A group calling themselves the 'Meaford Against Gasification Group' (MAGG) is unhappy with the format of a January 10 public meeting organized by the municipality to discuss a proposed waste to energy facility, so they have organized a second meeting which will take place on January 6, in advance of the municipal meeting.
The format of the municipally organized meeting will see a presentation made by Kevin Alexander of Partners Energy Group (PEG); the company that the municipality is looking to partner with in the waste to energy venture.
Following the presentation by PEG, those in attendance will have a round table session to allow for questions to be formulated which will then be asked during an open question period.
That format doesn't cut it says MAGG who on their newly established facebook page ask why PEG is the only presenter.
“Why are residents of Meaford not entitled to hear the environmental perspective in a second presentation that will present accurate and real research about how this facility will impact their health, their agriculture and their community?” asked the group on facebook, “What happened to equity, fairness and freedom of expression?”
The group has arranged to host the additional public meeting on Friday January 6th at 7 pm in the auditorium of the Christ Church on Nelson Street.
“The MAGG Public Meeting will feature guest speaker, Liz Benneian from Oakvillegreen Conservation Association who has worked with Ontarians extensively around community incinerator issues. She will help to inform us about what PEG will present, and the critical questions we should be asking about gasification and how it affects our health & the environment at the January 10th 2012 meeting with them,” reads the announcement on facebook.
According to the website for Oakvillegreen, Benneian is a former journalist with a degree in science from the University of Toronto. Bennian is an advocate for environmental protection and sustainable community planning.
MAGG is encouraging residents to attend their meeting which is open to all, and to then take questions from their meeting to the January 10 municipal meeting.
That meeting will take place at the Meaford & St. Vincent Community Centre at 6 pm on Tuesday January 10, 2012.
In a press release issued on Tuesday December 13, the municipality said that the presentation by Kevin Alexander of Partners Energy Group will provide information about the overall project process and approval requirements, the technology proposed for the project including environmental considerations and the proposed business relationship between PEG and the Municipality of Meaford.
“We understand that there are significant questions and concerns in the community about this project. Council has asked me to arrange a public information meeting and I'm pleased that we're able to respond with this information session early in the new year. I hope we have a very large turnout, so that everyone in Meaford has a chance to learn more about the project,” said Meaford's CAO Frank Miele in the press release.
More information about MAGG and their upcoming public meeting can be found on their facebook page by clicking here.
Information about the proposed WTE facility can be found on the website for the Municipality of Meaford by clicking here.
