Good afternoon Mayor Clumpus, councillors and staff.  Thank you for giving me this opportunity to express my concerns about the proposed TCE project.

To begin with, I want to say that I understand that our council has very little control over the outcome of this proposal.  I also want to acknowledge that Trans Canada Energy has greatly contributed to the North American economy over many decades and that it has every right to explore all possible means of developing projects that will generate income for it as a company profits for its investors.

As I think about this grand project,  I would like to ask if it is unreasonable to suggest that there may be little, if any, a benefit to the  Municipality of Meaford?  Not “even” as a tourist attraction because of whose property it will be built on.  As much as we might want to applaud TCE’s announcements of their support for our local economy when it comes to purchasing construction material and providing a labour force, is it realistic that we could even begin to meet these needs?

Because of the scale of this pump storage system, it is logical to think that most of the labour and material needs will be imported from great distances.   For example, can anyone think of an aggregate pit in the former St. Vincent and Sydenham townships that could come up with the gravel needed to make all of their concrete?  Will they be coming to town to buy boxes of 3” Ardox nails and pickup truck loads of 2x4’s from Scott Knight?  How about brooms and shovels purchased from Martin Rice?

Or perhaps you were hoping it would be the 200-400 new families that will flood into Meaford that would give our local economy a boost. And when they come where are they going to be able to buy or rent housing in Meaford or in the townships?  And what are they going to do when the project is completed in four years...work in the local orchards?

Will we be faced with Apple Harvest Craft Show traffic on the streets of Meaford five days a week?    What can we expect with regards to volume and types of vehicles moving workers and material on the two main roads to the site?  What kinds of delays and safety challenges will we be faced with?  Four years is a long time to be putting up with a steady flow of semi’s hauling gravel.

I am really wondering if we are not beginning to experience another expropriation...an expropriation that surely will take away the “rights” of landowners along the power line corridor... an expropriation of our ability to drive, walk, cycle and move farm equipment safely on our roads and streets...an expropriation of people’s dreams of retiring here... an expropriation of people’s enjoyment of their property, their privacy and outdoor space...an expropriation of their life’s savings and investments due to devaluation of property...an expropriation of a known and expected level of peace and quiet in the countryside...an expropriation of the little power that we have as individuals by a very big corporation... an expropriation of our trust in our local government  and belief  that they are truly there for us and not selling us out for a few “doggie treats” that  TCE might toss our way if we sit or roll over and play dead at their command...an expropriation of the beautiful skyline to the north west as we view the well treed Niagara escarpment...an expropriation of the pristine, ever changing colours, pure quality and movement of  Georgian Bay...an expropriation of the hope that if the land was never to be returned to the settling families that i forever would remain a virtually undisturbed natural habitat..an expropriation of our sanity as we wonder how  TCE will be getting away with the bending of the environmental rules that we couldn’t get away with...an expropriation of our faith in any level of government that will hold  TCE accountable to keeping their word..the expropriation of our future safety should, God forbid, there be a breach in the structure.

Harley’s and my great grandfather, Samuel  Greenfield came from Ireland in the 1850s and settled on the western boundary of St. Vincent near Morley.  My grandparents Robert and Laura Greenfield farmed from about 1909 until 1922 near Cape Rich.  Although they had moved to Meaford two decades before expropriation they still had many ties to the community there.

My family is long time removed from that area but still, on occasion, there is a pull at my heart to return to Mountain Lake and Cape Rich.  I am sure that there are many other descendants of the families who were expelled from the land that would feel the same as I do.  They, like me, wonder why it is that the land can be turned over to a mega-company but not returned to the original families or even to those members of our indigenous community.

In conclusion, I ask our council who in the end is truly going to benefit from this.  I don’t believe it will be our municipality. Perhaps it might only be the ruling council at the time of completion when they will be invited for the grand opening, a celebration at the top of the dam with its spectacular view of Georgian Bay and the Big Head River Valley... toasting and dining while they observe the first official royal flush of TCE’s high profile 375 acres “toilet”.

But you can be certain that TCE will be a winner as they play the on-peak, off-peak electricity price and carbon credits trading game in order to display their climate change virtue signalling.  Oh...and  Tim Horton’s too for sure will be a winner as they sell coffee and doughnuts to the 800 workers taking their breaks.

Thank you,

Robert Greenfield