Avia Eek's Comments

Congrats Avia: Good luck with your new political career.
From your friends at OntAg.

Avia for King...it has a nice sound.

Good luck,

Joe

Good luck Avia on your Council Election run....look out Council....
All the best.

A little typo in my paragraph" ...apparently, there will be a negligible..." should read, "...apparently, there will be no negligible...".

It does SOUND promising, but this small victory is only at the municipal level, although we will take what we can get to stop this ill-advised project. The provincial government initiated this project with layers of conditions that would have to be met by the proponent, and decided upon by lower-tiered authorities. So, you would think, in the grand scheme of things that our municipality, knowing what is best for its residents, would actually HAVE the final say in this regard, but no. We still have to go to OMB and hope they give us their blessing. The provincial government can still step in and say the peaker plant will be built here, but for now it is halted. Infrastructure can be put into an area of the Greenbelt under the Green Energy Act as long as it "supports" agriculture, and is compatible with it, or words to that effect. The proponent interprets this to mean that since we use electricity, this power plant is compatible with agriculture--quite a twist, in my opinion. What I'd like to know, however, is why OMAFRA has on their website what damage is caused to crops as a result of air pollution, yet where this power plant is concerned, apparently there will be a negligible effect on crops! Hard to believe since it would be emitting nitrous oxide, VOS volatile something or other, PM2.5 (particulate matter) that is known to cause respiratory problems, etc. and is considered "air pollution". Further, in my opinion, the proper studies were NOT conducted properly. Hell, the environmental assessment for this facility (393 MW, natural gas-fired, simple cycle power plant running at 35% efficienty) is the same as a 2 MW windmill. I'm no scientist, but even I know there is a huge difference is these two forms of energy makers.

Congrats.... It sounds promising that the gov't has listened to your group...
Good luck.

Yes I am the person who was elected vice chair of AAC. Thanks

Thanks Rein. Our operation is 85 acres, and my husband works off the farm in the winter, but I would say you could JUST make a living with 35 acres. We are definitely affected by the imports from other countries--especially pricewise. Many of our trading partners do not have the same rules and regulations for food production, food safety, human resources, etc. that we must adhere to, therefore, their costs are considerably lower. Consumers like lower prices. On the other hand, 40%-50% of the produce in the Holland Marsh is exported as well. Naturally, we would prefer Canadians to be benefiting from our produce, but it's a global market, and it's out of our hands unless the Consumer is educated as to the benefits of eating local, and they start demanding more locally grown food.

Hello Avia,

congratulation with keeping your seat.
now a question
how big of a producer do you need to be to be able to have living and make payments and how are you effected by the imports who likely not meat allour production standard.

Hi Avia: I was wondering what Sobey's position on supporting Canadian Agriculture was....is it lip service or are they committing resources? Thanks, Joe

Hi Avia,

I hope the rest of the Soup-a-Licious event was a success. Saturday's soup sampling sure seemed to be going well!

I discovered this site through Twitter, which I signed up for on Friday (www.twitter.com/edibleTORONTO). What a great resource!

Warm regards,
Gail

Are there any other Holland Marsh, or even horticulture producers out there?