Ontario government fails to deliver solutions for protecting clean water, land and natural heritage

Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner accused the government of cheap talk and no action on pressing environmental issues that affect our communities and our quality of life.

The Environment Commissioner Ontario’s (ECO) annual report raises serious concerns about the government’s failure to divert waste, protect species at risk and clean up the Great Lakes.

 

The ECO report shows that waste diversion in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector has remained constant for a decade.  With a diversion rate of 23 percent, the province has failed miserably to meet its 60 percent diversion target.

 

“The Liberal government is dragging their feet on incentives that will reduce waste and save money,” says Schreiner.  “We need to take pressure off landfills and municipal budgets. Industry should pay for the waste it produces, not property taxpayers.”

 

Ontario set to lose on NDP – Conservative HST alliance

Toronto - The NDP-Conservative HST alliance to borrow $350 million is an opportunistic ploy that will reward big energy users – often the wealthiest – and drive up provincial debt.

“Ontario needs to provide help for seniors, low-income families and remote communities. The NDP-Conservative alliance does the opposite,” said Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.  “Instead of a regressive tax cut, a better plan would use refundable tax credits or energy rebates to provide targeted relief for folks who need it most."

 

Ontario must reign in its deficit spending. The NDP-Conservative proposal will force Ontario to borrow an additional $350 million per year to subsidize home heating bills, on top of the Liberals borrowing $1.2 billion per year to subsidize electricity prices. These subsidies add to Ontario's $18,000 per-person debt, do not create jobs and do not result in long term energy affordability.

 

“Ontarians deserve to be rewarded for their efforts to conserve, not be forced to pay big energy users,” said Schreiner.  “We need programs that help people save money by saving energy.”

 

Earlier this year Queen’s Park politicians quietly allowed a popular and successful program that helped people save money by using less energy expire. The Home Energy Savings Program created good, local jobs in Ontario and permanently lowered energy bills.

 

The Green Party is calling for a Green Building Program to help tenants, home owners, and businesses save money by using less energy. This program will:

 

• Save rate-payers money on their utility bills permanently
• Save the province money by reducing the need for costly new generation
• Create good local jobs
• Reduce pollution and preserve our environment

Imagine No Religion 2

Artscape is Now Accepting Expressions of Interest

Artscape is Now Accepting Expressions of Interest
for Use of Performance and Event Space
at the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre

Deadline: December 2, 2011 at 12:00pm

Artscape is currently seeking expressions of interest for the performance and event spaces at the Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre, slated to open in late Spring 2012. This 60,000 sq. ft. purpose-built facility is poised to become the artistic, cultural and social core of the Regent Park and the newest addition to downtown Toronto’s thriving cultural landscape.

The Regent Park Arts & Cultural Centre has four street-level performance and event spaces suited to a diversity of disciplines and uses.

Imagine…

• World-class dance performances, community film festivals, conferences and speaker series in the Performance/Event Space
• Open-air concerts and plays in the Outdoor Performance Court
• Poetry slams and private parties in The Café
• Exhibitions and fundraisers in the South Lobby
• And more!

Pragmora fundraiser at Peach Berserk

On Sunday, my husband, David and I joined several others at the very cool Peach Berserk on Queen St. W. in Toronto for a fun silk screening workshop that was also a fundraising event for Pragmora.  

Pragmora is an international peace organisation that is both a policy think tank and a grassroots activist group. Pragmora Executive Director, Dr. Glenys Babcock spoke about her recent trip to Africa and the excellent work Pragmora has been doing in the DR Congo. 

Peach Berserk owner Kingi Carpenter showed us how to silk screen a t-shirt. There was also a great selection of delicious treats for participants to snack on.

I've always wanted to try silk screening, it was a fun activity and we each silk screened a t-shirt with our choice of design. We just had to bring a print out of the design we wanted and a t-shirt to print on and Kingi supplied the rest.

I choose a peace sign design, which I thought was apropos considering the work Pragmora does.  David chose a print of the character Sheldon from TB's Big Bang Theory.

If you're looking for an original prom dress, or a dress for any occasion, check out Peach Berserk: offering prom dress design, silk screen printing, and silkscreen classes located at 507 Queen St. W Toronto.

Shadow Cabinet to hold all MPP's accountable.

Toronto - “Why is a gas plant being built in Mississauga after the McGuinty Liberals promised to halt it during the election campaign?”to halt it during the election campaign?” asks Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.

“It only took two months for election promises to be put on the back-burner and for a return to business-as-usual at Queen’s Park” says Schreiner. "No wonder less than 50% of Ontarians voted in the provincial election."

