Meaford Council Chambers. Photo by Claire McCormack
Meaford is establishing a community advisory committee to assist with the proposed TC Energy pumped storage project.
Council approved establishing the committee during its meeting on March 11, while making a few more alterations in addition to the ones previously made.
Some of these changes include the wording in the terms of reference.
Before council arrived at this item, they heard from community members including Save Georgian Bay, with one expressing concern over a previous decision to not save a seat for the group and to not ask for participant affiliation if they are for or against the project.
Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney says, “to me, it’s a bit contradictory in terms of no declaration of position to be mentioned, but we also want to make sure we have members from the groups and organizations which we understand to be Save Georgian Bay, The Impact Zone, and the Chamber of Commerce.”
Interim CAO Matt Smith says the goal of including no more than two from a specific group was to ensure a diverse committee. These members would include for the project, against and who do not have an opinion or are undecided.
Smith says in addition to playing a role in assisting StrategyCorp. in negotiating a community benefit agreement with TC Energy, the committee will also provide advice on anything related to the proposed project.
“StrategyCorp. will only negotiate based on what we tell them are the things we as a community and a council want. They (the committee) will be involved in helping us to figure that out,” says Smith. “It’s a forum for us to bring people together on a regular basis so that we as staff, as council and as the committee members can learn more, so that we can ask questions, so we can represent our community in the questions they wish to be asked. They may be positive, they may be negative, they may just be questions.”
The group will consist of nine members as well as two non-voting council members.
Mayor Ross Kentner adds, “we look forward to launching the Pumped Storage Advisory Committee to ensure transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process.”
Meaford had pushed the application deadline to join the group back to March 15, and the first meeting will be held in April. Those interested in applying can visit the municipal website here.