Nuclear Power Plant in the Peace River Area - From Emily
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:06 pmNuclear Power Plant in the Peace River Area - From Emily in Sauble Beach, Ontario – February 15, 2010
Before I get to the “long type” here, I will let you know that as soon as I heard of Peace River – and that Bruce Power was interested in constructing a Nuclear Plant there - I have had, for some strange reason, not been able to let this go. For weeks now, I have felt in the very pit of my Being a need to Write, and then to connect with someone, and to share the little bit that I can share of my own experiences (as well as those of my Family), in living in an area that is very largely affected by Bruce Power. So, this a different side to the Nuclear Power Plant issue.
When we found out that David Suzuki/ The Nature of Things was airing an overview of the issues facing all of you in Peace River, I made a point of ensuring that I watched the broadcast on February 11. My intuition was shouting to me that there would be something there – something important – that I just HAD to see…And as always, I was not being led astray…As soon as I saw Lorraine Jensen’s face, I could feel this dear woman’s angst, angst that lasted throughout the entire hour-long program. It was Lorraine – perhaps more than anyone else who spoke during the program – that has catapulted me headlong into jotting notes, re-watching the show (we taped it), jotting more notes, and now – transcribing it all and getting this out to you as soon as I possibly could!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(NOTE: WATCH: "My Nuclear Neighbour" – Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
ALSO Online: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/
The_Nature_of_Things/ID=1410952626)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So here goes!
Part One – The Affect on Local Economy(s)
Key phrase – as goes Bruce Power, so goes our financial economics
Had Lorraine and Brenda journeyed just a little bit further north of Kincardine, they would have happened upon the town of Port Elgin first, and then a little further north on the highway, Southampton as well. Both of these towns were originally ‘agricultural’ towns for the most part – which provided a variety of retail and professional services, grocery stores, churches, small movie houses, schools (primary and secondary) etc., and in Southampton a small hospital as well. The full-time residents were (and still are) families of course, but also retirees – some being farmers who have passed the family farm on to the next generation, and also summer tourists/cottagers who had fled the larger cities to enjoy a slower pace of life, clean air, and an enchanting mix of the beautiful shorelines of Lake Huron, coupled the plethora of wildlife and wild spaces that thrive here.
It is the changes in these two towns that have for the most part, prompted me to write, for they – perhaps more so than Kincardine - have been and continue to be affected greatly by the influence of Bruce Power. There are two parts to the story, and I’ll start with the “development” part first…
“Development” has become a hot issue for both Port Elgin and Southampton. Whole large parcels of agricultural land have been sold for the purpose of housing developments, and one for a very large grocery store and parking lot. And at the south end of Port Elgin now stands a large Walmart, which from the get-go was a large issue of concern for a number of area residents (opposed to not only the actual construction, but also in hopes of maintaining a thriving downtown core in Port Elgin).
With the increasing housing developments coupled with the “what the market will bear” attitude, housing prices, rental housing prices and property taxes continue to increase substantially in these towns. This of course affects everyone...and especially so for those NOT employed at Bruce Power. Bruce Power employs many people, and mostly imported, well-educated, highly trained people. They are the MOST highly paid workers in this entire area. And on top of the high wages, the benefit packages of the Bruce Workers employees are also very generous as well.
Now, it makes sense of course that ‘development’ would have to happen. But due to the “wealth” generated by the very high wages and hefty benefit packages that Bruce Power workers enjoy, much of our local economies are now reflected in those wages, and what those ‘elite many’ wages will and can afford. For example, in addition to Walmart, we now sport three very large pharmacy/drugstores between the two towns of “South” and “Port”. Over the last 5 years in Southampton, two new very high-end clothing stores have set up shop, as well as rather pricey shoe store. These three stores appear to be thriving...though many of the long-time residents either can not or will not afford to shop there. I just had our youngest dog in for her Spay surgery last week. We couldn’t afford to have the surgery in either Southampton or Port Elgin (though there are vet clinics in both of these towns). Instead, we packed up our dog, and drove her to a clinic in Paisley -a farming community 45 minutes drive (one way) south of here - to have her surgery. In doing so, we saved $181.98 on the cost of the same surgery/suture removal had we had it done ‘locally’. Bruce Power wages (“what the market will bear”) have affected many such services in this area…and not just the vets.