The Green Party today announced an expanded Shadow Cabinet of passionate and dedicated citizens committed to long term solutions that put Ontario communities first.

“Our team is committed to working with people of all political backgrounds on long term
solutions to tackle the big challenges of our time. We are not afraid of straight talk to address tough issues like rising energy prices,” says Schreiner. “We can’t continue to punt problems down the road to our kids and future generations.”

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet will focus on offering alternate policies to the status quo at Queen’s Park, with the goal of building a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable Ontario.

The Green Party’s Shadow Cabinet:

St. James Town Community Cafe

Peach Berserk Silkscreening Workshop = FUN and FUNDS!

Links:
Peach Berserk
Pragmora

The Omnibus Crime Bill is a proven failure.

• The Omnibus Crime Bill is a proven failure. Conservative Texans are warning us not to follow a failed fill-the-prisons approach to justice, and the Canadian Bar Association, representing 37,000 Canadian legal professionals, has said the Bill “would move Canada along a road that has failed in other countries, at great expense”.

• Mandatory sentences backfire. They take precious resources from crime prevention programs and rehabilitation, and turn minor offenders into hardened criminals.

• The Crime Bill will make inequality worse. It's not tough on crime, it’s tough on Canadians suffering from mental illness, addictions, and poverty. It targets youth for harsher punishments, and it will put more Aboriginal people in prison.

• The Crime Bill threatens valuable programs. Mandatory sentences will clog the justice system and fill prisons, forcing the provinces, who pay for most of our justice system, to raise taxes, increase debt, or cut spending on essential programs like health and education.

• Across the country, Canadians are speaking out. Prime Minister Harper claims that Canadians support tough on crime laws, but tens of thousands of Canadians are publicly demanding their provinces refuse to pay for the Crime Bill. Quebec and Ontario have already refused to pay for a strategy that has been tried, and failed.

• We need to make Canada safer, not meaner. To reduce crime we should focus on what's already working - prevention and rehabilitation - and address the major causes of crime by reducing inequality and supporting people who need help. The Conservatives’ cruel Crime Bill will do none of this, and ultimately will make us meaner, and less safe.

http://leadnow.ca/keep-canada-safe

Fallen Toronto cyclist Jenna Morrison honoured with ‘Ghost ride’

 

Several hundred cyclists rode 5 kilometres westward from downtown Toronto early this morning to commemorate a tragic death on November 7^th.  The destination was the intersection of Dundas St. W. and Sterling Road, where Jenna Morrison was run over by the rear wheels of a large truck that was turning right at the time.   

In a parkette adjacent to the accident site, a large peaceful crowd gathered to pay their respects, leave flowers and wreaths, and to sign petitions.  A ghost bike was installed at the site of Jenna's death to commemorate the fallen cyclist. Jenna was the mother of a five year old son and was five months pregnant at the time of her death. 

Cyclists vowed to press governments at all levels to improve safety for cyclists. I urge you to write to your local MPP and demand safe streets for everyone.

Links:

National Post

The Globe & Mail

CBC

CTV

Anonymous - A Message To Occupy Toronto

The Globe & Mail:‘Anonymous’ threatens cyber attack if city interferes with Occupy Toronto

Bike ride for Jenna

Junction design the Dutch - cycle friendly - way

Toronto Cyclists Union Statement on Death of Jenna Morrison

Statement on Tragic Death of Toronto Cyclist, Jenna Morrison

Toronto Cyclists Union expresses condolences to Jenna Morrison’s bereaved family

The Toronto Cyclists Union (bike union) is saddened and dismayed by last Monday’s tragic, unnecessary death of cyclist Jenna Morrison.

Ms. Morrison, a mother of a five-year old, was struck by a truck and run over on Sterling Road as she was riding her bicycle to her son’s school. The truck continued through the intersection and Ms. Morrison was caught beneath the back wheels of the truck, causing her fatal injuries. "We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Jenna Morrison’s family," said Andrea Garcia, Director of Advocacy for the bike union. "This tragic and needless death was preventable. We reiterate our call to city officials to create bicycle lanes on Toronto roads. How many more tragic deaths will it take? Clearly, safe spaces for cyclists are needed more than ever."

The bike union has an active advocacy group in Ward 18 where the collision occurred. It is working to develop specific recommendations on improving the area for cyclists to present to the local Councillor. The Toronto Cyclists Union maintains that cycling should be realised as a safe and enjoyable transportation option available to people of all ages. As an organisation dedicated to cycling, the bike union continues to work towards realising this goal.

