Ontario’s Green Energy Policy vs. Social Justice

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the development and implementation of Ontario's Green Energy Act and the outcomes on social justice and risk of harm to Ontario residents. To provide examples of government actions taken to achieve its goals and the occurrence of consequences, whether intended or unintended. Methods: In Ontario, many legal cases have been filed due to concern regarding the impact of industrial wind turbines on people and the environment. The contents of this article have primarily been taken from the documents filed during an Application for a Judicial Review that examined the process of approval of industrial wind turbines in Ontario. References to support the content of this article also include: evidence derived from other legal cases, government communications including records obtained by Freedom of Information requests, peer reviewed literature, and other sources. Results: Evidence is presented that suggests the government erred by creating an inflexible policy/statute that ensured that industrial wind turbines would be approved, erected and become operational at any cost. It provides examples of government actions taken to achieve this position that are contrary to widely held fundamental principles of administrative law and governmental legitimacy. Recommendations are provided for mitigating some of the outcomes of a government policy and preventing impacts on social justice from happening again.