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Tremendous Turnout a t Oakville’s Power Plant Rally - July 28, 2009
An estimated 1000 residents of all ages turned out at last Tuesday evening’s rally at Chisholm Educational Centre to protest against the Ontario government’s plan to build an 850 MW gas-fired power plant in either southwest Mississauga or southeast Oakville. It was an incredible show of support, particularly during the peak vacation period.
The Master of Ceremonies was Doug MacKenzie, Rally Committee Chair and President of the Chartwell-Maple Grove Residents’ Association which spearheaded this event with neighbouring Oakville groups: the Clearview Oakville Community Alliance, the Joshua Creek Ratepayers Inc., the Trafalgar Chartwell Residents’ Association, and the Oakville Lakeside Ratepayers Association.
Despite the festive mood of the evening with adults, children, and pets mingling in the crowd, people lining up for ice cream, and live guitar music, the underlying reason for the tremendous turnout was clear from the start. The residents were strongly opposed to a power plant in an already overtaxed airshed. The Clarkson Airshed Study, initiated in 2000 by the Ministry of the Environment, concluded that the planned area for the facility is already experiencing the effects of harmful pollutants and is fourteen per cent more toxic than the Ontario average.
Throughout the evening, there was a flurry of activity and line-ups around the petition tables where lawn signs were purchased, information was distributed, residents joined with their local association, and approximately 700 people signed the no power plant petition.
 The rally was kicked off by Michael (Pinball) Clemons, an Oakville resident and former football star and coach of the Toronto Argonauts and currently the team’s CEO, who spoke of his wife’s respiratory problems originating from her childhood experience when she lived near a chemical factory and engaged the audience with ‘Clean Air’ clapping and chants, a message that resonated throughout the evening. Representatives from various levels of government shared the speakers’ podium including Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh, Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr, and Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. Julie Desjardins, former Clarkson Airshed Study Advisory Committee co-chair, spoke to the Clarkson Airshed Study. Besides the health risks, the weak economy and conservation efforts were reasons cited by the speakers for opposing the construction of a power plant.
Messages were read from Oakville MP Terence Young, and Haldimand County Mayor, Marie Trainer, who welcomes a power plant in her town to replace the Nanticoke Generating Station which will be closed in 2014.
The speakers were joined on stage by Ward 3 Councillors Keith Bird and Mary Chapin; Peter Orphanos, Chair of the Sierra Club of Peel; representatives from local residents’ groups; Dr. Howard Bernstein, Executive Director of Chisholm Educational Centre; and Dan Kabe, the acoustical guitarist who provided the musical entertainment.
Scott Weller, Vice-president of the Chartwell-Maple Grove Residents’ Association, closed the evening urging residents to … join their association , sign the petition and send letter to the Premier.
We would like to express our appreciation to everyone who attended the rally to show your support and also extend a special note of thanks to the following people:
Pinball Clemons for taking the time from his busy schedule to speak
Dr. Howard Bernstein - provided venue for the rally and the June petition drive-thru
Ward 3 Town Councillors Keith Bird and Mary Chapin - donated ice cream proceeds
Mr. Dan Kabe – provided the live music
Our Mississauga neighbours - generously supported this event
All of the volunteers who made it happen |
Issues 
The students, organized by the Oakville Trafalgar High School Environmental Club, began their rally at their school and weaved their way up Maple Grove Drive to Chisholm chanting, “We want clean air, it’s not fair.”