[All] Bill 66 Update, Regional Review, Our Water Event April 17th
Neil Taylor
neiletaylor at sympatico.ca
Sat Apr 6 22:34:47 EDT 2019
Wow!
Kevin, you impress me again.
NT
> ---------- Original Message ----------
> From: Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
> Date: April 6, 2019 at 2:47 PM
>
> Good Day,
>
> 1) Bill 66 Update - It has been a long journey however, Section 10 of Bill
> 66 has finally been removed by the Standing Committee for General Government
> and we no longer have to worry about the provincial government using this
> draconian bill that so limited public notice and engagement while overriding
> key protections and so many essential Acts to “Open Ontario to Business”.
> Kudo’s again to so many different community groups who rallied, protested,
> delegated, sent letters, phoned, and undertook so many actions to persuade the
> government to abandon Section 10. It is unfortunate to see other concerning
> parts of Bill 66 still proceeding though.
>
>
> 2) Other Provincial Protests - it appears that Bill 66 was just setting
> the stage for many unfolding battles with the provincial government be it
> autism funding, education cuts, health care cuts, aggregates, the Growth Plan.
> and so many other issues. It is great to see the leadership being show by the
> so many community groups and organizations who are rallying in every way
> possible way. I encourage you to follow key organizing groups such as the
> Ontario Federation of Labour and their Power of Many campaign:
>
> https://www.oflevents.ca
>
> And the Waterloo Region Health Coalition who is helping to organize a
> massive Queen’s Park rally on April 30th:
>
> https://www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca
>
>
> 3) Regional Review - the provincial government’s review of regional and
> local governments which many fear will result in amalgamation or the creation
> of a mega-city overwhelming our rural areas as well as threatening our
> Countryside Line, Protected Countryside, farmland, and natural areas is well
> underway. You can learn more in the following article:
>
> - CBC Article -
> https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/regional-government-municipal-review-consultations-1.5079938
>
> It is so important that local citizens speak up with ideas and concerns.
> You can present in person to Regional Councillors and Mayors at a Special
> Regional Council Meeting on April 17th:
>
> https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca
>
> You can also present in person to the Provincial Advisors on Regional
> Reform on April 24th in Kitchener:
>
> https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-regional-government-review
>
> You can also submit written comments to the province and complete the
> online survey at:
>
> https://www.ontario.ca/form/survey-regional-government-review
>
> Please ensure that your voice is heard - we need to speak out for the sort
> of community and the things that we would like to see in the future. So much
> that has been essential to the success of our communities is at stake and the
> consequences of poorly considered and hap-hazard changes could be very far
> reaching.
>
>
> 4) Our Water, Our Future - join Theresa McClenaghan Executive Director of
> the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) and Bruce Davidson
> Vice-Chair of Concerned Walkerton Citizens to talk about the importance of
> safeguarding our water and potential future threats to our water supplies.
> The date of Wednesday, April 17th at 7:00pm is fast approaching. Please be
> sure to RSVP for this free event and If your group would like to have a table
> at this event at the First United Church in Waterloo please e-mail John
> Jackson of the Grand River Environmental Network at jjackson at web.ca
> <mailto:jjackson at web.ca>
>
> https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/our-water-our-future-tickets-58165251834
>
>
> 5) Secret Aggregate Summit - the Ford provincial government has continued
> its trend of secret industry consultations and invitation-only backroom
> meetings with a recent Aggregate Summit on March 29th in Caledon. Despite
> repeated requests to attend, more than 20 different community and
> environmental groups such as the Wellington Water Watchers, the Grand River
> Environmental Network, the Ontario Headwaters Institute, and Gravelwatch were
> denied access to the meeting. The article below describes demands of the
> Ontario Sand Stone and Gravel Association to be allowed to destroy protected
> areas such as the Greenbelt and Natural Heritage Areas for gravel pits:
>
>
> https://www.tvo.org/article/the-quarrying-industry-wants-back-in-to-ontarios-protected-land
> -
>
> 6) Ontario Government to Air Ads Fighting Climate Change Action - If the
> $30 million the Ford provincial government is wasting taking the federal
> government to court to fight the modest federal carbon tax isn’t bad enough,
> it has been revealed that on April 11th the government will be releasing a
> taxpayer funded advertising campaign against the federal carbon tax. It is
> very concerning to see the regressive actions of the provincial government and
> it fighting against essential action on climate change rather than leading
> with much needed climate change action.
