31 March 2008

 

P.O. Box 265

Charlottetown, PEI

C1A 7K4

 

Mr. Shane Arbing

Provincial Parks Manager

Dept. of Tourism

P.O. Box 2000

Charlottetown, PEI

C1A 7N8

 

Dear Mr. Arbing:

 

First of all, on behalf of Prince Edward Island Trails Inc. I would like to thank you for providing us with an opportunity to comment on Maritime Electric’s request to Executive Council to run power lines along the 12.5 kms. of the Confederation Trail in the East Prince County Area. After meeting with Maritime Electric officials on two occasions, we wish to provide our comments concerning Maritime Electric’s request to Government:

 

- Our objections to this recent request by Maritime Electric is very similar to those provided in the past when different parties made other requests to use the trail corridor for uses other than what the trail was constructed for. The Confederation Trail has been built for the sole use and enjoyment of trail users, not to be used as a corridor for a utility company. We are very surprised that Government is even considering this request being made by Maritime Electric. It is in the best interest of our Province that this request be denied.

 

- Since taking over ownership of the abandoned rail line from the CNR in 1989, every attempt has been made to construct a world class shared – use walking and cycling trail, one that ensures that trail users are able to enjoy the pastoral landscape, woodlands, and waterways that one will experience while traveling the Confederation Trail. In winter the trail is turned over to snowmobiles. Besides being the first province in Canada to fully complete its section of the Trans Canada Trail, the Confederation Trail is a groomed tip to tip trail used for the enjoyment of cyclist, walkers, and snowmobile operators. The landscape around the trail has not been disturbed to any great extent; we wish to continue this excellent record.

 

 

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- The Confederation Trail represents the very best in shared – use trails in the world today. Its economic impact for the Province increases each year as the number of trail users increases.  In June 2003, Tom Couture, a world cross-country solo cyclist from Calgary, Alberta, cycled the Confederation Trail as part of his cross Canada, Trans Canada

Trail journey. Having completed his PEI part of the journey, Tom was quoted to have said, “I have traveled and cycled my bike in many countries including the United States, Mexico, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and France to name a few, and all have impressive cycling trail systems but Prince Edward Island’s Confederation Trail represents the very best I have ever seen.”

 

- Besides the negative impact that power lines would have to the trail user’s enjoyment of the trail, the trail’s infrastructure would be degraded by the use of Maritime Electric’s equipment on the trail. As shown recently during freezing rain storms, power lines require access and maintenance, the existing trail bed and surface was not constructed with this in mind. While assurances were given by Maritime Electric officials that their equipment would not cause damage to the trail’s infrastructure, considering the size and complexity of their equipment, we have difficulty accepting their assurances.

 

- While the use of the Confederation Trail corridor by Maritime Electric to erect power lines may help their business case, for the reasons outlined, they have to find alternative routes for the erection of their power lines. The Confederation Trail should not be one of their options.

 

- In meeting with the Maritime Electric officials, it became apparent that the new power lines will not be used to improve Islanders' power security but rather to transmit and sell power off island from a proposed new wind generator at West Point. While the environmental cost is clearly negative, the financial benefit for islanders will be at best minute, or as is more likely, non existent to negative. We urge the government to take into consideration all the costs and benefits from such a proposal.

 

Prince Edward Island Trails Inc. has experienced a great partnership with the Government of PEI. Governments help and assistance has always permitted our organization to hold events and activities for the enjoyment of trail users and we very much appreciate being asked for our opinions and recommendations on matters affecting our network of Island trails. We strongly recommend to government that this request being made by Maritime Electric be denied.

Yours truly,

 

 

_______________________________________

Denis W. Dunne, President

Prince Edward IslandTrailsInc.         

 

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