Community behind Green Leader run in Guelph

Community behind Green Leader run in Guelph

Schreiner will put Guelph first at Queen’s Park

Guelph, ON - Surrounded by community members and supporters from across the province, GPO leader Mike Schreiner today kicked off his campaign to represent Guelph as Ontario's first Green MPP.

 

“Guelph is the most forward looking community in Ontario. We need to bring the kind of leadership this community shows to Queen’s Park,” says Schreiner. “As MPP for Guelph, I will put the people of Guelph ahead of partisan political games. I will not play politics as usual.”

 

"We are at a crossroads in Ontario," says Schreiner. "Successive NDP, PC and Liberal governments have failed to tackle the big challenges. We now face financial, environmental and democratic deficits. Ontario deserves better. Guelph deserves better.”

 

Schreiner’s run in Guelph also has the support of Canada’s first Green MP, Elizabeth May. “Mike Schreiner will make a great MPP. Queens Park is suffering from a distressing lack of fresh ideas and cooperation in the public interest," says May. "As Leader of the GPO, he will be heard. As the first Green MPP in Ontario, he will bring new ideas to the table. The people of Guelph have a unique opportunity to put themselves -- and the province -- first by electing Mike Schreiner.”

 

Schreiner, a 43-year old father of two, started his career in the Guelph region as an entrepreneur and advocate in the local food movement. As co-founder of WOW Foods, an award winning local organic food delivery company, Schreiner worked for over 10 years to connect local farmers with consumers and to foster strong local economies.

 

Following in the footsteps of Elizabeth May’s election last year, Guelph is well poised to make history and elect Ontario’s first Green MPP. 

 

Schreiner is standing for nomination at a meeting that will take place December 4th at 7:30pm at Innovation Guelph. 

 

Let's have a conversation about a fair school system

 

Green Party of Ontario

Do all Ontarians pay for Catholic Education?

Yes. Every Ontario tax payer pays for education. That money is allocated per student to both boards.

Why do I have to declare which board I support municipally?
That declaration allows you to vote on your board specific trustees but does not effect your taxes.

Candidate Meet and Greet at the Christian Community Centre

 

The event is designed to give residents of the dynamic communities of Regent Park, Moss Park and St. James Town a chance to express the political concerns of people living with poverty.  

The three neighbourhoods are some of Ontario's lowest-income communities and residents want to hear from candidates about issues such as housing, health access and newcomer settlement challenges in the face of Ontario's tough economic times. 

Yonge Street Mission is hosting the event at the Christian Community Centre, located at 270 Gerrard Street East. 

Constituents will meet riding candidates from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m., with a question-and-answer session hosted by Andrew Williams, YSM's Mission Program Officer, taking place from 12:45-1:30 p.m. 

Green Party candidate Mark Daye, Liberal candidate Glen Murray and NDP candidate Cathy Crowe have all confirmed their attendance. Progressive Conservative candidate Martin Abell has declined. 

Child care is available from 12:30 - 3:00 p.m, and interpretation is available in Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Bengali, Somali, Tamil and Spanish. 

Co-hosts of the event are Regent Park Community Health Centre, Central Neighbourhood House, Dixon Hall, Toronto Christian Resource Centre, Centre for Community Learning & Development Toronto, S.E.A.S. Centre and Yonge Street Mission. 

The provincial election takes place on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.

Creating Jobs For a Twenty - First Century Economy It's Time

Ontario has lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade. We have become a have-not province with a record budget deficit. The global recession, a high Canadian dollar and rising world energy prices have hit our wallets particularly hard.

It’s time to address these challenges head-on with policies that promote prosperity in a low-carbon global economy.

The Green Party has a plan to secure Ontario’s future, not lock us in the past. We envision a future where Ontario builds on its diverse strengths to become a confident leader in the global economy. We will focus on creating sustainable, long-term jobs, and stop burdening our children with today’s debts.

We can only achieve this future by unleashing and nurturing the creativity and innovation of our entrepreneurs and workers to build strong local economies. The Green Party is committed to responsible stewardship of our natural and financial resources and will promote policies that ensure we live within our means.

