OAKVILLE, Ont. - Famed environmental activist Erin Brockovich told residents fighting plans for a natural gas-fired plant west of Toronto that they need to be a model for the world.
Brockovich -- who was portrayed by Julia Roberts in a film bearing her name -- was paid to speak to an audience of 110 people in Oakville, Ont., who shelled out $125-a-plate for lunch and a speech.
Brockovich, who usually is paid about $25,000 per speech, said she was truly impressed by the community and its fight and she compared their situation to the one in Hinkley, Calif.
That's where Brockovich exposed Pacific Gas & Electric's poisoning of water with the toxic chemical Chromium Six, leading to a $333- million damage settlement for about 600 residents in the mid-1990s.
Oakville residents are fighting the 900-megawatt plant because 11,000 homes and 16 schools are within three kilometres of the proposed facility, and it is next to railway lines and major roads.
TransCanada, which was awarded a 20-year contract a year ago to build, own and operate the plant, says today it is still in negotiations with residents to address their concerns.
Brockovich's speech came on the same day the Ontario government announced it has shut down four coal-fired units. The province hopes to replace dirty coal-fired generation with cleaner energy sources.
Minister of Energy Brad Duguid says the government has been listening to residents, but adds he's not in the position now to make a final determination on the plant.
TransCanada says it expects to invest $1.2 billion in the plant, which is scheduled to start producing power by February 2014.
