Following the success of the Hell or High Water Race, Petawawa Town Council requested - and the Public Stakeholder Advisory Council (PSAC) unanimously agreed - to add recreational kayakers to the list of official stakeholder, but offering a seat on the PSAC (advisory council). That was a big win for the whitewater community, although it does have many limitations.

While this seat is a good thing, as it does serve to keep the whitewater community somewhat better informed, the PSAC has zero decision-making power, nor is it intended to provide two-way communication between Xeneca (the project proponent) and the affected stakeholders.  The mandate of the PSAC is to help the Proponent prepare for the upcoming Environmental Assessments and corresponding Public Consultation sessions.  They want to know what is on people's minds, and the PSAC is the way they have chosen to do this. The whitewater community is represented by Philip Kompass.

So what has happened since May?  On the exterior there has been little effort made to involve the public.  Xeneca has continued its studies in preparation for the Environmental Assessments, looking at various threatened or 'at risk' species such as the lake sturgeon known to reside in this section of the Petawawa.  They have been looking into the possible impacts on fish and aquatic habitat, flow rates and the flood plain studies. Many of these are complete and Xeneca feels it has remediation plans in place.

It is expected that the public consultation will begin in late-October or early-November, intentionally timed so as not to become an election issue for the municipal government.  As a side note, while not officially opposed to the project, the municipal government does appear very much concerned about the possible impacts and have publically stated that the project must in no way affect the flow of the river. 

Note: As a decade-long whitewater enthusiast I have yet to ever come across a hydro project that didn’t affect the flow of a river, however, it does at least appear that the Town Council recognizes the gravity of the situation.

As an aside, Councilors that I have spoken will all expressed a great deal of worry over the lack of decision-making power left in municipal hands.  Though the Green Energy Act (May 2009) the Province has the ability to overrule the decision of the local communities in regards to 'green' energy projects.  This effectively eliminates the ability of a town to choose what is best for themselves.  The Petawawa Council has on a number of occasions expressed frustration over this, and in fact the Association of Ontario Municipalities is also concerned.  To this end, MPP Sylvia Jones has introduced Bill 29 to "amend the Planning Act to reverse the effect of the amendments made by the Green Energy and Green Economy Act." More details are the links below.

So, where are we now?  Waiting and working to educate the general public about the project and the potential implications for the natural environment and recreational usage of the river.  This is being brought increasingly to the forefront in an attempt to force the 'dam' project as an election issue and generate some increased public scrutiny and ensure that the voting public knows where their candidates stand on the issue before casting their votes.

Following the launch of the CURRENTS web-TV episode on the Petawawa, a Facebook group was started, growing quickly to over 2500 members.  This is in addition to a number of media articles, letters to the editor, a hugely successful Hell or High Water event and great representation by the whitewater community at a May 3 Council Meeting.  Our voice is being heard, and very soon - with the opening of the Environmental Assessment - we will be able to provide some actual input in how this project does or does not proceed. 

For now, all we ask is that you remain interested in the Petawawa, and when asked to do so, please provide your support for the effort to protect this fantastic whitewater resource.

Whitewater Ontario has been supportive of efforts in raising public awareness by providing funds through the Advocacy Committee to help cover some of the costs.  Many thanks!

Philip Kompass

Additional Information:

Protect the Petawawa: http://www.petawawa-river.blogspot.com

Save the Petawawa (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com Groups / Save the Petawawa

Hell or High Water Weekend: www.liquidlore.com/hohw

CURRENTS Petawawa (video): http://vimeo.com/12174488

Green Energy Act: http://www.mei.gov.on.ca/en/energy/gea/

Bill 29, Ontario Legislature:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2306

Assoc. of Municipalities of Ontario: http://www.amo.on.ca