Minister fails to grasp the impact wind farms will have on tourism ontario

Despite challenges in the current global economy, Carlson Hotels and our development partners have opened nearly 60 hotels so far in 2008 and signed more than 120 development agreements for future properties," said Jay Witzel, president and CEO of Carlson Hotels Worldwide. "This ontario commitment to ontario continuing worldwide growth will be celebrated later this year as we look forward to opening our landmark 1,000th hotel in December," Witzel added.

One visit here and it will be clear to you. I’d like to invite you to go canoeing on Headstone Lake. Or hiking up to McFee Lake. ontario Or we could go snowmobiling along Rapid Lake, fishing on Lobster Lake, hunting on the way into Hardtack Lake, or camping in the Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park.

There are more than 30 lakes within the proposed Whitney Wind Farm study area, which lies adjacent to beautiful Algonquin Park. Your ontario government would like to place 48 turbines here – each the size of a 30-storey building. This is a densely forested place that is 95 per cent undeveloped, where the only buildings are the occasional cottage, fishing shack and hunt camp.

The point is, Mr. Smitherman, our main industry is ontario tourism and recreation. Visitors drive for several hours to enjoy the sense of wilderness our beautiful township offers. They come here to get away from industry.

Please understand, this township’s livelihood ontario and way of life depends largely on the natural beauty of this land. What tourist or naturalist would want to escape to a wilderness littered with turbines?

I applaud our council for standing up to the Ontario government. I believe their unanimous decision reflects the feeling of the entire community. It showed great leadership and a real understanding of our region.

Finally, you talk about “the trade-offs” we all have to make as Ontarians.

When you go to see the falls, join the likes of Elton John and Mary Tyler Moore by taking a 12-minute helicopter ride over the falls. Niagara Helicopters sets up riders with commentary in one of 12 different languages during the excursion. The helicopters fly from 9 a.m. to sunset. Once you've taken the tour, fly over to one of the area's vineyards. Book a 'Picnic at the Vineyard' at the Henry of Pelham Family Estate and enjoy a bottle of wine, picnic meal, vineyard tour, and souvenir cork screw.