 Your Green MPPs will:

1. Fight for good jobs and a fiscally responsible government 

a. Lower income taxes on families and local businesses to stimulate job creation 

b. Reward efficient use of resources and responsibly balance our finances with a revenue neutral tax on waste, pollution and carbon emissions

c. Balance the budget by 2015, saving billions in debt and ensuring our tax dollars are spent on public services instead of interest payments

2. Support entrepreneurs, innovation and strong local economies

a. Reduce red tape for small and medium-sized businesses so they continue to create jobs that support our communities

b. Support research and development in jobs that will power our economy in the coming decades, including clean technology and knowledge-based services

c. Improve high-speed internet access for all areas of Ontario

3. Develop youth employment opportunities by updating and strengthening our education system

a. Freeze tuition for the 2012-13 school year while maintaining university and college budgets; index tuition increases to the rate of inflation from 2013-15

b. Expand training and certification programs in job growth areas such as green buildings, biomedical technology, renewable energy and sustainable transportation

c. Increase investments in apprenticeship, co-operative and mentorship programs

For more information on the Green Party's economic plan for Ontario, find more information here, http://gpo.ca/issues

Election Day - VOTE

Bring your voter registration card and I.D. 
Don't have a voter registration card? You can vote anyways! Just bring I.D. and a piece of mail, a bill, or something with your 
your address. 
Don't know where to vote? Go to www.elections.ca

Vote for Ellen Michelson on May 2nd

Ellen takes you on a quick tour that showcases some of Toronto Centre's wonderful variety, while highlighting some Green Party platform points. The video ends with an overview of her Community Democracy Ambassadors plan for Toronto Centre.

Ellen was Toronto Centre’s Green Party candidate in the October, 2008 general election; the riding re-nominated her in May, 2009.  Ellen serves as Peace and Security Critic in the Green Party of Canada Shadow Cabinet. 

Ellen is one of the original members of the WindShare co-operative, and is a member of the board of directors of the Conservation Foundation of Greater Toronto. She volunteers with Green Thumbs Growing Kids, the Bleecker-Wellesley Activity Network, and the Hot Docs and Regent Park film festivals. She’s a member of the Toronto Heliconian Club and the Women’s Art Association of Canada. She washes dishes at The 519 Church Street Community Centre’s Sunday drop-in, and organizes re-donating the books unsold at the Rosedale-Moore Park Community Association’s annual Mayfair Market.

For more about Ellen Michelson please visit: www.electellen.ca

Vote Green On May 2nd

Elizabeth May's Platform Release Speech. April 7, 2011 - Toronto, ON

Rallying For Democracy: From Coast to Coast

With Elizabeth May, Leader of the Green Party of Canada
The broadcasting elite have shut Green Party Leader Elizabeth May out of the televised Leaders’ Debates. They don’t want you to hear Elizabeth May speak about climate change, youth engagement, respect for veterans, first nations issues, and women’s rights.

Is this true democracy? Is this really happening, in our Canada?

The majority of Canadians believe Elizabeth May should be in the debates. She was there in 2008. She must be there in 2011.

Join us and rally for democracy!

Toronto

When: Thursday April 7th from 17:30-19:30
Where: This is London Club, 364 Richmond Street West Toronto, ON M5V 2L7
Visit the Facebook event here >>

Montreal

When: Friday April 8th from 17:00 – 19:00
Where: Newtown, 1476 Crescent St, Montreal, QC (Métro Peel)
Visit the Facebook event here >>

Halifax

When: Saturday April 9 from 12-1PM
Where: Sackville Landing, 1655 Lower Water Street, Halifax, NS
Visit the Facebook event here >>

Hamilton

When: Sunday April 1oth from 17:30-18:30
Where: TBA
Visit the facebook event here >>

Vancouver

When: Monday April 11th from 12.00-13:00
Where: Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia St. side), 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC

Federal Court judge denies Elizabeth May her bid to join leaders' debates

Federal Court judge denies Elizabeth May her bid to join leaders' debates

Former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson to run for Green Party

Source: Times - Colonist
Canadian born Pamela Anderson announced on Friday that she was going to run for the Green Party in her home community of Nanaimo.