>
> With the vast majority of Canadians expressing concern about climate
> change and stating that we need to be doing more, it is very disappointing to
> see our provincial government not only fighting climate action but now
> launching advertising campaigns against it. Please e-mail or call your MPP to
> voice concerns and you can learn more in the article below:
>
>
> https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9249712-ford-plans-taxpayer-funded-tv-ad-blitz-opposing-trudeau-s-carbon-tax-/
>
>
> 7) Final Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Report - ECO Diane Saxe who
> headlined our January event, gave her final report last week before being
> terminated. It is an excellent report that can be found at the archived ECO
> website:
>
> https://eco.auditor.on.ca/reports/2019-why-energy-conservation/
>
> I am providing a quote below from a local environmental leader:
>
> " I love section 4 of the Saxe report as it captures key messages from
> many ENGOs about the dangers of not smart growth and urban sprawl that only
> cause long term community vitality pains, ever increasing commuter gridlock,
> loss of rural landscapes including the food and diversity in our farmlands,
> forests, nature and water, together with higher taxes and hotter climates that
> only serve short term goals o f self-gain leaders and pirates."
>
> "In a so-called provincial government for the people, it is just not
> happening in the constant deluge of smoke and mirrors thrown to distract us
> every day. What an insult this is to the normal intelligence of conscientious
> citizens who fear for the legacy we are leaving for our children. We must
> continue to demand and to require evidence-based useful facts not
> evidence-deficient fake news from our governments. We must stand up with our
> collective voice. Bullies will eventually back down when confronted with the
> hard cold reality of what the people want and knowing the people will not
> stand for less. Don't ever give up as strong community-based persistence will
> prevail. All major environmental gains in Ontario were won by grass roots
> leadership!"
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 8) Green Drinks Waterloo - The second Green Drinks Waterloo event is
> coming up Wednesday, April 10th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at the Huether Hotel,
> Barley Works. Come out and join other environmentally conscientious,
> sustainably minded people for drinks and conversation. Please mark second
> Wednesday of each month in your calendar and check out
> http://www.greendrinks.org/ON/Kitchener%20Waterloo%20Cambridge for additional
> information.
>
>
>
>
>
> 9) Federal Climate Change Initiative - finally, below is a link to an
> excellent Globe & Mail article calling out the Conservative Party for their
> lack of climate plan in an era when global climate change is perhaps the
> biggest danger facing our planet. Things are certainly shifting when the
> pro-business Globe & Mail is calling for climate action:
>
>
> https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-conservative-lies-about-the-carbon-tax-need-to-be-called-out/
>
>
> Please share any questions or ideas and please continue to stand up for
> our community.
>
> Thank you,
> Kevin.
>
> ——————————
>
>
>
>
> Ford plans taxpayer-funded TV ad blitz opposing Trudeau’s ‘carbon tax’
>
> Premier Doug Ford’s government is planning to launch a multi-million
> dollar advertising blitz attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s
> carbon-pricing measures, the Star has learned.
>
> NEWS Mar 31, 2019 by Robert Benzie Toronto Star
>
>
>
>
> Premier Doug Ford meets with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a Dec. 6,
> 2018, file photo. The Star has learned Ford’s government is planning an
> advertising blitz opposing Ottawa’s new carbon tax. - Paul Chiasson , THE
> CANADIAN PRESS
> Premier Doug Ford's government is launching a massive taxpayer-funded
> advertising blitz attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's carbon-pricing
> plan, the Star has learned.
>
> Sources say the Progressive Conservatives have quietly begun preparing
> two 30-second TV commercials aimed at attacking what Ford calls "a job-killing
> carbon tax," a levy that takes effect Monday
> <https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2019/03/31/new-carbon-tax-starts-coming-in-for-four-provinces-that-fought-the-federal-plan.html>
> .
>
> "This is not a fight we are shying away from," said one senior Ontario
> government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss
> internal deliberations.
>
>
>
> "You don't need a carbon tax to fight climate change."
>
> The insider said a multi-million dollar ad campaign on television,
> radio, in print, and online will launch in the week after Finance Minister Vic
> Fedeli's April 11 budget.
>
> One proposed ad, set in a gas station, points out that Ottawa's scheme
> will add about 5 cents to a litre of gasoline.
>
> The spot notes that will add a lot of nickels to the price of food and
> other consumer goods because of increased shipping costs.
>
> A second provisional ad depicts the federal government as a hand
> reaching into a vehicle taking some coins from a motorist.