As far as our Real Estate markets go – prices (especially in Southampton and Port Elgin) have gotten VERY high indeed. The lakeshore areas are the most prominent of these prices, and one of the best examples of what’s happening since Bruce Power took over the Plant in the last decade…
Lakeshore properties have always been higher priced than inland properties and buildings. That’s a given. Ten years ago, you could purchase a good-sized lakefront home on the lakeshore road for upwards of $250,000.00. This was for a newer home, and I will mention now that many of the properties back then were actually long-time family cottages, used in warm-weather seasons only.
Enter Bruce Power, and Bruce-Power-paid-workers. Many of the older cottages were bought, dozed, and in their place was built expensive (albeit gorgeous) mega-homes. Property taxes increased accordingly (which had town councils laughing all the way to the bank).
Ten years later, the mega-homes dominate the shorelines now…many “worth” upward of a million dollars. For the homes still left intact from years ago – well, their taxes have risen to the point where some families can’t afford their homes any longer, and are now faced with selling due to high taxes.
This brings me to Part Two of this message, aptly entitled,
“The Division of Community” (i.e. - the Residents)
Because the “financial” and economic lines have been so drastically drawn, this has created an obvious separation within our communities. In other words, you are either a “Hydroid” (a Bruce Power Worker, or a member of an employees’ family, and “Rich”), or you’re not. There is very little “grey area” in between the two groups.
What does this look like within our communities? Here are some examples –
My kids attend(ed) secondary school in Port Elgin (our youngest is still attending, he’s in grade 11 this year), at their request. Their experiences at Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS for short) were - for the most part – wonderful and happy, with stories that will last a lifetime. SDSS had mostly teachers, a awesome administration (at the time) and a camaraderie all ‘round that can only be found within a smaller community school. However, there was one exception that was reported to me by my daughter – who informed me (and not in a bad way) that the girls whose parents worked at The Bruce did not socialize at all with the girls who were not ‘Bruce Employee Kids’. When I asked how this happened (how would they have known who was who unless otherwise informed) – it was because of the clothes that the ‘Hydroid kids’ wore. My daughter and her friends shop at places in the area where clothes are ‘affordable’. And the kids have no problem with that, none at all! However, the children of the Bruce Power workers are privy to a wardrobe that does not come out of Zellers, Giant Tiger Discount or Walmart. Rather, it comes out of very pricey-by-comparison clothing shops, jeans stores and shoe stores. So things get “noticeable”. I’m not saying there was animosity between the kids (there wasn’t), just a division, because of where parents work and what can be afforded.
This goes on within the community with adults as well. For example, my family does not have extended health care insurance (which typically covers the cost of basic dental services, prescription drugs, etc). And when we visit professionals within the community, it is necessary to divulge this on a regular basis (many conversations with said professionals begin with, “I’m NOT A HYDROID!!!”) . Whether it be a dentist (so they will understand why we cannot afford a yearly cleaning/and de-scaling or that root canal), or a plumber, or a contractor, or a chiropractor, or the pharmacist - we who are not employed by Bruce Power do not have the same kinds of paychecks & benefits as do Bruce Power workers. At one time (not too long ago), the local dentists here had two fee schedules – one for ‘insured patients’, and one for the ‘not insured’. That way most people could afford at least some level of dental care. Unfortunately, the insurance companies found out, and decided that this – in their thinking - was “price fixing”, so deemed it illegal, and now everyone is subject to the same price for services – and many families cannot afford a dentist. Just yesterday, there was a ‘free clinic” held in this area to serve children (up to 17 or 18 years of age?) whose parents cannot afford dental care.
Two years ago, after my lone angelfish died (the last of my adventures in tropical fish!), I decided to donate my aquariums and supplies to a little pet store in Port Elgin. I phoned the women who owned and ran it, and they were thrilled to hear that I was bringing out my offerings for them.
