Expositor Front Feb 22-12 RB_Layout 1 12-02-20 11:28 AM Page 3

Wednesday, February 22, 2012 THE MANITOULIN EXPOSITOR—PAGE 3 MCSEA references OFA wind statement calling for delay of McLean’s wind farm by Robin Burridge LITTLE CURRENT—The Northland Power Inc. McLean’s Mountain wind farm project’s Renewable Energy Assessment (REA) 60-day pub- lic review response process may have ended on January 27, but that hasn’t stopped the opposition from trying to freeze the project. The Manitoulin Coalition for Safe Energy Alternative (MCSEA) presented a letter to the Northeast Town council earlier this month, using the Federation of Agriculture’s (OFA’s) position state- ment on industrial wind turbines to call for a motion to delay the McLean’s Mountain wind farm project. The statement released by the OFA last month called for the province of Ontario to “suspend the award of feed in tariffs (FIT) con- tracts for industrial wind turbine development projects,” and listed its concerns. In MCSEA’s request to council, the group states that the OFA rep-

Former Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Mike Brown, centre, receives a plaque of appreciation from his former staff, Sherry Perron and ...continued on page 18 Tom Farquhar, during an appreciation dinner held in Spanish. photo by Michael Erskine Northland Power fails to Former MPP Mike Brown feted contact Canadian Pacific for service to Algoma-Manitoulin Railway prior to REA cutoff by Michael Erskine Mr. Bartolucci referenced the immense size of the by Robin Burridge SPANISH—Not everyone in the room may have been electoral district Mr. Brown represented. Mr. Bar- LITTLE CURRENT— Canadian Pacific Railway Company (CP), regis- a supporter of the , but all rose tolucci ended his accolades by relating the story of tered owner of Goat Island, the proposed site for a substation and elec- in a prolonged standing ovation to recognize the 24- three bricklayers building a house. The first two, trical transmission line for the Northland Power McLean’s Mountain year contribution of former Algoma-Manitoulin when asked what they were doing, said building a wind farm, has claimed it did not receive notice of the McLean’s appli- MPP Mike Brown during a dinner held in his honour wall or building a basement, the third said I am cation for Leave to Construct Transmission Facilities until February 1, at the municipal marina in Spanish. building a home. “Mike Brown helped build commu- 2012, past the January 27 deadline for CP to file a letter of intervention The choice of venue was particularly apt consider- nities,” said Mr. Bartolucci. or other comments or concerns. ing the role Mr. Brown played in securing the fund- Although Mr. Brown was first elected to office as “As the owner of land that will be directly affected by the project, and ing to build the facility, noted Spanish Mayor Gary an opposition MPP, he still managed to accomplish a based on CP’s initial review of the materials, CP has concluded that it Bishop during his welcoming remarks. Mr. Bishop great deal for his community by taking a non-parti- has a substantial interest in McLean’s application and it intends to par- pointed out that Mr. Brown was instrumental in san approach to working together, noted Mr. Bar- ticipate actively and responsibly in the proceeding,” states a letter to bringing over $100 million to Spanish over the tolucci. the Ontario Energy Board from CP’s solicitors. “Accordingly, CP will be course of his 24-year tenure. “For a town of 700 peo- Minister of Natural Resources , ple, that is an incredible contribution,” said Mr. MPP for Thunder Bay Superior North, who was ...continued on page 18 Bishop. “On behalf of the people of Spanish, thank unable to attend due to eye surgery, delivered his you Mike Brown.” greetings via video, congratulating Mr. Brown and Sudbury MPP, Minister of Northern Development recounting his enjoyment of working with the deter- AOK gets permission from MOE and Mines and Chair of Cabinet Rick Bartolucci was mined advocate. the keynote speaker at the dinner and he related Among one of the most poignant speakers at the anecdotes of the lobbying efforts Mr. Bartolucci had dinner was Elliot Lake councillor and community to submit late comments concerning made to him on behalf of Algoma Manitoulin. “I advocate Sandy Fenamore, as she described Mr. don’t know how many times I heard him say, ‘You can Brown’s contribution to women’s shelters and other Northland Power wind project walk away, but you can’t change the