When representatives fail in their duty.
Public decisions are only “democratic” when ALL stakeholders are consulted. If an elected representative fails to consult his or her constituents, their stakeholder rights are lost.
My ward Councillor is my “official voice” in municipal matters.
On September 10, a ward Councillor presented a Council Memorandum to the Committee of the Whole (COW) comprising the Mayor and eight Councillors for the City of Kawartha Lakes (CKL). Each Councillor was elected by the constituencies of CKL’s eight wards, home to over 130,000 residents in its sprawling and diverse urban and rural areas.
The Council Memorandum proposed that CKL become a “Willing Host for Wind and Solar Development” and briefly outlined the Recommendation and its Rationale.
As the final item on the COW agenda, the Councillor presented her deputation, then awaited a vote on whether it would be received by the COW. A discussion ensued in which three ward Councillors and the Deputy Mayor expressed their concerns about the Memorandum. The entire discussion is available on YouTube linked in Maggie Braun’s post (below). Two rural Councillors explained their opposition to solar farms and wind turbines from their own personal experience as rural community residents.
The Memorandum was ultimately rejected by the majority of Councillors.
Read Maggie Braun’s letter too.
A few days later …
On the way to visit our grandson, my wife and I drove past the home and place of the family business of one of the rural Councillors. Nearby were four massive, unsightly and bird-killing wind turbines. It’s easy to understand their opposition to them.
The Councillor’s family did not want them in the first place but they were powerless to stop the provincial government’s plan to dot the landscape with dozens of these monstrosities.
We decided to speak up.
After reading the Memorandum, I concluded that the Councillor who wrote it had made no effort to find out if her constituents want more wind turbines and solar farms in the CKL.
The ‘Rationale’ only spoke to the interests of ‘green energy’ corporations, climate change lobbyists, globalist enterprises and the goals of federal and provincial governments.
Input from local businesses and residents was completely absent.
The Councillor had failed the first and most important duty of that office.
Watch the six minute deputation below.
Deputation to City Council on Tuesday, September 24, 2024
Included in our submission to the COW was the following recommendation to ensure that Councillors don’t shirk their responsibilities without consequences.
A DUE DILIGENCE FRAMEWORK
I am recommending seven domains of consideration for proposals that lead to significant consequences involving government responsibility or the prospects of such.
BENEFITS. List and quantify who benefits and who pays for claimed benefits of a new or revised public policy that incurs ongoing costs. Specifics are required. All assumptions must be stated clearly.
How will CKL residents benefit from more wind and solar energy that is known to be unreliable? A proper business case is expected with a breakdown of measurable and attainable benefits, and detailed investment costs required.
SURVEY. Provide the names on contact information of listed beneficiaries.
Has the Councillor spoken with executives of corporations operating within the CKL? How many have declared a commitment to purchase unreliable green electricity? Who are they? What kinds of applications in their businesses are they claiming suitable for unreliable electricity? Are those corporate leaders willing to publicly confirm their intention to buy unreliable electricity? If not, why should the CKL take any steps towards making the proposed “willing host” commitment?
COSTS to taxpayers.
Has the Councillor spoken with CKL property owners, including farmers and owners of large tracts of natural lands? Are the names provided and the motives identified for those owners who are willing to allow the installation of wind turbines and solar farms on their property? For example, do they expect to earn money from green energy government subsidies at taxpayer expense?
PRIORITY
There are likely more pressing concerns for our elected representatives and City staff than attracting more wind and solar installations. The housing crisis and high cost of living are prime examples. How does the Councillor justify spending time and City resources on this topic? Has this been explained clearly and shared with our citizens with specific arguments that are backed up by published scientific data from reputable journals?
CONFLICTS WITH PUBLIC INTERESTS
Has the Councillor spoken with property owners within the CKL, including farmers and owners of large tracts of natural lands? At a time when CKL property owners are restricted by the City from severing an acre or two of their own property to build a home, has the Council explained to CKL residents on a public notification why wind turbines and solar farms are of greater public interest than expanding the supply of housing in a City that is expecting population growth?
BACKGROUND considerations.
Has the Councillor investigated the reasons why renewable energy projects have not been encouraged in the CKL for many years? What has changed? Why is she interested in promoting them now when green energy failures in countries like Germany are well known and widely publicized? In the words of former CKL Councillor Kathleen Seymour, “In my 8 years of being on Council, not once did a constituent ever speak positively about solar farms or wind turbines. If the subject ever came up, and the only time it did was when applications came through, it was to oppose them”.
GLOSSARY. Some terminology may be ambiguous or confusing. In such cases, a clear statement of meaning and intention must be presented.
What is expected of a “willing host” in terms of changes to CKL policy? Are planned and unanticipated additional municipal expenditures likely? Will additional workloads be imposed on City staff? What impact will this CKL designation have on local taxes and red tape for CKL residents and businesses?
To the reader
Do you also want your elected representatives to engage you in public decisions when they face important decisions, and would you want them to do their preliminary homework following a DUE DILIGENCE FRAMEWORK like this one?