Ontario's Environmental Review Tribunal approved another
wind farm on December 24, 2013, in Bovaird v. Director, Ministry of the
Environment. In addition to rejecting the Charter
argument, described
earlier this week, Bovaird was notable for a slightly
tougher approach to witnesses who propose "expert"
anti-wind evidence in areas beyond their expertise.
Wind opponents have struggled, unsuccessfully, to prove that
wind farms cause adverse health effects. In Bovaird, they
tried to fill that gap with opinions from a non-practicing
Australian physician, a sound engineer, and an Ontario orthopedic
surgeon.
Non-practicing physician – Ms. Sarah Laurie
Ms. Laurie was not permitted to give expert evidence. She has
not practiced medicine since 2002, is not registered as a medical
doctor, and therefore is not permitted to diagnose medical issues
or conditions. However, her proposed evidence consisted primarily
of medical diagnoses, precisely what she is forbidden to
