Think Big and Expect Better: The Green Party of Ontario Releases Platform

Queen’s Park -- Mike Schreiner, leader of the Green Party of Ontario, released the party’s election platform today at Queen’s Park.

 

Schreiner is on a mission to bring honesty, integrity and good public policy to Queen’s Park. 

 

“At the doorstep and in coffee shops, people tell me they are tired of the political status quo-- political games, boondoggles, broken promises, and secret deals,” says Schreiner. “We must expect better. Greens are committed to restoring honesty, integrity, and good public policy to Queen’s Park.” 

 

The platform focuses on jobs, kids, and the environment. 

 

It puts forward nine demands that will be made by Green MPPs elected in 2014. Each of the demands is costed and the source of revenue identified. 

 

“Financial, social, and environmental accountability are at the heart of Green Party values,” says Deputy Leader Kevin O’Donnell. “This platform is visionary and responsible. It doesn’t borrow from our kids future by gutting public services or failing to fund important promises.”

 

The demands include bold and innovative solutions to pressing problems faced by the people of Ontario, like a real plan to save you money on energy bills, without costly gimmicks. They are also all concrete ways in which Green MPPs can contribute to creating a better future for us all. 

 

“I want to make it clear to the people of Ontario: a Green vote can and will make a difference,” says Schreiner. “On issue after issue, we have shown leadership and brought about change for a better Ontario.” 

Green Party of Ontario addresses inequity in publicly funded schools

Toronto, Ontario – The Green Party of Ontario today called for a Citizen’s Assembly to address the transition to a single school system (French and English), a move which all other provinces have made over the past decade.

“Greens believe in a fair, equitable, and financially responsible school system that enriches learning for all students. All Ontarian's fund our school system, and it is government’s job to ensure that the public has a voice in how that money is spent.” said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

Currently both Public and Catholic boards are funded per student from the same public fund. Canada ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on May 19th, 1976, with the consent of all provinces, including Ontario. In November 1999 and again in November 2005 the same committee censured Canada again for failing to ‘adopt steps in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of religion in the funding of schools in Ontario.’

“Our current system operates under a constitutional privilege that dates back to when women were not permitted to vote,” explains Justin Trottier, Green Party candidate for Parkdale High Park. “Other provinces, like Quebec, have achieved a bilateral agreement with the Federal government to unify their school boards so that no particular faith is being funded by the province.”

Recently the issue of inequality in our school system has been underscored by Catholic school boards openly denying students the freedom to form Gay Straight Alliances to create more inclusive environments for students and staff.

“Ontarian's pride themselves on their diversity,” said Toronto Centre candidate and LGBT rights activist Mark Daye. "Our education system needs to reflect that."

The Green Party of Ontario believes that our education system must be fair, equitable and efficient for all students, teachers and families. The Green Party is the only party with a plan to allow Ontarian's to address equality in our school system, by moving towards one publicly funded school system, in French and English.

Green MPP's will:
• Call for a citizen’s assembly to review moving to one publicly funded French and English school system to study and offer recommendations on the constitutional, procedural and logistical issues relating to a single public school system in Ontario. The citizens assembly will provide an opportunity for all Ontarian's to comment on and participate in this important discussion. Citizen input is essential to help determine the best way forward.

Facts:
• Under the Constitution Act of 1982, Constitutional change in an area of provincial jurisdiction (such as education) can be accomplished through bilateral agreement between the province and the Parliament of Canada alone. Ten post-1982 amendments have been made to the Constitution, five of which concern denomination education rights. Quebec and Newfoundland once had denominational school systems. Both provinces modernized their school systems in the 1990s.

• Ontario's school boards are publicly funded according to the province's 'funding formula', which is based primarily on student enrollment. Municipal 'school support' designations have no effect on the amount of funding a board receives. Catholic taxpayers are not the sole supporters of Catholic schools. All taxpayers support all schools.

• Canada ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on May 19th, 1976, with the consent of all provinces, including Ontario. In November 1999, the United Nations Human Rights Committee found Canada in violation of the equality provisions of that Covenant by virtue of Ontario's discriminatory school system. In November 2005 the same Committee censured Canada again for failing to ‘adopt steps in order to eliminate discrimination on the basis of religion in the funding of schools in Ontario.’

