Letters to the editor
 

MNR needs to review Bala Falls file

Swift River Energy Limited is proposing to build a new hydro-electric generating station in the heart of Bala.

While I believe SREL is mistaken in many of its assumptions and has given inadequate consideration to the businesses and townspeople during and after their proposed construction, I do not think it has made the biggest mistake in the whole process.

I believe the initial mistake and also the biggest blunder was made by the provincial government and Ontario’s MNR when they released Bala Falls for power generation.

I understand McGuinty’s desire to create more ‘green’ power and the MNR is co-operating with his mandate.

However, sacrificing a small, summer tourist town to add a pittance of power to the Ontario grid is NOT green.

Blowing a huge tunnel through our granite superstructure in the middle of town, big enough to bury the turbines and equipment is not being friendly to the environment. Destroying natural parkland and adding some plants to an industrial site is not green. Drying up a much loved, well-used, natural water playground and taking away a popular picturesque attraction is neither socially nor environmentally friendly.

It is time for the Ontario government and the MNR to look again at their original mandate.

In their attempt to create ‘green’ power they are allowing a private corporation to destroy an environmentally friendly use of a natural recreation area.

SREL is entering into this process for the simple purpose of generating a profit. They are building an industrial site to maximize their profit and that is what business is about.

Do you think we just don’t want power generation in our backyard?

No, that is far from the truth. There is already a working hydroelectric power plant right in Bala using the same level of water.

There are two more plants in close proximity downstream.

Bala is already contributing positively to clean, green energy.

All three of these plants could be improved with newer equipment or used to their maximum capacity which is not the current situation.

These plants are already in place and operating. This would be a much less invasive solution to generating more ‘green,’ ‘environmentally friendly’ power for Ontario.

However, this is not a decision for SREL.

This is where the MNR and MOE must step up to the plate and preserve a natural resource and a recreational opportunity for future generations.

There are alternatives that would create power and still preserve Bala’s heritage.

Patricia Gidley

Bala, ON