The former Baywatch star and Peta activist was spurred to run in part from the Green Party's exclusion from the leader's debate early this week.

"I've always been passionate about environmental activism," said Anderson. "This election just seemed like the perfect time to come forward and do my part."

Known for her provocative advertisement for animal rights, the former television star feels that politics would be a natural transition. She spent a lot of time working with high production teams before, and she feels that she could handle the pressures of political life.

TTC Bans Political Campaign Posters in Subway Stations

Green Party candidates told they can't advertise inside TTC, but only on the sides of buses

The Toronto Transit Commission ("TTC") is now refusing political advertising on subway platforms during the current federal election campaign. This represents an abrupt change of policy from previous elections.

The Supreme Court of Canada decided in 2009 that public transit systems were subject to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. A ban on political ads on the sides of Vancouver buses was determined to be a violation of the freedom of expression. The TTC is complying with the court ruling to the extent of allowing ads on transit vehicles.

Green Party candidates in several Toronto ridings had been negotiating with TTC ad sales agents over the last month, and had already ordered artwork for posters conforming to specifications provided. They were shocked by the seeming arbitrariness of the decision, and questioned its timing.

"I'm disappointed." said Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu, the Green Party candidate in the riding of Toronto-Danforth currently held by Jack Layton. "There was a giant Layton poster with an NDP logo on the Broadview Station subway platform just days ago. Everyone knew an election was imminent. All I want is a fair opportunity to get my message out."

 Ellen Michelson, the Green Party candidate for Toronto Centre, was similarly affected. "We can buy political advertising for transit vehicles, but those go all over the city", she noted. "Voters deserve the opportunity to learn about candidates in their own ridings. I would like to reach public transit travellers at the subway stops in Toronto Centre, and candidates in other ridings deserve no less."

"The TTC has permitted political ads on its subway platforms in previous elections", Andrew James, a legal writer and candidate for council last year in Toronto-Danforth, observed. "There is no principled difference between a political ad on a subway platform and a political ad on a bus. But there's a huge practical difference. If this decision stands, it undercuts the ideal of representative democracy by confirming the primacy of party branding over local candidates."

/For further information: Blog post:
http://danforthgreens.ca/ttc-posters/
Ad barred from TTC (hi res):
http://danforthgreens.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/adriana-mugnatto-hamu-green-party-campaign-poster-for-ttc2.jpg
Jack Layton ad in TTC last week:
http://danforthgreens.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/jack-layton-ad-in-broadview-ttc-station.jpg/

 

Joe Pantalone's Green Toronto

mayorjoe.ca

VOTE FOR JOE PANTALONE!

Vague Response from Rob Ford

A Toronto resident was not impressed with the 'vague response' she received from Rob Ford after she sent him an email asking him about bike lanes in the city. Cathy Besso did get an actual reply from Mr. Ford, something I have to say is quite impressive considering the track record of Ward 27 councilor Kyle Rae who seems to think now that we've paid for his retirement party that a reply to an email is beneath him. However, I digress. Cathy got  a FORM letter from Rob Ford which according to The Star, stated; 

“Insert vague response on policy,”

I suggest voters give Rob Ford a vague response at the polls on October 25th!
At last check Mr. Ford had not made any comment or response. 

If you'd like to email 'The Vague One' click here

Rob Ford Coaching Football

Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatens to crush any further opposition protests

Iran's Revolutionary Guard is threatening to crush any further opposition protests over the disputed presidential election and warns demonstrators to prepare for a "revolutionary confrontation" if they take to the streets again.

The country's most powerful military force ordered demonstrators to "end the sabotage and rioting activities" and said their resistance is a "conspiracy" against Iran.

A statement posted Monday on the Guard's Web site warned protesters to "be prepared for a resolution and revolutionary confrontation with the Guards, Basij and other security forces and disciplinary forces."

Opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi vowed Sunday night to keep up the protests, charging the June 12 election was a fraud.

Source: CP24.com

This photograph is one of mine from the Toronto rally on Sunday. Click on the image to view full size.