An Open Letter to Ontarians

Dear Neighbours,

Tonight, many of you will watch the only televised Leaders’ debate in this provincial election.

 

I would have welcomed the chance to go head to head with these professional politicians. But I am sorry to say that you won’t have a chance to hear from the Green Party during the debate.

 

Unfortunately, the decision to deny the Green Party a seat at the table for this debate was made by a few non-elected broadcasters meeting in a back-room in collaboration with the three old parties.

 

I know you were looking forward to hearing a voice that reflects your desire to fix politics as usual.

 

To make sure Ontario is leader in the twenty-first century global economy, we must make the connection between a healthy environment and a strong economy. We will lower payroll taxes on local businesses to make it cheaper and easier to create good local jobs and lower income taxes so your money can support our local economy. Our plan to put a price on carbon will create jobs, strengthen our economy, balance the budget and reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

 

We need smart planning that puts clean air, water, land and communities first – instead we have the Liberal’s fair-weather environmentalism where decisions about mega-quarries and gas-plants only come when it’s politically convenient.

 

The Conservatives want to pull us back into the last century with their energy plans that will kill green energy and borrow billions to build expensive, inflexible new nuclear.

 

All of the old parties have irresponsible plans that borrow money to subsidize the wasteful use of energy.

 

The Green Party of Ontario is the only party helping you to save money by saving energy. Our green energy plan starts with low cost solutions that prioritize energy efficiency and conservation. Our plan will create good local jobs across the province and reduce the amount of money the province must spend on new sources of energy.

 

We are the only party dedicated to making family farming a top priority in this province, so we can all enjoy fresh, affordable food on our tables, today, and in the future.

 

We are the only party calling for a smart, fair, equitable school board system with a plan to engage citizens in determining the best way forward.

 

These are tough issues that the Green Party would have raised in the debate. And while the other parties may be too afraid to give us a seat at the table, our voice will not be silenced, nor will it slow our growth. We have policies that will improve your life and our communities today, tomorrow and years from now.

 

We will continue to reach out to Ontarians face-to-face, as our 107 candidates continue to knock on countless doors to earn your trust, and your vote on Oct 6th. We will continue to listen to you and present solutions to the issues that matter to you.

 

In my travels across our great province, I have been awed and inspired to see the commitment and dedication of thousands of individuals – people just like you - making their communities a better place.

 

Please take a moment to check out our platform. It’s time for a better, more sustainable Ontario. It’s time to vote Green so we can work with you to fix politics as usual in Ontario.

 

Thank you,

 

Mike Schreiner

Leader of the Green Party of Ontario

Education Discrimination in Ontario

Rally to support defunding of Ontario's Catholic schools amassed a small but impassioned turnout.

Green Party of ON Candidate Mark Daye at GSA Rally

By Kelli Korducki

“Ontario Can’t Afford Religious Discrimination” read the banner behind the speaker’s podium at Sunday afternoon’s Canadian Secular Alliance rally to protest public funding of Catholic schools. The costs, as a spirited roster of speakers told a quietly attentive audience outside the Ontario Legislature, are as financial as they are moral. Education Equality in Ontario president Leonard Baak pointed out that institutional duplication means that each Catholic school system student costs $515 more to educate than his or her secular counterpart.

Maybe pragmatic arguments weren’t necessary to sway this small crowd of roughly 100 attendees, many of whom stood toting signs demanding the cessation of faith-based bigotry (and wearing T-shirts gently reminding the world that “Some chicks marry other chicks. Get over it.”). But numbers and dollar signs certainly don’t hurt in lending additional heft to arguments rooted in emotions.

And the emotions were undeniable. Toronto Centre Green Party of Ontario candidate Mark Daye shared a personal account of his previous life as a closeted newlywed and guilt-ridden Catholic who, when he went to his parish priest with a heartfelt plea for guidance, was instructed to pray the gay away. It didn’t work. “The advice that I received, is this the kind of advice that our students need and deserve?”

Read the full story at Torontoist

Green Party candidate Mark Daye at GSA rally, Queens Park

Toronto Centre Riding Ratepayer Association Debate (Sept. 16th - 6:45 - 9:00 pm)

Rally to support GSA's in Catholic Schools! Please come.