When I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms. After my van was unloaded, I was invited to tour their little place, which was not only a pet store now, but also a part-time drop in center for some of the less fortunate (young!) kids in the area. After I toured and talked with some of the kids, I turned my attention again to these dear ladies, wishing them well and “if’ there’s anything I can do…” as well. One of them looked at me point blank in my eyes, and said, “Em, there are two classes of people here now…there are the very rich, and the very poor. We’re here doing our best we can for those that are the very poor…”
I had to fight back the tears that day….
On the upside though, I know of ONE apartment building in Port Elgin that flatly does not and will not rent any of their units to Bruce Power Workers. Instead, they have chosen to keep their rental rents within reason, so that local people NOT employed at the Bruce can actually rent an apartment that they can afford. (Way to go!!!)
On to Part Three – “Stuff You Might Assume, But Shouldn’t!!!”
If anyone believes that Bruce Power (if it gets in at Peace River) will provide the area with lots of jobs for the community – please think again… There was a time in the past when The Plant probably did hire lesser-skilled or lesser-educated employees, but that is not the case with Bruce Power as we know it. For the most part, employees must be highly educated, and highly skilled people (and I will honestly not fault them for that), and they are paid accordingly. MANY of the people employed at The Bruce are what Lorraine and Brenda heard about in Kincardine – TRANSPLANTS. The Bruce has no problem hiring people from anywhere across the Globe, as long as they are qualified, and meet up with Bruce Power’s policies of excellence.
If anyone believes that your hydro costs in Peace River will go down should you OK the Nuclear Power Plant – they won’t. In 2001, just before Bruce Power took over operations in Kincardine, our hydro rates were at 8.02cents per KW. In December 2009, the rates here are at 13.36cents per KW, and we are also being charged $43.00 with each billing for “debt reduction charge” for the nuclear power plant debt that was incurred when the government owned/operated it. And just to let you know, we have heard that ‘approval’ has been given for a 25% increase in rates over the next 3 years. (Right up there on the ol’ yikes scale indeed!)
There’s one other thing you will need to consider too – and that is the “Power Towers” (my word for those ‘high tension’ multiple power line jobbies ) that will have to be constructed right through not only the Peace River district, but through the rest of Alberta to get the power from the Nuclear Plant to where they will sell it (I’ve heard that may be to California???). This will mean that many, MANY more acres of farmland will be needed for the construction. Please get educated about this, and about the EMF’s (electro-magnetic fields) that will be all around the Power Towers. They are dangerous and health hazards to anything living (from livestock to humans to plants to soil). Harrowsmith magazine was talking about these twenty years ago now…please keep these Towers in mind when making your choice…it’s imperative that you do…
And Lastly but not Leastly – Part Four – “Footnotes”
There are a couple of things I’d just like to add here – not because they are of major import, but rather because I feel they need to be said anyway…
When I was growing up, the family had two cottages just south of where we’re living now. We’d come up here every weekend from May 24 to Thanksgiving, and week-longs for vacation. And something happened when I was just a wee girly (this would’ve been late 1960’s…maybe ‘67 or ’68?), and I would like to share it.
For an entire summer one year, in maybe June (?), we were greeted at the shoreline by THOUSANDS of dead fish. Yes, you read that correctly – THOUSANDS of fish, dead or in the process of dying. The lakeshore at our cottages was not sandy (as is our Main Beach here in Sauble, or for that matter in Kincardine), but rather rocky – lots of huge, round boulders or coarse gravel. That summer, you couldn’t see the boulders – every crack and crevice and space between the rocks was full of dead/dying fish, and most all of the shoreline was covered feet-deep in this mess. Every day we had rough water (or even just little waves) brought MORE dead fish ashore. This went on all summer long. We had bonfires at least twice weekly to burn the fish, but more and more just kept coming in. And when our parents took us to the Main Beach in Sauble (in hopes that we could go swimming) we had to arm ourselves with garden rakes to clear a spot on the sand to sit. Swimming was almost impossible that year. It was a summer of horror and stench beyond belief. Up until I did some research for this article, I had always wondered what that summer was all about.
According to my research, after the Nuclear Power plant here was originally constructed, apparently there was a real problem with the Plant leaking “heavy water” into our Lake Huron, and regularly so. This is no doubt what killed off those fish that year. And I do remember that we were told to NOT drink the water out of the Lake ever again…but as kids we were never told why…Now I know. I wonder if the ‘adults’ ever found out way back then too…
For the record, I most certainly doubt this will happen again. There has been 40 years of not only safer technologies, but also a lot of effort to keep things as safe as possible with regard to Nuclear Energy.