>
> The same hand is also shown inserting change into a thermostat as an
> elderly woman sets the temperature in her home.
>
> Sources say finishing touches are still being done on the commercials,
> which have not yet been filmed.
>
>
>
> The premier will underscore his credentials on pocketbook issues Monday
> when he touts the official end of the $30 Drive Clean emissions test
> <https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/09/27/premier-doug-ford-ending-drive-clean-plan.html>
> for passenger cars and trucks. Only commercial vehicles will be tested.
>
> Ford's advertising comes as his government has earmarked $30 million to
> fight the federal carbon-pricing measures. Less than $1 million of that has
> already been spent on an ongoing court challenge.
>
> Under Trudeau's program, which is designed curb greenhouse gas
> emissions, an average Ontario household would pay $244 more a year on
> gasoline, natural gas and home heating oil, but receive $300 in rebates for a
> net gain of $56 annually. That would be bankrolled by big industrial
> polluters.
>
>
> The province's proposed ads appear to contravene the old Government
> Advertising Act, watered down by the previous Liberal administration in 2015,
> which the Conservatives have promised to strengthen.
>
> While in opposition, the Tories vowed to revive the auditor general's
> powers to veto commercials deemed to be politically partisan.
>
> In her annual report last December
> <https://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2018/12/05/ontario-auditor-general-report-finds-wynnes-free-tuition-scheme-far-more-expensive-than-promised.html>
> , auditor general Bonnie Lysyk noted her office is no longer empowered to look
> at taxpayer-funded ads for "factual accuracy, context or tone to determine
> whether an item is partisan."
>
> "We recommend that the previous version of the Government Advertising
> Act, 2004 as it appeared on June 3, 2015, be reinstated," Lysyk wrote at the
> time.
>
> In response, the Tories promised action.
>
> "The government will endeavor to explore options for the review of
> government advertising. Expenditure management is a priority for this
> government," the treasury board said.
>
> "In support of this priority, the government will continually review
> advertising paid for by the government of Ontario to ensure it is delivered in
> the most efficient and effective manner, and delivers value for taxpayer
> dollars."
>
> Lysyk had publicly criticized the previous Liberal administration's ads
> that promoted Ontario's now-scrapped cap-and-trade environmental alliance with
> Quebec and California.
>
> In 2016, she objected to a commercial with environmentalist David
> Suzuki speaking to a crowded auditorium of children where he warned them that
> "if we don't act now, the damage could be irreversible."
>
> "Who will have to live with the consequences? You," Suzuki lectured the
> kids.
>
> But Lysyk felt that ad was designed "to create a positive impression of
> government."
>
> That sparked then deputy Tory leader Sylvia Jones, now Ford's community
> safety minister, to table a private members' bill to restore the auditor's
> power over government advertising.
>
> "If the Liberal party wants to spend money promoting their policies,
> have at it. But this is taxpayers' money that should be going to important
> issues," Jones said at the time.
>
> Former Grit premier Dalton McGuinty introduced the Government
> Advertising Act 15 years after a flurry of Tory ads under his predecessors,
> Ernie Eves and Mike Harris.
>
> Wynne amended it in 2015 amid complaints from Liberals that it was too
> restrictive.
>
> When the province harmonized the provincial sales tax with the goods
> and service tax in 2010, the government was unable to tout any of the benefits
> to consumers of streamlining the levies because the auditor general refused to
> allow it.
>
>
>
> Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter
> covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie
>
>
>
>
> -----------------------------------
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Fridays for the Future Climate Strike - it is great to see so many
> students taking part in the Fridays for the Future global movement. Please
> join on Friday, May 3rd at 12:30pm for the next event and learn more at:
>
> https://www.facebook.com/events/155952411991859/
>
>
> -------------------------------------
>
> Kevin Thomason
> Vice-Chair, Grand River Environmental Network
>
> Phone: (519) 888-0519
> Mobile Phone/WhatsApp: (519) 240-1648
> Twitter: @kthomason
> E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com <mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>
>
> -----------------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> All mailing list
> All at gren.ca
> http://gren.ca/mailman/listinfo/all_gren.ca
>
https://www.flickr.com/photos/costa_rica_birds2012/
"In the end, we conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand
and we will understand only what we are taught." -- Baba Dioum
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://gren.ca/pipermail/all_gren.ca/attachments/20190406/0aff0e30/attachment-0001.html>
More information about the All
mailing list