For Immediate Release

February 8, 2006

Toronto - Environmental groups today registered their outrage and disappointment with the McGuinty government’s plan for public consultation on the proposed long-term electricity supply mix. As of next Monday, the public will have a meagre four days to comment on the $83 billion plan.

Environmental, health and social justice organizations last week formally asked the Premier to hold a public consultation in the style of the Walkerton Inquiry. Instead, on ten days’ notice, the Province announced two-hour public meetings in a dozen cities across the province. In each case, four of the cities’ meetings will occur simultaneously.

“This alleged public consultation is a far cry from the kind of credible, transparent, thoughtful approach that Justice O’Connor led in the Walkerton Inquiry,” stated Theresa McClenaghan, counsel for the Canadian Environmental Law Association. “The issues at stake for Ontario in the electricity plan are no less significant than those associated with a reliable drinking water system for the province.”

“Premier McGuinty should break free of the nuclear cult that has invaded his office and engage in a meaningful energy dialogue with real Ontarians,” said Dan McDermott of Sierra Club of Canada.

"This decision is enormous and will affect Ontario residents, and their pocketbooks, for decades. There are safer, sustainable solutions that, like public input or an environmental assessment are being ignored. Premier McGuinty is trying to push through a supply mix utterly biased towards unsafe, unreliable and uneconomical nuclear power. We refuse to recognize the input from these meetings as proper public consultation,” stated Kim Fry of Toronto Environmental Alliance.

For more information contact:
Theresa McClenaghan, Canadian Environmental Law Association 416-960-2284 ext. 218
Dan McDermott, Sierra Club of Canada's Ontario Chapter Director 416-960-6075
Kim Fry, Toronto Environmental Alliance 416-596-0660
Background: see www.cela.ca
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