(Mississauga) - Dozens of south Mississauga residents left a public meeting outraged last night after Mayor Hazel McCallion told them she would support a new power plant on the site of the former Lakeview Generating station.

"If she supports this, she is supporting pollution as far as I'm concerned," said 45-year-old Lakeview resident Joel Alam.

The meeting, hosted by the Lakeview Ratepayers Association, was held to discuss several issues in the area including a new gas-fired power plant that is being considered on the lakefront.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Enersource Mississauga and Borealis, which owns 10 per cent of Enersource, are considering construction of a new natural gas-fired power plant on the Lakeview site, which stopped operating a more-pollutant coal-fired plant in April 2005 after 43 years.

Both McCallion and Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson told the packed room at the Mississauga Seniors' Centre on Cawthra Rd. that, despite opposition from constituents, they should brace themselves for a power plant.

"We can bury our heads in the sand and say 'these plants aren't going to go anywhere around here,'" said Corbasson. "But the government is going to dictate where these plants go."

McCallion indicated that, unlike a current proposal by Eastern Power to build a smaller gas-fired plant that would be located a lot closer to residential neighbourhoods in the area of Dundas St. and Dixie Rd., she would support a gas-fired power plant on the Lakeview site.

"It is zoned for it. We cannot deny it. It's acceptable," she said. "There is need for hydro. There is need for electricity. I believe as Mayor we must accept some of the responsibility because we are a major user of hydro. We will accept power plants in the right location, under the right conditions, (including a) full environmental assessment."

Jim Tovey, president of the ratepayers association, passed around a petition, which was later signed by Corbasson, that the Ontario government carry out a complete environmental assessment of the Lakeview community, including soil, air and water testing, before any consideration is given to putting a new power plant on the site.

"We don't feel they should even consider a power plant here until a complete environmental assessment is done of the whole neighbourhood," said Tovey. "There should also be health studies done of the long-term residents," said Tovey, who adds that local residents believe the incidence of illness and cancer may be higher near the former coal-burning plant.

Tovey said despite claims the new 800-megawatt plant will be a cleaner source of fuel, it would still emit, annually, several pollutants, including 106 tonnes of volatile organic chemicals, 1,693 tonnes of nitrogen oxides "which can cause respiratory problems and skin burns," and 943 tonnes of carbon monoxide, "which causes breathing problems and suffocation," according to the Clear The Air Coalition.

Lakeview resident Lucy Qureshi was among many who disagreed with the location of the OPG/Enersource plant.

"What are we doing? Where is our vision for the waterfront?" she said to a round of applause. "Power plants can be designed to go anywhere. Don't waste (the Lakeview land) on that."

Residents have little choice in power plant plan

(Mississauga) - Several south Mississauga residents left a public meeting frustrated Wednesday night after Mayor Hazel McCallion told them she supported a new power plant on the site of the former Lakeview Generating station.

"If she supports this, she is supporting pollution as far as I'm concerned," said 45-year-old Lakeview resident Joel Alam.

The meeting, hosted by the Lakeview Ratepayers Association, was held to discuss several issues in the area including a new gas-fired power plant considered for the lakefront.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG), Enersource Mississauga and Borealis, which owns 10 per cent of Enersource, are considering construction of a new natural gas-fired power plant on the Lakeview site, which stopped operating a more-pollutant coal-fired plant in April 2005 after 43 years.

Both McCallion and Ward 1 Councillor Carmen Corbasson told the packed room at the Mississauga Seniors' Centre on Cawthra Rd. that, despite opposition from constituents, they should brace themselves for a power plant.

"We can bury our heads in the sand and say 'these plants aren't going to go anywhere around here,'" said Corbasson. "But the government is going to dictate where these plants go."

McCallion also indicated that, unlike a current proposal by Eastern Power to build a smaller gas-fired plant that would be located a lot closer to residential neighbourhoods in the area of Dundas St. and Dixie Rd., she would support a gas-fired power plant on the Lakeview site.

"It is zoned for it. We cannot deny it. It's acceptable," she said.

The mayor earlier said "there is need for hydro. There is need for electricity. I believe as Mayor we must accept some of the responsibility because we are a major user of hydro. We will accept power plants in the right location, under the right conditions, (including a) full environmental assessment."

McCallion said the City could try to rezone the land, which is currently owned by OPG, so that it would be prohibited to put a power plant in that location.

But, the Mayor added, the City would be forced to spend millions of taxpayers' dollars on legal fees when OPG appeals the rezoning, so she doesn't intend on pursuing a rezoning application.

"Some things are worth the fight and the money," one resident hollared.

Jim Tovey, president of the ratepayers association, passed around a petition, which was later signed by Corbasson, that the Ontario government carry out a complete environmental assessment of the Lakeview community, including soil, air and water testing, before any consideration is given to putting a new power plant on the site.

McCallion too, supported the petition.

"We don't feel they should even consider a power plant here until a complete environmental assessment is done of the whole neighbourhood," said Tovey. "There should also be health studies done of the long-term residents," said Tovey, who adds that local residents believe the incidence of illness and cancer may be higher near the former coal-burning plant.

Tovey said despite claims the new 800-megawatt plant will be a cleaner source of fuel, it would still emit, annually, several pollutants, including 106 tonnes of volatile organic chemicals, 1,693 tonnes of nitrogen oxides "which can cause respiratory problems and skin burns," and 943 tonnes of carbon monoxide, "which causes breathing problems and suffocation," according to the Clear The Air Coalition.

Lakeview resident Lucy Qureshi was among many who disagreed with the location of the OPG/Enersource plant.

"What are we doing? Where is our vision for the waterfront?" she said to a round of applause. "Power plants can be designed to go anywhere. Don't waste (the Lakeview land) on that."