e-2860 (Environment)

Petition to Alex Ruff, Member of Parliament for Bruce—Grey—Owen Sound

• TC Energy is proposing to build a 1000 MW hydroelectric pumped storage plant at the Department of National Defense's military training base in Meaford, Ontario. Approximately 23 million cubic metres of water will be drawn from the Georgian Bay into a partially excavated reservoir surrounded by an embankment dam approximately 20 metres high with a footprint of approximately 375 acres atop the escarpment. This is being proposed to be built over an existing community of approximately 300 homes, farms and cottages, putting hundreds of people and livestock in harm's way and displacing wildlife;
• The nearest home resides 0.67 km directly below the embankment dam. The furthest home directly below is approximately 2 km. In the event of a catastrophic failure (sudden breach with uncontrolled release of water) there will be little to no warning to avoid injury, loss of life and property. We consider this a public safety issue;
• What are the long-term consequences of man-made seismic activity due to artillery detonation on the dam structure? What are the consequences should there be a catastrophic accident such as wayward munitions or an intentional act of malice? This will be a unique setting for a PSP;
• Local residents will endure four or more years of construction, causing noise, water and air pollution; and
• The water supply may be contaminated or destroyed.