Sir: A recent article in the media indicated, “More government action, funding needed to address algae blooms, says Environmental Defence.”
The algae bloom was determined as “unpleasant but not dangerous” according to Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks lab analysis.
Where did this ministry get funds to do water analysis now? Not only did it not help, but almost worked against any studies being done for affected water wells due to wind turbine construction and operation.
According to Kelsey Scarfone of the algae bloom, it is, “the same type of mechanism as what we’re seeing in Lake Erie. It’s excess nutrients running off the land that is spurring on the growth of these algae blooms when it gets into the water. Signs of climate change are also having an impact. Recent lack of rain, which resulted in low flow in the river preventing the algae from being flushed away. This was coupled with several warm days in September, which she expects will be more common in the future.”
It seems that climate change and “man-made” problems are being carefully scrutinized if they affect urban areas. Why are the “man-made” problems that affected so many water wells by wind turbine construction and operation not given equal billing for the rural area?
There are questions that need to be answered:
- Why has the mayor and council of Chatham-Kent been silent on this matter? Are they trying to protect their $8-million investment in North Kent Wind 1 and sacrificing the rural constituents?
- Minister Monte McNaughton made announcement months ago that a study of the well water in the wind farm area would be undertaken.
“A Promise made, a Promise kept.”
Minister McNaughton, saying that you are going to keep a promise means nothing more then the original promise! It is in actually doing what you promised that fulfills that promise.
Your promise of keeping a promise has taken over a year!
When will the study that you promised actually start? Does it really take over two months to get any government action, as I have not heard of any study activity taking place yet?
Will the study really take until the end of 2020 to complete? Are you hoping that most of us will be dead by then?
There have been independent opinions by Maurice B Dusseault, Professor of Engineering Geology at the University of Waterloo and Dr. Joel Gagnon, Associate Professor and Department Head of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Windsor that have been printed. Has anyone, in any government position, ever read any of these?
Have our municipal and provincial governments reached the point where they quash anything that goes contrary to their chosen belief or that of large companies?
Are our democracies now entering an age of elected dictatorships?
Changes need to happen soon, or our way of life will be forever changed for us, our children, and all future generation.
Peter Hensel
Dover Centre
