Re: The limits of municipal jurisdiction

Michael Fetzer | Aug 10, 2016

Many permanent and seasonal residents, as well as the tourists so vital to the North Frontenac economy undoubtedly disagree with Jeff Green's opinion (Editorial, The Limitsl of Municipal Jurisdiction, Aug 4/16) that it would be disastrous for the province to accede to mayor Ron Higgins' demand to make municipal support mandatory for industrial wind projects. While it may be a longstanding principle of confederation that energy policy fits under provincial jurisdiction, nothing is etched in stone and certainly the environmental blight of wind turbines and even solar farms was not envisioned by lawmakers at the time of confederation. Consider that it may be a violation of confederation principles for local government officials, particularly in rural areas, to merely stand aside as provincial and national lawmakers from afar, comprised largely from more concentrated urban population centers and armed with that clout, impose their will on their smaller rural relatives. The same rural communities that struggle with provincial government resource and policy stinginess when it comes to addressing local educational, infrastructure and other social needs know that there will be little legislature reluctance to stick a slew of wind turbines out in the boonies so urban folks can enjoy clean, cheap power without the blight and other sacrifice.

Small community governments have a special and difficult responsibility to ensure that local input and substantive influence are not diluted and lost as provincial and federal governments act to affect local welfare. It is commendable that North Frontenac has defined a vision with both its history and future in mind. Nothing in North Frontenac Council's amendment to the Official Plan is inconsistent with North Frontenac's past economic activities which were generally small in scale and diverse in nature, and which formed, nurtured and preserved the very qualities which make today's North Frontenac so special. Large scale mining and industrial projects would simply undermine the unique social and environmental climate that has been created which, once destroyed, will be forever gone.

Opposition to the Green Energy Act is not the same as opposition to green energy. Local citizens should have the right to influence and reasonably control how their environ is developed. The environmental review and court involvement suggested by Mr. Green as safeguards are no substitutes for substantive input and control by local citizens in matters affecting their communities. Of course, provincial and national interests must be considerations, but good-faith negotiations, not provincial imposition, will result in the best solutions. Willing participants who have had a meaningful role in decision making will make for better partners.