Green Party set to launch largest election campaign ever on Wednesday September 7th

Joined by candidates, shadow cabinet critics and supporters, Mike Schreiner will launch the Green Party’s 2011 election campaign from Queen's Park on Wednesday September 7th.  The Green Party was the first provincial party to launch their platform on May 24, offering a bold vision for building a financially, socially and environmentally sustainable Ontario. 

Capitalizing on the momentum from electing the first Green MP in Canadian history, the Green Party of Ontario plans to address major issues currently confrontingOntarians including tackling rising energy costs, the difficult job market, and access to quality health care.

What: Mike Schreiner will launch the Green Party of Ontario 2011 Election Campaign

When: Wednesday September 7th, 2011

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Where:  Legislative Grounds, Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON

Greens Want Breakthrough

Toronto Centre Housing

Hudak Health Care

Feeding Our Communities by Championing Stronger Family Farms

Our communities benefit from thriving farms that provide fresh and healthy local food. The food sector is the second largest employer in Ontario, and profitable farms and agricultural businesses are the backbone of a prosperous rural economy and essential to feeding Ontario.


Our food system is experiencing significant challenges. Farm incomes are variable and negative for most sectors, food bank use is at an all-time high, and poor diets are contributing to rising health care costs. The number of farmers is declining, the age of farmers is rising and fewer youth are growing food. Ontario only has 7,000 farmers under the age of 35. We are losing too much farm land to urban sprawl. It’s time to make strengthening our food system a priority so that Ontario can feed itself and others.

Food connects us all. Green MPPs will advocate for a comprehensive Ontario Food and Farming Strategy that provides access to healthy food from Ontario’s farms. This begins with ensuring that our farmers and food processors have a stable, reliable income. It’s time to make healthy local food a priority.

Your Green MPPs will:
1. Provide access to healthy food for Ontarians.

a. Coordinate a comprehensive healthy school food program 

b. Invest in community food programs that promote access to healthy food, community gardens, cooking and nutrition classes; provide tax credits for farmers and processors who donate to food security organizations

c. Set measurable Ontario food purchasing targets for all public institutions.

2. Promote programs to support financially sustainable local food systems

a. Establish an Ontario Food and Farming Policy Council to coordinate planning across ministries and consult diverse stakeholders on programs, regulations and legislation

b. Reward farmers for stewardship practices that provide environmental and community benefits such as clean water, habitat preservation and carbon storage

c. Invest in rural infrastructure, research and innovation, plant-based manufacturing products, distribution hubs, farmer co-ops, organic and specialty crops to support farm incomes.

3. Remove barriers to success for family farms and local food processors

a. End one-size-fits-all regulations for family farms and local food processors; implement smart regulations that recognize differences in the size of operations

b. Eliminate tax penalties and reduce zoning restrictions to facilitate local, on-farm food enterprises and innovative sources of farm income

c. Improve income stabilization programs so they are more accessible for family farms, cover a wider range of products and don’t penalize farmers who experience bad years.

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

John Tory Finished!

John Tory's fate as leader of the Progressive Conservatives is in serious jeopardy after a defeat that I can only describe as fantastic.That has left the Opposition in limbo and could spell the end of his political career. Sorry, I can't feel any sympathy for this guy who famously wanted to extend funding to religious schools, beyond the Catholics. Rather than taking public funds away from the Catholics and all religious schools which still, in my opinion, needs to be done.  Read more about it here.

Maybe he should change his name to John Grit and run for the Liberals?

It All Adds Up

Billy Ballot Explains....

This animated clip from Elections Ontario explains the MMP system which we will have to vote for on October 10. I will be voting YES to MMP.

Click Here

Vote Green on October 10th

MMP System Used Around the World
The Mixed Member Proportional system being proposed in Ontario is the same system that is used in Germany that saw the initial success of the Green Party in the late 1970s. Winning this referendum in Ontario will help win the BC STV referendum that will be re-voted in 2009.

• Benefits of the MMP System
• Better geographic representation
• Fairer Elections
• Better government
• More Accountable government
• Stronger representation
• More women in the legislature
• Recommended by 92% of the Citizens Assembly members in Ontario
• A system devised by average people not political insiders

Vote Green On October 10th