Virtual town hall: Polluting gas plant expansion bids in Halton Hills and Greater Napanee

TORONTO, Nov. 22, 2023 /CNW/ - A coalition of health and environmental groups is calling attention to serious public health harms and unnecessary expensive tax burdens across Ontario posed by fossil gas-fired electricity expansions proposed in Halton Hills and Greater Napanee. Ontarians will gather with experts and local organizations at a virtual town hall on Monday, Nov. 27 at 7 p.m. ET to hear evidence, discuss questions, and learn how to take action to protect communities and the public's interests.

"Gas-fired electricity must be phased out urgently," says Dr. Mili Roy, regional co-chair of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) Ontario. "It escalates the climate crisis — the greatest human health crisis of our time — and drives deadly air pollution that already prematurely kills around 6,600 Ontarians costing nearly $50 billion every year. We cannot accept public money being used to undermine the public good. We are the last generation who can still make these choices." 

Halton Hills and Greater Napanee are two of several municipalities targeted as part of the provincial government's intention to increase fossil gas-fired electricity across Ontario in the midst of a climate crisis, after deliberately cancelling over 700 pre-existing clean energy projects at a cost of around $231 million to taxpayers. The coalition (Halton Hills Climate Action, Environmental Defence, Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), CAPE Ontario, The Atmospheric Fund, Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario) wants to ensure that Halton Hills, Greater Napanee and other affected citizens are fully informed of the irreversible implications of these decisions for themselves and all Ontarians. 

At the virtual town hall, speakers from the coalition will explain that expanding gas-fired electricity is an irresponsible and unnecessary move putting Ontario's public health, environment and energy affordability at risk, while further escalating the cost of living. 

Jack Gibbons, chair of OCAA and former Toronto Hydro commissioner, says it doesn't make sense to build a new fossil fuel gas plant in Halton Hills when the world is on fire and there are much cleaner and lower cost options to power air conditioners on hot summer days. "We hope that the towns of Halton Hills and Greater Napanee will join with Kingston, Thorold and Toronto to say 'no' to new gas plants in their communities."

Halton Hills' town council is expected to make a decision on Dec.11 and Greater Napanee's town council on Nov 28.  Ordinary citizens have the right and responsibility to have their say, and their voice can make a difference.

WHAT: A virtual town hall featuring a coalition of environmental and health groups to discuss the impacts the proposed new gas plant will have on Halton Hills and surrounding communities, and what residents can do to help stop it. Residents of the Greater Napanee area also invited to attend due to the simultaneous proposal for another gas plant expansion at the Napanee Generating Station.

WHEN: Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 at 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: Virtual via Zoom

WHO: Members of Environmental Defence, Halton Hills Climate Action Group, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Ontario, Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign and the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario.

Members of the media are invited to register online to attend. Details will be sent via email upon registration.

SOURCE Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario

Madison Scaini, Communications Officer/Writer Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, (RNAO), 1-800-268-7199 ext. 274, 416-408-5645, [e-mail]; Carolyn Townend, Communications Manager, Environmental Defence, 204-998-4117, [e-mail]