Additionally, the bike union is calling for mandatory side guards on trucks to help prevent such unspeakable tragedies, as per a recommendation of the 1998 Toronto Coroner’s Inquiry into cycling fatalities. "If the Coroner’s recommendation from 13 years ago to mandate side guards on trucks would have been implemented, Ms. Morrison might still be alive today," Garcia said. "The cost of installing sideguards is negligible compared to saving cyclists’ lives."

The bike union is calling on its members and supporters to take part in a memorial ride sponsored by Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists (ARC) on Monday, November 14th. The ride will begin at the corner of Bloor Street and Spadina at 7:30 a.m., and at Dundas Street West and Sterling at 8:00 a.m. It’s an opportunity to show support for Jenna Morrison’s family and community, and to raise awareness about the need for safer streets.

Toronto Star Story: "Dead cyclist Jenna Morrison was a yoga teacher, dancer, mom"

Toronto Star Story: "This is a Time for Mourning..."

Remembrance Day ~ November 11, 2011

Syria, Homs - Human Rights Watch Update

HIV: Quest For A Cure

HIV: Quest For A Cure

Click the image to view full size.

Thinking Ahead to 2014: Taking a Critical Look at Local Elections

An evening of exploring options to make municipal elections more relevant, fair and participatory sponsored by Better Ballots, a non partisan group —Fair Vote is a member of this group and is advocating for a proportional system for Canada’s largest city. 
Wayne Smith, Executive Director of Fair Vote Canada will be one of the eight speakers. See below.
Wednesday, November 23 · 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Oakham House, Ryerson University63 Gould StreetToronto, ON

• Alan Broadbent, Maytree Foundation
• Paul Farrelly, Vote Toronto
• Sarah Lambert, Ranked Ballot Initiative
• William Molls, VoteTO16
• Rob Newman, Better Ballots Campaign
• Wayne Smith Fair Vote Canada
• Kristyn Wong-Tam, Toronto City Councillor
• Leonardo Zuniga, iVoteToronto

For more details:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=231958223534955

Community Consultation Meeting for St. Jamestown N. Lanterrra Development

St. Jamestown North Development Proposal.

After attending the Community Consultation Meeting on November 7th at St. Simon's on Bloor St. E. I have the following concerns regarding the proposed development.

1. Although the consideration of privately owned, public space seems on the surface to be a move in the right direction, I have reservations around the security and upkeep ...of the space and if it will indeed be seen by the general public to be that of a regular park, or would the condo security personnel be employed to limit public accessibility and usage? Would local residents be able to walk dogs there? Would they have access in the evening or nighttime hours?

2. The idea of the double row of trees along Howard and Bloor streets seems initially impressive, however, I have concerns regarding who would ultimately be responsible for the care and maintenance of these trees? Would the condo corporation, or would the cost be transferred to general taxpayers? If it is the latter, when would such a transfer of responsibility take place?

3. I have concerns with the current and future state of the Glen Road TTC entrance, which by most accounts is unsafe and dangerous. Does the development proposal include and security improvements for this TTC access point? How would the TTC handle the increase in ridership that would undoubtedly occur?

4. There seems to be no consideration for alternative housing options such as rent to own, or subsidized housing. In fact, the only mention of anything for the community was one space that "could be used for the community". I feel this is a missed opportunity. This development is a great opportunity to bridge the neighborhoods of Rosedale and St. Jamestown and is missing the mark.

5. I would like to see this development incorporate an higher than normal number of 2 and 3 bedroom units in order to encourage families to live within the development.

6. With regards to height concerns, I am STRONGLY opposed to the current proposed tower heights of; 48, 49, 43 and 53 stories. The current zoning does not allow for structures of this height, in fact, the current zoning doesn't allow for the height of the proposed podium along Howard St. (see image above). I do believe there is a place for population intensification, however, the current proposal is far to outlandish and unacceptable. I propose the tallest tower should be no more that 25 stories. I'm also concerned with the effects the current proposal would have on wind and sunlight in the area.

7. I am concerned with the proposed demolition of 76 Howard St. and would be opposed to this facet of the proposal. I would like to see this building utilized and possibly moved, if necessary.

8. There is much concern with the construction process with regards to security, cleanliness, noise and potential damage to existing structures in the neighborhood.

9. Finally, what I have seen of the general designs so far is uninspired, boring, tedius and considering Lanterra Development's record, potentially dangerous.

Adi Braun at the Homesmith Bar at the Old Mill

Toronto jazz vocalist Adi Braun featuring Jordan Klapman on piano and Henry Heillig on bass.  No cover charge. $20 food minimum. Full menu, free parking. Old mill subway station.
www.oldmilltoronto.ca
www.adibraun.ca