However, things CAN go wrong with anything human-made, and Nuclear Power Plants are no exception. I know Bruce Power does its best, but the fact is, accidents can happen. And in this area where I live (about an hour’s drive north from The Bruce), if a serious nuclear accident happens – we are gonna be nuked, if not by the actual event, then by winds that will bring blow killer radiation all over this Province. Living up here means that this is in the back of my mind, not constantly, but certainly regularly. And especially now since things like Haiti are happening, with more to come no doubt.
If Peace River decides to go ahead with a Nuclear Power Plant, these concerns will become a part of your life too. It’s akin to sometimes ‘looking over your shoulder’, or perhaps thinking about it a lot after your first grandchild has been born.
If you don’t believe that having a Nuclear Power Plant in your area is not a threat to “security”, think again. The thought of “terrorist” attacks here in peaceful Canada never entered my mind, not one bit. Until one early September morn, when I was blissfully sipping away at my coffee in my garage, enjoying the reborn quiet of all my kids being back in school so I could finally have some alone time to myself. Ahhhh, what I beautiful day it was!
Until the jets arrived. They were fighter jets, moving at incredible speeds above our area, flying fast enough and low enough that when they passed – the windows and doors in the house shook, the noise was deafening and threatening all at the same time, sending me into a frenzy and my dogs racing to hide in the closets downstairs.
In between the flybys, I got myself to the phone and called the local airport. I asked the controller what was going on, who was flying over – and why? He simply replied, “sorry Ma’am, that is classified”, and he hung up.
The date that day? September 11, 2002…The first anniversary of what we now call “9-11”. Our airways here were being patrolled by the Canadian Military that entire day, because of the Nuclear Power Plant in Kincardine…just in case. I never would’ve thought, but I do now. Every Sept 11th (even though there have been no ‘flybys’ since) or every time I read the word “terrorist activity”. Does this bug or worry me every single day? No, it doesn’t. But it is always, “back there” somewhere in my mind.
Hope you don’t mind that I added these stories to the end of this long document. I hope that I’ve been able to share information with you that you’d otherwise not thought about…I hope what I’ve shared can fill in some of the spaces that I KNOW weren’t filled before. I hope that what I’ve offered here can help you all to make the best decision you can in beautiful Peace River. From what I’ve seen of Peace River, You are awesome stewards OF THE LAND. Please remember Her in your choices as well...
Bless You ALL!
Emily in Sauble
= = = = = =
WATCH: "My Nuclear Neighbour" – Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
ALSO Online: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/
The_Nature_of_Things/ID=1410952626
Imagine that one morning you wake up to find out your next-door neighbour may be a nuclear power plant.
There was a time when we thought atomic power would solve all our energy needs. That promise lost its lustre in cost overruns, accidents and cover-ups. Now after decades of fading into the background the nuclear power industry is poised for a comeback. In Canada, and around the world, the nuclear industry is rebranding itself as the only practical solution to global warming.
This is a story of global importance – it’s also a very local story. It’s a tale of two small towns: one in rural Ontario that has been a centre of nuclear power almost as long as there has been nuclear power. The other is in the legendary Peace country of Northern Alberta, where residents woke up one day to hear that Alberta’s first nuclear power facility might be moving in next door.
We travel with Lorraine Jensen and Brenda McSween from their farms in Peace River, Alberta to Kincardine, Ontario searching for answers to questions that are dividing their once harmonious community.
My Nuclear Neighbour is written and produced by Donna and Daniel Zuckerbrot for Reel Time Images.
The episode focuses on Bruce Power's efforts to build new reactors in the Peace River region of Alberta, Canada. Bruce Power owns and operates the largest nuclear power plant in North America, and the second biggest in the world, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, just 50 miles from Michigan. The program will feature Montreal-based Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, who, along with Michael Keegan of the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes of Monroe, Michigan co-chairs the Great Lakes United Nuclear-Free/Green Energy Task Force, upon which Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps has served for a decade.
