The days of cyclists riding down to the Martin Goodman Trail along Cherry Beach or out on the Leslie Spit for a breath of fresher lake side air may be numbered. The proposed Portlands Energy Centre will be built right along side of the Martin Goodman Trail just east of Cherry Beach and less than a kilometre from the entrance of the 5 km trail in Tommy Thompson Park on the Leslie Street Spit. The plant will emit nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide which contribute to the formation of smog and small particulate matter which will have an impact on the health of those people using these trails for cycling, running, inline skating and walking. Many others use the beach and the waters adjacent for sailing, kayaking, beach volleyball and other sports. Furthermore the plans to revitalize the Port Lands includes sports fields just north of Cherry Beach. To increase the pollution levels dramatically around this major sports and reacreational area makes no sense. There is a meeting planned for June 1st, 2006 to discuss these issues and others.

The Martin Goodman Trail near Cherry Beach turns right unto Unwin Avenue right at the site of the proposed gas fired Portlands Energy Centre. The land in the background has already been cleared of trees in preparation for construction.

Community members are concerned about this and other impacts on human health and the environment and have been working to stop the plant. There is a a web site www.stoptheplant.ca that has information on the plant and what you can do to get involved. There is even a short music video/mini Doc produced to bring attention to the issue Stop the Plant Video

The meeting to discuss the impacts of the Plant will be on Thursday June 1st. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The details are in the announcement of the meeting is quoted below.

OPEN HOUSE ON THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THE PROPOSED PORTLANDS ENERGY CENTRE
THURSDAY, JUNE 1st, 7pm - 9pm,
RALPH THORNTON CENTRE,
765 QUEEN ST. E.

In July/August 2006, the Province plans to start building a large gas-fired energy plant in Toronto's Port Lands area. A number of local residents and professionals have stated that there is a lack of public awareness around the proposed Port Lands Energy Centre (PEC) and the effects it will have on our City. This spring, a number of Ryerson University students and Riverdale community members have been doing field work in South Riverdale to investigate the impacts that the proposed PEC will have on the local communities and on Toronto's waterfront. The results of this field work will be presented to the public at an open house on Thursday, June 1 at the Ralph Thornton Centre (see attached flyer). The main purpose of this event is to raise awareness of some of the issues associated with the PEC and to look at possible action steps. The open house will provide citizens with the opportunity to interact with students and professionals in three specific areas of the plant's potential impact:

*human health,
*conservation, and
*the City's vision of the waterfront, including the official waterfront plan and future uses of the Port Lands area.

All are welcome to attend!

Refreshments and snacks will be provided.

There is still an opportunity to have some influence this issue. The Mayor David Miller and local Councillors from the area are on record as being opposed to the plant. The Premier Dalton McGuinty and the former Energy Minister Donna Cansfield have been supporting the plan. There is a petition that the community is circulating to try and show the community opposition to the plan to the provincial government. You can see that at the following link. stoptheplant.ca/Petition. there is a new Energy Minister Dwight Duncan. Perhaps he can be convinced to look at alternatives that won't further pollute one of Toronto's prime waterfront recreation areas.