NEWS ARTICLE
Power Lines on Confereration Trail
September 29, 2008 — Barbara A Trainor, Vice-Presid
July 2, 2008
Hon Robert Ghiz, Premier
Hon George Webster, Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry
Hon Valerie Docherty, Minister of Tourism
P.O. Box 2000
Charlottetown, PEI
C1A 7N8
Dear Mr Premier, Minister Webster, Minister Docherty:
Over the past few months Island Trails Inc has been approached to provide feedback on the issue of using an 11.4 km section of the Confederation Trail as part of a corridor for high tension transmission lines. Our objections to that request were clearly stated in a March 30th letter to officials in the Department of Tourism, Minister of Tourism Valerie Docherty, and Premier Ghiz.
We were shocked to learn last week of a public meeting on a proposed alternate route that extended the construction of power lines to include an additional 12km section as well as the original 11.4km.
In response to this we would like to make the following points:
-
The developments at West Point by SUEZ Energy are a business proposal intended to generate power to be sold on a power hungry market. The new power lines will not be used to improve Islanders' power security but rather to transmit and sell power off island. It is apparent that citizens of PEI have little to gain from this initiative and stand to suffer the negative environmental impact.
-
Confederation Trail is one of PEI’s 12 Provincial Parks. It is difficult to comprehend the rationale of PEI Government in exploiting a world class trail system for the gain of private enterprise or government.
-
The Department of Transportation officials have already stated their concerns regarding the damage the trail bed on the original proposed route. They indicated that they have “very real concerns of a project of this nature in such an environmentally sensitive area that is susceptible to damage at various time of the year”.
-
Since 2005, Island Trails has participated in an extensive trail development project with TIAPEI based on the Baker Consulting PEI Confederation Trail Development study. Over $400,000 has been spent on improvements to the Confederation Trail during Phase I of this project. The second phase of this project includes over $1,000,000 in investment to improve aesthetic quality, interpretation, marketing, and potential expansion of the Trail.
We would like to ensure that the tourism industry, in partnership with ACOA, would continue to make such an investment to enhance a resource the Province seems to be prepared to devalue.
-
In response to the concerns of citizens and trail users in Prince County regarding the original proposed corridor, it is my understanding that Maritime Electric presented several alternate proposals to government for consideration, many of which did not involve the use of the Confederation Trail.
The Confederation Trail has been built for the sole use and enjoyment of trail users, not for the use as a corridor for high tension power lines by a utility company. Destinations Canada markets the Confederation Trail in other countries as one the Top 7 Cycling experiences in Canada, and it is invaluable resource to residents and tourists.
We request that you re-examine the proposed routes and remove all involvement of the Confederation Trail in any proposed power corridor.
Yours truly,
_______________________________________
Barbara A Trainor, Vice-President
Prince Edward Island Trails Inc.
Cc: Hon Ron McKinley, Minister of Transportation and Public Works
Hon Richard Brown, Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning
Hon Carolyn Bertram, Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs, Labour
Hon Allan Campbell, Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Rural Development
Hon Doug Currie, Minister of Health, Social Services and Seniors
Hon Gerard Greenan, Minister of Education, Early Childhood Development
Hon Neil LeClair, Minister of Agriculture
Hon Wes Sheridan, Provincial Treasurer
Hon Olive Crane, Leader of the Opposition
Mr Don Cudmore, Executive Director TIAPEI
Mr Fred O’Brien, President, Maritime Electric
« Back