Sep 30, 2008 - 04:30 AM

By Jillian Follert

OSHAWA -- The company pushing to build an ethanol plant at the Oshawa waterfront has tried to block residents from submitting a petition opposing the project.

The Oshawa Waterfront Action Committee obtained 129 signatures on a petition protesting the FarmTech Energy plant, during Labour Day festivities at Lakeview Park.

The document was submitted to council's development services committee, but not without a fight from Sussex Strategy Group -- the Toronto public relations firm working on behalf of FarmTech.

Sussex vice-president Bernie Morton said the petition should be deemed "out of order" because it only includes names and signatures, not addresses.

"Most governments do not accept petitions unless they are in the acceptable format under internationally recognized standards for petitions," he said in a letter to councillors.

Mr. Morton referred councillors to the Auditor General of Canada's guide to environmental petitions.

However, the guide only governs petitions sent to federal ministers, and even mentions it is not necessary to collect signatures for a petition to be valid.

The committee opted not to act on Mr. Morton's request because the City of Oshawa does not have a set policy outlining formats or standards for receipt of petitions.

"(Mr. Morton) is talking about principles for federal and provincial submission of petitions," said committee chairwoman Councillor Louise Parkes. "There is no criteria municipally, so we will accept it. And, if this goes to the Ontario Municipal Board, I think it will be taken into consideration there, too."

Some councillors said they were offended Sussex made the request in the first place.

"I'm appalled. I have never seen a hired consultant write to a council saying please ignore the will of the people," said Councillor Brian Nicholson. "It's unacceptable. We wouldn't treat FarmTech that way. When they write us a letter, we take it seriously."

Larry Ladd, a vocal opponent of the FarmTech proposal and the resident who submitted the petition, said he wasn't surprised by Sussex Strategy's approach, calling the firm "aggressive" and its representatives "bullies."