Schreiner Joins Residents and Farmers in Launching Legal Action Against Ontario Government Over King Township Peaker Plant

NEWS
Green Party of Ontario (GPO) Leader Mike Schreiner joined King Township concerned citizens and Holland Marsh farmers in launching legal action against the Ontario Government to force it to stop ignoring local democracy and concerns related to a gas generation plant being developed in King Township.

The Government was served with a statement of claim this morning. The plaintiffs are seeking a Judicial Review claiming that the Government has ignored its own legislation, its own promises and its own procurement rules which has served to deny citizens and the municipality the right to have concerns properly aired and addressed.

The claim cites clear and numerous examples of abuse of process and power. Schreiner is making this a Green Action Priority* and engaging all parties and all concerned groups to require the Government to stop, to respect proper process and their own commitments including: full respect for municipal planning process; full engagement of the public; and, complete respect for all applicable legislation and processes.

QUOTES
“The Liberal government’s actions in circumventing the law to railroad this plant through are unprecedented, are unfounded in law and could have a devastating impact on municipal and environmental processes for communities across Ontario. We are fighting for what’s right for all Ontarians.”
— Mike Schreiner, Leader, GPO

“We are standing up for citizens across Ontario to ensure that the government follows its own laws and processes while engaging citizens and municipalities in smart planning.”
— Debbie Schaefer, Concerned Citizens of King Township

“Our family grows healthy local food for all Ontarians, we follow strict rules, and I can’t understand why the government would break its own rules to push through this proposed plant located on a floodplain in the Greenbelt on protected countryside.”
— Avia Eek, Holland Marsh farmer

QUICK FACTS
– The proposed plant is located on an active flood plain, in the Ansnorveldt wetlands, in legislatively-protected designated countryside of the Greenbelt.
– The closest elementary school is less than 400 metres from the proposed gas plant.
– King Township has publicly indicated on numerous occasions this site does NOT conform to municipal planning requirements.
– This plant will no longer serve local power needs as it cannot meet OPAs “islanding” requirement.
– *Green Action Priorities is a non-profit organization that is a plaintiff in the claim established by Schreiner to facilitate citizen participation in this legal action.

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Contact:
Jaymini Bhikha (416) 275-8573