[All] Fw: suspension of regulations to limit air pollution by US coal-fired power plants

Tue Oct 24 14:33:47 EDT 2017

I totally agree with you, Greg.  It's a lot of hot air with complete ignorance of the initial request.
Theo

      From: Gregory C. Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>
 To: "all at gren.ca" <all at gren.ca> 
 Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 2:12 PM
 Subject: [All] Fw: suspension of regulations to limit air pollution by US coal-fired power plants

 <!--#yiv2610630551 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}-->Dear GREN members:
On October 10 I wrote a letter on behalf of GREN to Waterloo MP Bardish Chagger regarding Trump's cancellation of pollution regulations respecting American coal-fired power plants (see below).
Today i finally got this reply from her.  It's a very good example of "bafflegab" that does not address the issue that has been presented to a politician by one of their constituents but instead gets into a lot of fancy language, dances around tossing up big gobs of self-praise,  and completely avoids engagement.  At first I was just disappointed by her superficial and evasive response, but now I'm offended by her behaviour. 
This is an important health issue.  We deserve better than this.
- Greg Michalenko  

From: Bardish.Chagger at parl.gc.ca <Bardish.Chagger at parl.gc.ca>
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 1:51 PM
To: Gregory C. Michalenko
Subject: Re: suspension of regulations to limit air pollution by US coal-fired power plants Dear Gregory,

Thank you for contacting our office on the issue of pollution and our American partners. Responding to issues raised by constituents is an important part of my job as your Member of Parliament, and I take it very seriously.

Our Government recognizes the need to protect the environment while growing the economy and creating jobs for middle class Canadians.

I appreciate you raising your concerns with the actions of the United States. Our Government recognizes that we have no closer partner than the United States, and Canadians and Americans know that we are all better off when we work together to grow the middle class. In negotiating NAFTA, we welcome modernization of the agreement to reflect new realities, and integrate progressive, free, and fair approaches to trade and investment, including respect to environmental and labour protections. We remain prepared to defend Canadian national interests and stand up for our values in these negotiations.

Canada has stepped up and remains committed to the Paris Agreement, now more than ever, and we’re working with countries around the world to tackle climate change. We’re putting a price on carbon in Canada and making polluters pay. This will reduce pollution and give incentives for companies to innovate and create cleaner solutions. We will continue to take action today to build a future that our children and grandchildren deserve.

I hope this information is of assistance, and thank you again for contacting my office. If you have any other questions regarding this matter or any other related to the mandate of the Federal Government, do not hesitate to contact my office. I thank you again for your correspondence and for sharing your views.

Sincerely,

Hon. Bardish Chagger, P.C.
Member of Parliament for the Riding of Waterloo

________________________________
From: Gregory C. Michalenko <gcmichalenko at uwaterloo.ca>
Sent: October 10, 2017 10:19 AM
To: Chagger, Bardish - M.P.
Cc: jjackson at web.ca
Subject: suspension of regulations to limit air pollution by US coal-fired power plants

Dear Bardish Chagger:

The Grand River Environmental Network would like to express its concern regarding yesterday's announcement by Mr. Pruitt, the US Environmental Protection Agency's head.  Mr. Pruit has cancelled regulations limiting air pollution by US coal-fired power plants.

When the EPA under President Obama put in stringent regulations limiting US coal-fired plant emissions the air quality in southern Ontario improved enormously.  In 2005, before the new regulations, there were 20 smog advisory days when human health was at risk.  It is estimated that about 1500 premature deaths as well as tens of thousands of cases of respiratory distress were caused by this pollution every year in southern Ontario.  I personally remember days when the air was so noxious and full of sulfuric acid vapour that it hurt to breathe.  To its credit, the Province of Ontario shut down its remaining coal-powered plant to remedy the Canadian contribution to this situation.

Our air is so much safer now.  We request that Prime Minister Trudeau express our concern about the EPA turn-around and its threat to the health of your constituents when he meets tomorrow with President Trump.

Waterloo is at the junction of two US air streams, one from Kentucky and Ohio, and the other from Michigan.  We are thus particularly vulnerable to coal-pollution from the US.  Lives are at risk.  Granted these are "statistical" deaths.  However, death is the same, whether caused by dramatic disasters such as forest  fires and hurricanes, and gun-mediated violence -- or, more quietly and unreported by the media, by toxic air.

Sincerely,

Greg Michalenko

on behalf of the Grand River Environmental Network

53 Menno St.

Waterloo

N2L 2A6

cc John Jackson, chair, Grand River Environmental Network

519 725-1059, gcmichal at uwaterloo.ca
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