Dalton McGuinty government, Enbridge win big at annual awards ceremony

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - With less than a week to go as leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Dalton McGuinty received a "Lifetime Achievement" in Wind Concerns Ontario's Golden Pinwheels mock awards ceremony Friday.

More than 50 representatives of Ontario communities met in London, Ontario for the awards and a convention. "McGuinty spent billions of dollars on expensive and uneconomic wind and solar projects," said vice-president Parker Gallant presenting the award. "By 2016, Ontario consumers will be paying $2,055 a year more for electricity—that's a shocking legacy."

Other winners included energy giant Enbridge for "good corporate citizen" of the year for ignoring families made ill by noise from its Kincardine wind power project. Tied for mock "environmentalist of the year" were the Ministry of the Environment for approving a wind power project in a fragile natural environment in Prince Edward County and the Ministry of Natural Resources or MNR, for approving the destruction of a Bald Eagle nest to make way for a wind power project.

"The MNR ought to be called the 'Ministry of Nothing Refused'," said president Jane Wilson.

Wind Concerns Ontario is a coalition of individuals and community groups concerned about the negative impacts of large-scale wind power projects on health, the environment and the economy. WCO calls for a halt to approvals on all new wind power projects, rigorous noise testing on existing projects, immediate development of protocols for measurement of infrasound, and compensation for people who are now ill and unable to live in their homes.

http://www.windconcernsontario.ca

SOURCE: Wind Concerns Ontario

Contact: Parker Gallant 416-282-9372

Jane Wilson 613-489-3591 or 613-725-7120