Frequently Asked Questions on the Proposed TransCanada Power Plant

Q: Where is the proposed site for the TransCanada power plant?

A: The proposed site is located on lands owned by Ford Canada at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville.

Q: How did the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) decide where to build the new power plant?

A: The OPA announced their intention to build a natural gas fired power plant in the southwest GTA last fall. They commissioned research reports and technical studies of the area, and conducted public information sessions in early 2009. Please visit the OPA’s Generation Procurement Website and click on “Procurement for Southwest Greater Toronto Area – October 9, 2009” to find links to studies and assessments.

Q: Was the town consulted regarding the location for the new power plant?

A: The town has taken every opportunity to make its concerns about locating a power plant in Oakville known to the OPA, and to protect the community from any potential harm, but the provincial decision-making process has limited the town’s ability to influence the outcome.

In February, the town raised concerns with the OPA regarding the speed at which decisions were being made, the lack of transparency in the location and proposal evaluation process, and the potential impacts on the environment and air quality a power plant could have.

Q: What has the town done since then to protect the health of the Oakville community?

A: In addition to providing comments to the OPA, on March 30, 2009, Council approved an Interim Control By-law and official plan amendment that prohibited a power plant over 10 megawatts from being built in Oakville before appropriate studies were completed and detailed criteria developed. TransCanada and Ford appealed the Interim Control By-law to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), and the town has been fighting to continue investigating the impacts of the power plant.

Once the OPA’s decision to locate the power plant in Oakville became public on September 30, Council passed a resolution to retain legal counsel and subject matter experts to: a) study the potential health impacts and other issues regarding the construction of a power plant in Oakville, and b) present options to Council of how to continue to oppose the proposed power plant.

Q: What more can be done?

A: The attached recommendations outline the next steps the town is taking to ensure the community’s concerns are heard by the Province, the OPA and TransCanada, and that a thorough environmental assessment is conducted to make sure the project approval process requires that no harm come to the community as a result of the power plant construction and operation. Further reports will be brought to Council over the coming months as the required studies are completed.

Q: Who can I contact to voice my concerns?

A: The town encourages all residents to communicate directly with their local MP, MPP, the Ontario Minister of the Environment, the OPA and TransCanada.

Q: Where can I find information on TransCanada’s proposal?

A: Read TransCanada’s project overview and accompanying documents

Report on TransCanada Power Plant — Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Recommendations:

1. THAT the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) be requested to provide the Town with:

a. the detailed results of the Request For Proposal (RFP) evaluation and rating assessment of the four proposals received for the Southwest Greater Toronto Area (GTA) power plant; and

b. all records received, commissioned or requested by the OPA that address technical, environmental, social and/or economic issues relevant to the RFP evaluation.

2. THAT TransCanada Energy Ltd. be requested to release to the Town all related documents and reports submitted to the OPA and/or the Ontario Ministry of the Environment respecting technical, environmental, social and/or economic issues, including system requirements and data relating to: air quality, human health, ecological health, environment, infrastructure, property values, operations, plume, emission controls, noise, vibration, and any other related impact assessment data, for public review.

3. THAT the Province, including the Premier and the Ministers of Energy and Infrastructure, and the Environment, be advised that the Town does not accept as adequate for this large-scale project in this urban setting the environmental assessment process referenced as the ‘Environmental Screening Process’ under the 2001 Electricity Projects Regulation, as it has no substantive standards, no process to consider alternatives, allows the proponents to define what impacts are or are not significant, involves no provincial approval, and permits no hearing or appeal by affected parties.

4. THAT Members of Provincial Parliament Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Halton MPP Ted Chudleigh and Mississauga-South MPP Charles Sousa be requested to ensure the following:

a. That the Minister of the Environment immediately elevate the required project environmental assessment to an “individual” Environmental Assessment (EA) under Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act and not permit the continuation of any ‘Screening’- level EA for this proposed project.

b. That the Minister of the Environment establish sufficient law or policy to direct or otherwise ensure that the appointed director under the Environmental Protection Act will, for any required Certificate of Approval or permit process for this project, demand necessary information on and consider:

i. All contaminants emitted from the proposed project, including toxic substances for which the Ministry has no binding standards, such as particulate matter (PM2.5);

ii. The quality of the existing environment in relation to its existing impacts on or risks to human health;

iii. Emission standards necessary to ensure protection of human health and the environment;

iv. Emission controls necessary to prevent any adverse effects from the project, alone, or in combination with existing pollution levels;

v. The risks to human health, assessed quantitatively, from anticipated and worst-case levels of project emissions, and with and without proposed emission controls and/or other mitigation and with due regard for times during stressed airshed conditions.

c. That the Minister of the Environment establish sufficient law or policy to direct or otherwise ensure that the full rights of public notice and access to information, as set out and/or provided in the Environmental Bill of Rights (EBR), exist for any instruments required by this proposed project, and that such rights are not exempted by the use of Ministerial powers or opinions set out in S. 32 of the EBR.

5. THAT the local Members of Parliament, the Honourable Lisa Raitt and MP Terence Young, be called upon to ensure that:

a. the Minister of the Environment makes an interim order and future regulations under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act to deal with the significant danger to human life and health presented by PM2.5 emissions from the proposed project; and

b. the appropriate federal departments and agencies, including Environment Canada, Health Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Transport Canada, are engaged in the review of the potential health, environmental, and safety impacts of the siting of a natural gas fired power generating station in south east Oakville.

6. THAT Region of Halton Chair Gary Carr be requested to ensure that the regional Health Department continue to monitor and provide input throughout the approval process addressing human health and air quality impacts of the proposed generating station in south east Oakville.

7. THAT the Town of Oakville file a request with the Environmental Commissioner seeking the establishment of a provincial regulation on PM2.5 emissions.