Before I get to the “long type” here, I will let you know that as soon as I heard of Peace River – and that Bruce Power was interested in constructing a Nuclear Plant there - I have had, for some strange reason, not been able to let this go. For weeks now, I have felt in the very pit of my Being a need to Write, and then to connect with someone, and to share the little bit that I can share of my own experiences (as well as those of my Family), in living in an area that is very largely affected by Bruce Power. So, this a different side to the Nuclear Power Plant issue.
When we found out that David Suzuki/ The Nature of Things was airing an overview of the issues facing all of you in Peace River, I made a point of ensuring that I watched the broadcast on February 11. My intuition was shouting to me that there would be something there – something important – that I just HAD to see…And as always, I was not being led astray…As soon as I saw Lorraine Jensen’s face, I could feel this dear woman’s angst, angst that lasted throughout the entire hour-long program. It was Lorraine – perhaps more than anyone else who spoke during the program – that has catapulted me headlong into jotting notes, re-watching the show (we taped it), jotting more notes, and now – transcribing it all and getting this out to you as soon as I possibly could!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(NOTE: WATCH: "My Nuclear Neighbour" – Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
ALSO Online: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/
The_Nature_of_Things/ID=1410952626)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
So here goes!
Part One – The Affect on Local Economy(s)
Key phrase – as goes Bruce Power, so goes our financial economics
Had Lorraine and Brenda journeyed just a little bit further north of Kincardine, they would have happened upon the town of Port Elgin first, and then a little further north on the highway, Southampton as well. Both of these towns were originally ‘agricultural’ towns for the most part – which provided a variety of retail and professional services, grocery stores, churches, small movie houses, schools (primary and secondary) etc., and in Southampton a small hospital as well. The full-time residents were (and still are) families of course, but also retirees – some being farmers who have passed the family farm on to the next generation, and also summer tourists/cottagers who had fled the larger cities to enjoy a slower pace of life, clean air, and an enchanting mix of the beautiful shorelines of Lake Huron, coupled the plethora of wildlife and wild spaces that thrive here.
It is the changes in these two towns that have for the most part, prompted me to write, for they – perhaps more so than Kincardine - have been and continue to be affected greatly by the influence of Bruce Power. There are two parts to the story, and I’ll start with the “development” part first…
“Development” has become a hot issue for both Port Elgin and Southampton. Whole large parcels of agricultural land have been sold for the purpose of housing developments, and one for a very large grocery store and parking lot. And at the south end of Port Elgin now stands a large Walmart, which from the get-go was a large issue of concern for a number of area residents (opposed to not only the actual construction, but also in hopes of maintaining a thriving downtown core in Port Elgin).
With the increasing housing developments coupled with the “what the market will bear” attitude, housing prices, rental housing prices and property taxes continue to increase substantially in these towns. This of course affects everyone...and especially so for those NOT employed at Bruce Power. Bruce Power employs many people, and mostly imported, well-educated, highly trained people. They are the MOST highly paid workers in this entire area. And on top of the high wages, the benefit packages of the Bruce Workers employees are also very generous as well.
Now, it makes sense of course that ‘development’ would have to happen. But due to the “wealth” generated by the very high wages and hefty benefit packages that Bruce Power workers enjoy, much of our local economies are now reflected in those wages, and what those ‘elite many’ wages will and can afford. For example, in addition to Walmart, we now sport three very large pharmacy/drugstores between the two towns of “South” and “Port”. Over the last 5 years in Southampton, two new very high-end clothing stores have set up shop, as well as rather pricey shoe store. These three stores appear to be thriving...though many of the long-time residents either can not or will not afford to shop there. I just had our youngest dog in for her Spay surgery last week. We couldn’t afford to have the surgery in either Southampton or Port Elgin (though there are vet clinics in both of these towns). Instead, we packed up our dog, and drove her to a clinic in Paisley -a farming community 45 minutes drive (one way) south of here - to have her surgery. In doing so, we saved $181.98 on the cost of the same surgery/suture removal had we had it done ‘locally’. Bruce Power wages (“what the market will bear”) have affected many such services in this area…and not just the vets.
