WCO president steps down

Net News Ledger
NNL Staff
October 12, 2011

THUNDER BAY – Wind Concerns Ontario President John Laforet is stepping down. In a letter to members, Laforet writes, “It has been a real privilege working with you as President of Wind Concerns Ontario for more than two years. Together we’ve done amazing things. Seventy-eight municipal councils that represent more than two and a half million Ontarians have moved motions of moratorium calling on the government of Ontario to stop ‘foisting’ industrial wind developments on communities until proper independent health studies have been done to inform safe setbacks and local democracy is restored”.

The group has claimed success in the recent Ontario provincial election. “Our activism has blocked the approval of all but one project since the implementation of Ontario’s Green Energy Act regulation for over two years. There are more than sixty groups fighting the fight locally around Ontario and together we helped defeat eleven members of the Ontario Liberal caucus in last week’s election, including Environment Minister John Wilkinson”.

Laforet says that the focus and the fight is going to be different now. “The fight that lays ahead is different than the fight we’ve successfully fought so far. Now is an excellent moment for new ideas and new leadership to continue our success together. Therefore today, I have given my resignation as President of Wind Concerns Ontario to Ian Hanna who has served as Vice President and Chair of Wind Concerns since March. I am happy to let you know that Ian Hanna will be leading the way forward and trust that together we can reach new heights”.

In Thunder Bay Atikokan, all three candidates in the provincial election campaign opposed the Big Thunder Wind Farm project.

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