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Electrify Pearson Rail Link, says Frank de Jong, City Councillor Candidate

Toronto, Ontario – (Sept. 24, 2010) - "The proposed rail link from downtown to Pearson should be electric or not built at all," said Frank de Jong, Ward 18 Toronto Councillor candidate.

Before the rail link is built the following core changes must be made:

1. To reduce noise, vibration and air pollution the rail link must be electric, not diesel. Nor is "Clean diesel" an acceptable solution. The increased upfront cost is balanced by lower life cycle costs, and the reduced pollution will save health care dollars and lives.

2. The rail link need not be financed by federal, provincial or city taxes, but rather should be paid for by collecting the rise in land values it generates along the route, especially around stations (Land Value Taxation).

3. The trains should make frequent stops and be fully connected to local public transit routes in Toronto, Malton and Georgetown with no extra fees above the local transit fare.

"World class cities don't treat their citizens this way," added de Jong. "Ward 18 - Davenport citizens live adjacent to the proposed Union Station-to-Pearson route. We won't accept diesel engines when the electric option is superior."

De Jong will be attending the "GO ELECTRIC MUSIC FESTIVAL" at Sorauren Park on Sunday September 26, 2010 and available for interviews. Visit http://www.cleantrain.ca/

For more information please contact:
Contact: Justin Trottier, Media Relations
Frank de Jong Campaign – Ward 18 Davenport
416-402-8856, justin.trottier@gmail.com
votefrankdejong

Green Act hits wind shear

The Ontario Liberals deserve credit for getting it half right. The Samsung sweetheart deal and the Green Energy Act are good for the planet (NOW, January 28-February 3) but bad for the economy.
The McGuinty Liberals now subsidize green electricity and dirty electricity but continue to ignore accurate pricing and conservation, critical parts of achieving a 100 per cent green grid.

Coal-generated electricity is subsidized by hidden climate change costs and by the health care costs resulting from dirty air.

Nuclear is subsidized by the cost of past nuke debt, limited liability, future decommissioning costs, etc.

If Ontario charged the accurate cost of electricity, wind power would not require feed-in tariffs, other renewables would be much closer to viability, and revenue from true-cost electricity accounting could be used to reduce income taxes.

Frank de Jong
Past Leader, Green Party of Ontario
Toronto votefrankdejong

Source: NOW Magazine // Letters to the Editor