines

Below, please find two announcements:
                1.            Ontario Ministry of Environment Re:  Rules Proposed for Off-Shore Wind Turbines

                2.            M.P.P.’s Bruce Crozier and Pat Hoy’s Press Release

The CALEWT  Steering Committee are pleased  with both these announcements and view this a significant and positive FIRST STEP  Obviously, all the hard work of the CALEWT Steering Committee, our Experts , local Municipal Governments  and our general CALEWT membership have played a very significant  role in getting this first step accomplished.  We thank all for your support.  We ARE making progress!!

However, our job is not done!  Please note that this is only a proposal by the Provincial Government.  The proposed regulation has been posted on the Environmental Registry for 60 days for comment from the general public and industry.  We anticipate significant push-back from the wind turbine Industry.

ACTION:  The CALEWT Steering Committee has developed an Action Plan to not only ensure that the proposal becomes permanent, but also attempt to get the entire area of Pigeon Bay protected from wind turbines.  We will share this plan with all of you at our next general CALEWT meeting.

The Steering Committee feels strongly that the entire Pigeon Bay area must be protected due to the following:

1. This is a major Migratory Bird Path and it is essential to keep this fly-way open to the migrating birds, butterflies and bats.
2. Our Commercial Fishing Industry relies heavily on this area for their livelihood and therefore must be protected.
3. The Commercial lake freighter channels, as well as the Jiimaan and the Pelee Islander, use these lanes for commercial travel.  In addition, pleasure boating and sport fishing are major factors which need to be considered in our area.

We ask that you go to the Provinces Environmental Registry – www.ebr.gov.on.ca  .  The Registry # is 011-0089.  Go to the “Discussion Paper” for details and then register your concerns under comments.  Please send a copy to CALEWT@gmail.com for our records. 

Your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Jim Krushelniski

Chairman, CALEWT Steering Committee

Why we need your help,   click HERE.

For Pledge Form, click HERE.

GOVERNMENT CONTACT LIST

Hon. John Gerretsen, MPP, Minister of the Environment

12^th Floor, 135 St. Clair Ave. W, Toronto, ON  M4V 1P5  jgerretsen.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Agatha Garcia-Wright, Director, Environmental Assessment & Approvals Branch

Ministry of the Environment, Floor 12A, 2 St. Clair Ave.,West, Toronto, ON  M4V 1L5 agatha.garciawright@ontario.ca

Sandra Guido, Senior Program Support Coordinator, Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch

Ministry of the Environment, Floor 12 A, 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, ON  M4V 1L5  sandra.guido@ontario.ca

Hon. Brad Duguid, MPP, Minister of Energy & Infrastructure

900 Bay Street, 4^th Floor, Hearst Block, Toronto, ON  M7A 2E1  bduguid.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Hon. Deb Matthews, MPP, Minister of Health/Long Term Care

10^th Floor Hepburn Block, 80 Grosvenor St., Toronto, ON  M7A 2C4  dmatthews.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Hon. Linda Jeffrey, MPP, Minister of Natural Resources

Whitney Block, 6^th Floor, Room 6630, 99 Wellesley St. W., Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3   ljeffrey.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Virginia West, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources

Whitney Block, 6^th Floor, Room 6643, 99 Wellesley St., W., Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3  virginia.west@ontario.ca

Rosalyn Lawrence, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Natural Resources

Room 6540, Whitney Block, 99 Wellesley St., W., Toronto, ON  M7A 1W3       rosalyn.lawrence@ontario.ca

Louise Knox, Director, Ontario Region, Canada Environmental Assessment Agency

55 St. Clair Ave., East, Suite 907, Toronto, ON  M4T 1M2   Louise.Knox@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Robert J. Read, Environmental Assessment Officer, Environmental Assessment and Federal Programs Section

867 Lakeshore Road, P. O. Box 5050, Burlington, ON  L7R 4A6   Rob.Read@ec.gc.ca

Steve Woolfenden, Senior Program Officer, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

55 St. Clair Ave. W., Suite 907, Toronto, ON  M4T 1M2    Steve.Woolfenden@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Bruce Crozier, MPP, Essex, 78 Talbot Street North, Essex, ON  N8M 1A2   bcrozier.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Pat Hoy, MPP, Chatham Kent-Essex, 100-111 Heritage Road, Chatham, ON  N7M 5W7  phoy.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Jeff Watson, MP Essex, 186 Talbot St. S., Essex, ON  N8M 1B6  WatsoJ@parl.gc.ca

David VanKesteren, MP Chatham-Kent-Essex, 6 King St., W., Chatham, ON  N7M 1A2     VankeD@parl.gc.ca

John Adams, Mayor, Municipality of Leamington, 38 Erie St. N., Leamington, ON  N8H 2Z3  jadams@leamington.ca

Rob Schmidt, Deputy Mayor, Mun. of Leamington, 38 Erie St. N., Leamington, ON  N8H 2Z3  rschmidt@leamington.ca

Nelson Santos, Mayor, Town of Kingsville, 2021 Division Rd. N., Kingsville, ON  N9Y 2Y9  nsantos@kingsville.ca

Katherine Gunning, Deputy Mayor, Town of Kingsville, 2021 Division Rd. N., Kingsville, ON  N9Y 2Y9  kayway@kelcom.net

Citizens Against Lake Erie Wind Turbines, CALEWT@gmail.com