As far as our Real Estate markets go – prices (especially in Southampton and Port Elgin) have gotten VERY high indeed. The lakeshore areas are the most prominent of these prices, and one of the best examples of what’s happening since Bruce Power took over the Plant in the last decade…
Lakeshore properties have always been higher priced than inland properties and buildings. That’s a given. Ten years ago, you could purchase a good-sized lakefront home on the lakeshore road for upwards of $250,000.00. This was for a newer home, and I will mention now that many of the properties back then were actually long-time family cottages, used in warm-weather seasons only.
Enter Bruce Power, and Bruce-Power-paid-workers. Many of the older cottages were bought, dozed, and in their place was built expensive (albeit gorgeous) mega-homes. Property taxes increased accordingly (which had town councils laughing all the way to the bank).
Ten years later, the mega-homes dominate the shorelines now…many “worth” upward of a million dollars. For the homes still left intact from years ago – well, their taxes have risen to the point where some families can’t afford their homes any longer, and are now faced with selling due to high taxes.
This brings me to Part Two of this message, aptly entitled,
“The Division of Community” (i.e. - the Residents)
Because the “financial” and economic lines have been so drastically drawn, this has created an obvious separation within our communities. In other words, you are either a “Hydroid” (a Bruce Power Worker, or a member of an employees’ family, and “Rich”), or you’re not. There is very little “grey area” in between the two groups.
What does this look like within our communities? Here are some examples –
My kids attend(ed) secondary school in Port Elgin (our youngest is still attending, he’s in grade 11 this year), at their request. Their experiences at Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS for short) were - for the most part – wonderful and happy, with stories that will last a lifetime. SDSS had mostly teachers, a awesome administration (at the time) and a camaraderie all ‘round that can only be found within a smaller community school. However, there was one exception that was reported to me by my daughter – who informed me (and not in a bad way) that the girls whose parents worked at The Bruce did not socialize at all with the girls who were not ‘Bruce Employee Kids’. When I asked how this happened (how would they have known who was who unless otherwise informed) – it was because of the clothes that the ‘Hydroid kids’ wore. My daughter and her friends shop at places in the area where clothes are ‘affordable’. And the kids have no problem with that, none at all! However, the children of the Bruce Power workers are privy to a wardrobe that does not come out of Zellers, Giant Tiger Discount or Walmart. Rather, it comes out of very pricey-by-comparison clothing shops, jeans stores and shoe stores. So things get “noticeable”. I’m not saying there was animosity between the kids (there wasn’t), just a division, because of where parents work and what can be afforded.
This goes on within the community with adults as well. For example, my family does not have extended health care insurance (which typically covers the cost of basic dental services, prescription drugs, etc). And when we visit professionals within the community, it is necessary to divulge this on a regular basis (many conversations with said professionals begin with, “I’m NOT A HYDROID!!!”) . Whether it be a dentist (so they will understand why we cannot afford a yearly cleaning/and de-scaling or that root canal), or a plumber, or a contractor, or a chiropractor, or the pharmacist - we who are not employed by Bruce Power do not have the same kinds of paychecks & benefits as do Bruce Power workers. At one time (not too long ago), the local dentists here had two fee schedules – one for ‘insured patients’, and one for the ‘not insured’. That way most people could afford at least some level of dental care. Unfortunately, the insurance companies found out, and decided that this – in their thinking - was “price fixing”, so deemed it illegal, and now everyone is subject to the same price for services – and many families cannot afford a dentist. Just yesterday, there was a ‘free clinic” held in this area to serve children (up to 17 or 18 years of age?) whose parents cannot afford dental care.
Two years ago, after my lone angelfish died (the last of my adventures in tropical fish!), I decided to donate my aquariums and supplies to a little pet store in Port Elgin. I phoned the women who owned and ran it, and they were thrilled to hear that I was bringing out my offerings for them.
When I arrived, I was welcomed with open arms. After my van was unloaded, I was invited to tour their little place, which was not only a pet store now, but also a part-time drop in center for some of the less fortunate (young!) kids in the area. After I toured and talked with some of the kids, I turned my attention again to these dear ladies, wishing them well and “if’ there’s anything I can do…” as well. One of them looked at me point blank in my eyes, and said, “Em, there are two classes of people here now…there are the very rich, and the very poor. We’re here doing our best we can for those that are the very poor…”
I had to fight back the tears that day….