facts. The people community projects. “The first words out of his in my constituency need this’,” said Mr. Bartolucci. mouth were always, ‘How can I help you’?” she said. by Robin Burridge “I can tell you it numbered in the hundreds.” ...continued on page 17 LITTLE CURRENT—Audeck Omni Kaning (AOK) First Nation was granted permission from the Ministry of Environment (MOE) Envi- ronmental Approvals Branch to submit comments regarding the Northland Power McLean’s Mountain wind farm project, despite the Unorganized municipalities post Renewable Energy Assessment (REA) 60-day public review response process for the project having ended on January 27. On January 22, AOK issued a press release explaining that the com- munity had asked for an extension to the REA public review and public fewer citizens, census indicates input process deadline due to the chief and council feeling that there had not been “a proper consultation process with the community as to by Michael Erskine tics Canada for Zhiibaahaasing, Port of Little Current saw an the location of the McLean’s wind farm project, nor a proper update on WESTERN MANITOULIN––Man- and the 2006 census reported no increase of 162 residents for 2.7 the state of the negotiations and the agreement between Northland itoulin Unorganized West Part, permanent population, but percent increase in population Power and the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising Tribal known affectionately to Mani- according to Yvonne Sagon at the over the five years since 2006, even Council (UCCMM).” toulin residents as Dawson Robin- band office the community cur- as the population of the Northeast The project was a major concern of the newly elected chief, Patsy son, showed a precipitous drop in rently has 45 residents living full Town overall was relatively level Corbiere, and the AOK council who also felt that they had not been population in the last five years, at time in the community. with a net decline of five resi- least according to data from the Additional information on the dents. ...continued on page 17 2011 national census as reported Northeast Town indicates that the by Statistics Canada. Although Gordon/Barrie &%$#"! %!! %#"     %#  Expositor up for heritage award Island grew significantly during    &  the same time period, Statistics Canada reports that the popula- !,! - */) *(' '&% in Better Newspaper Competition tion of Manitoulin Unorganized  1+ !+- ! ,+ $)( $(# #&# BURLINGTON—The Expositor learned on Valentine’s Day, February West Part in 2011 was 160, down "! ! , #$* #'( (&/ 14, that once again, ’s oldest newspaper is a finalist in from 222 in the 2006 census. "!2+ - + )'$ )% /%&/ the annual Ontario Community Newspaper Association (OCNA) Better The figures for Dawson Robin- "11+- +!  $* $' (&) Newspaper Competition. son were not reported in last The Expositor is up for a premier award in the category of heritage week’s front page lead story or 1 0- +- !0 ! /*)) /*# #&% writing for the May 18, 2011 page 1 article titled ‘Wikwemikong sisters included in the chart accompany- - + !   /(' %&* tell stories of abuse, loneliness while at St. Joseph’s girls’ residential ing that story due to the labeling  "-!1+ -  )#* #( /)&( school, Spanish’ by editor Alicia McCutcheon. The story chronicles the issue with Statistics Canada. The 1+"- *) #'  story of Ida Embry and her sister, Blue Cloud Woman, during their new chart published this week time at residential school during the 1930s and 1940s. Ms. McCutcheon corrects that omission and cor- ! - 1 )#* #'# /' wrote the story after meeting the sisters at the Truth and Reconcilia- rects the overall population of 2!,11 ,+ () *% /%&/ tion Commission session held at the Northeast Town recreation centre Manitoulin communities to 021-0+  %// %'( '& on May 12 and 13. Residential school survivors came from across North- reflect the inclusion of Dawson 321,!- -2+ /(' /#) $& ern Ontario to share their stories and meet other survivors, while Robinson. learning about the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement. Population data for Zhiibaa- 32121,- ! ,+ /'% // /'&$ The Expositor is up against the New Hamburg Independent and haasing First Nation was also 12-2 $ )'( (&$ Nunavut News/North in this category. First place will be announced missing from the chart and story. !1! , $% #* &( during the OCNA Better Newspaper Competition awards gala on April No data was available from Statis- % !"       27 at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto.