ST. PAUL – A group of residents spoke to the County of St. Paul council about the proposed development of the Pihew Waciy Wind farm project by Northland Power during a delegation at the Dec. 19 County council meeting.
“We are here today representing a large group of landowners and taxpayers who are strongly opposed and concerned as the Northland Power wind project is being developed here in such a highly populated area,” said Chris Habiak, a spokesperson with the group of residents.
Habiak said residents wanted to know the position the County of St. Paul was taking in regard to the project, and if they will be standing up for the landowners to “help preserve our community,” or “simply be rubber stamping it.”
“Remember why you were elected and what each of you promised to us,” said Habiak. “Today we are asking for your voice that you promised for us.”
He added, “We trust that you will question the approval process and speak out in opposition [to the project] in order for all of us to remain in this community that we call home, a community with strong moral values.”
Habiak concluded by saying residents are communicating with the provincial government and are in the process of retaining legal counsel with a “top” environmental firm “to access our rights.”
County of St. Paul Reeve Glen Ockerman said the municipality is also working to get legal direction, and that the correct legal procedure must be followed, lest it open the municipality to litigation.
Ockerman then reiterated what he previously told the group last month that the project falls under provincial jurisdiction, and not municipal. He said the County “must approve” the project if the AUC were to approve the project, citing the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
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County of St. Paul CAO Sheila Kitz also said the municipality has a “very limited ability” to what it can control.
“We've added information into the land use bylaw already regarding alternate energy projects,” said Kitz. “So, we're trying to be proactive about the things that the municipality can control.”
Kitz said there will be a development permit submitted to the County if the proposed project is approved, but any development permit that comes before the County would not be approved without a provincial approval.
Upon hearing the information, Habiak said the question on whether the County will “voice their objection” to the project or not remains.
Ockerman said County council is not asked for its approval during the approval process. And the reeve then asked for clarification on how many people the resident group represents.
According to Habiak, their group represents the “overwhelming majority” of landowners in the proposed project’s area, and that only a small number of individuals are in favour of the project.
When the delegation left, Ockerman asked that any new information going forward during the application process of the project to be forwarded to the resident group.
Ockerman also asked if the project had in fact been brought up six years ago, adding he was curious when the delegation mentioned the MD of Bonnyville was strongly opposed to the project when it was raised six years ago.
According to administration, there was no delegation or request for the County to have a position pertaining to the project six years ago.
Coun. Dale Hedrick suggested doing a poll of affected landowners to figure out who is opposed and who is in favour of the project, “so we know how many of our ratepayers this is affecting.”
Coun. Ross Krekoski said the problem with a sampled poll specifically to the project will not be reflective of the population, unlike an election “where everybody votes out of habit regardless of which way you vote.”
The council then motioned to accept the delegation item as information.