On the upside though, I know of ONE apartment building in Port Elgin that flatly does not and will not rent any of their units to Bruce Power Workers. Instead, they have chosen to keep their rental rents within reason, so that local people NOT employed at the Bruce can actually rent an apartment that they can afford. (Way to go!!!)
On to Part Three – “Stuff You Might Assume, But Shouldn’t!!!”
If anyone believes that Bruce Power (if it gets in at Peace River) will provide the area with lots of jobs for the community – please think again… There was a time in the past when The Plant probably did hire lesser-skilled or lesser-educated employees, but that is not the case with Bruce Power as we know it. For the most part, employees must be highly educated, and highly skilled people (and I will honestly not fault them for that), and they are paid accordingly. MANY of the people employed at The Bruce are what Lorraine and Brenda heard about in Kincardine – TRANSPLANTS. The Bruce has no problem hiring people from anywhere across the Globe, as long as they are qualified, and meet up with Bruce Power’s policies of excellence.
If anyone believes that your hydro costs in Peace River will go down should you OK the Nuclear Power Plant – they won’t. In 2001, just before Bruce Power took over operations in Kincardine, our hydro rates were at 8.02cents per KW. In December 2009, the rates here are at 13.36cents per KW, and we are also being charged $43.00 with each billing for “debt reduction charge” for the nuclear power plant debt that was incurred when the government owned/operated it. And just to let you know, we have heard that ‘approval’ has been given for a 25% increase in rates over the next 3 years. (Right up there on the ol’ yikes scale indeed!)
There’s one other thing you will need to consider too – and that is the “Power Towers” (my word for those ‘high tension’ multiple power line jobbies ) that will have to be constructed right through not only the Peace River district, but through the rest of Alberta to get the power from the Nuclear Plant to where they will sell it (I’ve heard that may be to California???). This will mean that many, MANY more acres of farmland will be needed for the construction. Please get educated about this, and about the EMF’s (electro-magnetic fields) that will be all around the Power Towers. They are dangerous and health hazards to anything living (from livestock to humans to plants to soil). Harrowsmith magazine was talking about these twenty years ago now…please keep these Towers in mind when making your choice…it’s imperative that you do…
And Lastly but not Leastly – Part Four – “Footnotes”
There are a couple of things I’d just like to add here – not because they are of major import, but rather because I feel they need to be said anyway…
When I was growing up, the family had two cottages just south of where we’re living now. We’d come up here every weekend from May 24 to Thanksgiving, and week-longs for vacation. And something happened when I was just a wee girly (this would’ve been late 1960’s…maybe ‘67 or ’68?), and I would like to share it.
For an entire summer one year, in maybe June (?), we were greeted at the shoreline by THOUSANDS of dead fish. Yes, you read that correctly – THOUSANDS of fish, dead or in the process of dying. The lakeshore at our cottages was not sandy (as is our Main Beach here in Sauble, or for that matter in Kincardine), but rather rocky – lots of huge, round boulders or coarse gravel. That summer, you couldn’t see the boulders – every crack and crevice and space between the rocks was full of dead/dying fish, and most all of the shoreline was covered feet-deep in this mess. Every day we had rough water (or even just little waves) brought MORE dead fish ashore. This went on all summer long. We had bonfires at least twice weekly to burn the fish, but more and more just kept coming in. And when our parents took us to the Main Beach in Sauble (in hopes that we could go swimming) we had to arm ourselves with garden rakes to clear a spot on the sand to sit. Swimming was almost impossible that year. It was a summer of horror and stench beyond belief. Up until I did some research for this article, I had always wondered what that summer was all about.
According to my research, after the Nuclear Power plant here was originally constructed, apparently there was a real problem with the Plant leaking “heavy water” into our Lake Huron, and regularly so. This is no doubt what killed off those fish that year. And I do remember that we were told to NOT drink the water out of the Lake ever again…but as kids we were never told why…Now I know. I wonder if the ‘adults’ ever found out way back then too…
For the record, I most certainly doubt this will happen again. There has been 40 years of not only safer technologies, but also a lot of effort to keep things as safe as possible with regard to Nuclear Energy.
However, things CAN go wrong with anything human-made, and Nuclear Power Plants are no exception. I know Bruce Power does its best, but the fact is, accidents can happen. And in this area where I live (about an hour’s drive north from The Bruce), if a serious nuclear accident happens – we are gonna be nuked, if not by the actual event, then by winds that will bring blow killer radiation all over this Province. Living up here means that this is in the back of my mind, not constantly, but certainly regularly. And especially now since things like Haiti are happening, with more to come no doubt.
If Peace River decides to go ahead with a Nuclear Power Plant, these concerns will become a part of your life too. It’s akin to sometimes ‘looking over your shoulder’, or perhaps thinking about it a lot after your first grandchild has been born.
If you don’t believe that having a Nuclear Power Plant in your area is not a threat to “security”, think again. The thought of “terrorist” attacks here in peaceful Canada never entered my mind, not one bit. Until one early September morn, when I was blissfully sipping away at my coffee in my garage, enjoying the reborn quiet of all my kids being back in school so I could finally have some alone time to myself. Ahhhh, what I beautiful day it was!
Until the jets arrived. They were fighter jets, moving at incredible speeds above our area, flying fast enough and low enough that when they passed – the windows and doors in the house shook, the noise was deafening and threatening all at the same time, sending me into a frenzy and my dogs racing to hide in the closets downstairs.
In between the flybys, I got myself to the phone and called the local airport. I asked the controller what was going on, who was flying over – and why? He simply replied, “sorry Ma’am, that is classified”, and he hung up.
The date that day? September 11, 2002…The first anniversary of what we now call “9-11”. Our airways here were being patrolled by the Canadian Military that entire day, because of the Nuclear Power Plant in Kincardine…just in case. I never would’ve thought, but I do now. Every Sept 11th (even though there have been no ‘flybys’ since) or every time I read the word “terrorist activity”. Does this bug or worry me every single day? No, it doesn’t. But it is always, “back there” somewhere in my mind.
Hope you don’t mind that I added these stories to the end of this long document. I hope that I’ve been able to share information with you that you’d otherwise not thought about…I hope what I’ve shared can fill in some of the spaces that I KNOW weren’t filled before. I hope that what I’ve offered here can help you all to make the best decision you can in beautiful Peace River. From what I’ve seen of Peace River, You are awesome stewards OF THE LAND. Please remember Her in your choices as well...
Bless You ALL!
Emily in Sauble
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WATCH: "My Nuclear Neighbour" – Thurs. Feb. 18, 2010 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network
ALSO Online: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/
The_Nature_of_Things/ID=1410952626
Imagine that one morning you wake up to find out your next-door neighbour may be a nuclear power plant.
There was a time when we thought atomic power would solve all our energy needs. That promise lost its lustre in cost overruns, accidents and cover-ups. Now after decades of fading into the background the nuclear power industry is poised for a comeback. In Canada, and around the world, the nuclear industry is rebranding itself as the only practical solution to global warming.
This is a story of global importance – it’s also a very local story. It’s a tale of two small towns: one in rural Ontario that has been a centre of nuclear power almost as long as there has been nuclear power. The other is in the legendary Peace country of Northern Alberta, where residents woke up one day to hear that Alberta’s first nuclear power facility might be moving in next door.
We travel with Lorraine Jensen and Brenda McSween from their farms in Peace River, Alberta to Kincardine, Ontario searching for answers to questions that are dividing their once harmonious community.
My Nuclear Neighbour is written and produced by Donna and Daniel Zuckerbrot for Reel Time Images.
The episode focuses on Bruce Power's efforts to build new reactors in the Peace River region of Alberta, Canada. Bruce Power owns and operates the largest nuclear power plant in North America, and the second biggest in the world, on the eastern shore of Lake Huron, just 50 miles from Michigan. The program will feature Montreal-based Dr. Gordon Edwards of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, who, along with Michael Keegan of the Coalition for a Nuclear-Free Great Lakes of Monroe, Michigan co-chairs the Great Lakes United Nuclear-Free/Green Energy Task Force, upon which Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps has served for a decade.