Archive for October, 2009
A Number Ontario Liberal MPPs May Not Be Smart, But Are Either Brave or Stupid
Yesterday over a hundred members of Wind Concerns Ontario rallied at the Legislature to call on the government to pass MPP Murdoch’s motion seeking a proper health study into the impacts of industrial wind turbine development on the health of residents. This is pretty simple stuff, something case law and Supreme Court hearings, and virtually all regulations except the Green Energy Act would recognize as being a reasonable step.
But because the Wind Industry has taken the ‘big lie’ approach to their product, they’ve decided to risk the whole lot in a legal and or political battle they frankly can’t win. They’ve asked Wind Concerns Ontario to seek to throw their baby out with their toxic bath water, instead of adopting international standards designed to protect human health and the environment. The Wind Industry’s reaction to fierce opposition was to cry to government they’ve been bribing with donations that are subsidized with our money, to strip citizens democratic rights so folks couldn’t get in the way of their projects.
It’s all failed horribly. Even they get it has. I’m sure George Smitherman and Dalton McGuinty got that memo too. Research is being done, moratoriums are going in place in other jurisdictions. As an example the Maine Medical Association is calling for a health study. Michigan has initiated a study and countless European countries have designed to recognize that these industrial machines are noise emitting and noise impacts health and therefore setbacks of 1.5km to 2km would protect folks. So you have folks doing research, and folks taking the precautionary approach and then you have Ontario’s bribed Liberal government not caring and taking the lies from folks who stand to make billions selling these projects into the grid on their word.
Residents have said repeatedly we’re not going away. The Ontario Liberal Party has begun facing protests, and those will continue. Candidates shouldn’t be shocked if local groups actively oppose their re-election or replacement with another Liberal candidate. All the wind money in the world won’t save you from a motivated, organized on the ground opposition.
The following Liberal MPPs inspired the title, because they’ve put themselves in a position where a fair comment is now ‘they voted to not protect your health because the Ontario Liberal Party stripped your rights to complain’
Arthurs, Wayne
Berardinetti, Lorenzo
Brown, Michael A.
Sandals, Liz
Van Bommel, Maria
Wilkinson, John
Each of these individuals were doing ‘house duty’ when the vote happened, all have active projects and opposition in their ridings and none stood up for their communities. There are other Liberal MPPs who couldn’t even bother to attend the debate. You may recall Margarett Best refusing to vote on the Green Energy Act – essentially ducking. She did the same today, even with voters from Scarborough Guildwood in the gallery hoping she would redeem herself a bit.
I am proud of everyone who came to Queen’s Park from our 39 groups in 26 counties. It was a weekday in the middle of the day, so many had to take time off work to be there and send the message we did. It’s the dedication of Wind Concerns Ontario that makes us such a strong force in Ontario, and as the days and weeks roll out ahead, we will continue strengthening our opposition and our attacks on the government’s position – until our voices are heard, a court puts them in their place or we defeat local MPPs who demonstrate they aren’t up to the job, simply by not doing it.
18 Comments »Let’s Start the 5% Cuts at City Hall with Councillor’s Salaries, Office Budgets and Political Staff
I have said repeatedly that spending at City Hall has been both out of control and irresponsible. I am not ideologically opposed to taxes or spending, but think each need to have a clear purpose that they are meeting.
The last two councils have increased taxes and spending at an totally unsustainable way and have relied on the Province for annual bailouts. I don’t dispute the Ctiy’s claim that the Province has failed to upload areas of provincial responsibility, but if one looks at how this council has responded to financial pressure – it can hardly be seen as an example of difficult leadership or tough decision making.
I don’t believe each department can or should be cut an arbitrary 5% this year and next. Doing so will hurt good and meaningful programs while leaving wasteful, misguided or otherwise unnecessary programs in 90 to 95% in place.
The annual budget has increased 1.5 billion under David Miller’s leadership. There is undoubtedly an opportunity to dig through all of this new spending and find ineffectively deployed resources. There is an opportunity to look at non core areas of spending and find significant cuts to ineffective spending while preserving program funding for well functioning and necessary resource deployment.
But before this Council attempts another ‘do as we say not as we do’ like they did with the unions during the negoiation that led to the longest strike in our City’s history – they ought to look at their own offices first.
They should cut 5% of their 53 100 office budgets, this year and next. They should cut 5% of their 200 000 staff budgets this year and next. And above all they should cut their own salaries 5% this year and next. They could also cut out the catered council meetings, the free coffee, the free zoo, golf, parking and metro passes they give themselves. While they are at it, they could cancel the city boxes at the Rogers Centre and the Air Canada Centre.
None of this spending does anything but stroke the egos of a bunch of ward bosses who find importance through these perks. Gutting these perks, and cutting back Councillor salaries, political staff salaries and councillor’s office budgets would also help them and their staff understand how difficult the current economic crisis is for many Toronto families. Cuts to their own office resources would also allow them to understand how their cuts to real programming impact the civil service as they deploy services to residents.
It seems to me only fair that these guys start with any cuts closest to themsevles and work out toward residents – who pay more than ever and are receiving less than before for it.
Who is with me?
No Comments »Toronto Hydro Re-Announces Approval of Illegal Anemometer Application
So for the second time now, Toronto Hydro Energy Services has announced approval to proceed with their illegal application to install an anemometer off the Scarborough Bluffs. I found out about this second announcement when media began calling for comment.
The Scarborough Mirror says ‘John Laforet isn’t surprised to hear the anemometer is going in, however it was news to him it would be going in next week.’ Scarborough Mirror – Wind research platform approved – October 23th 2009
Rightly so.
Joyce McLean’s very friendly email to Councillor Paul Ainslie (below in italics) was sent on August 21st 2009 and states:
“Good morning -This is to inform you that today John Gerretsen, the Ontario Minister of Environment officially denied the 6 Part II orders (bump up requests) for an individual environmental assessment for the offshore anemometer proposed by Toronto Hydro. The process now reverts to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for final approval. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks,
Joyce”
It would be nice if Councillor Ainslie was as friendly with residents of our community as he is with the folks at the municipally owned Toronto Hydro. Guildwood sure could use a friend right now, that’s for sure.
In the spirit of repeating old news as Toronto Hydro has done today, I will re-post my response to the first time their illegal application was approved on August 21st 2009.
Direct Message To My Readers At Toronto Hydro – I Will Comment On Your Illegal Application Later
by John Laforet
posted on August 21st, 2009 at 10:39:26 am
‘Never fight a battle where your opponent has everything to lose, because if they fear the prospect of a loss that steep they have nothing to lose in doing everything possible to defeat you.’ – John Laforet
To my readers at Toronto Hydro who have visited over eighty-one (81) blog entries on http://laforet.ca since this morning (it is 10:38 AM). I am sure you’re looking to see what I have to say about your illegal application that John Gerretsen decided to sign off on this week.
It is still illegal, you’re still a cesspool for unethical behaviour, flagrant violators of law and Guildwood residents are angrier than ever before. I still have nothing but contempt for anyone at Toronto Hydro who stubbornly supports wasting $700 million dollars of public money, damaging the environment and building a project we all know (yes you too) will never generate enough electricity to pay for itself.
We will defeat you.
You should know, not one turbine will be going in Lake Ontario off the Scarborough Bluffs, and you’re wasting your time and our money persueing your misadventure off the Bluffs.
We will ensure there will be consequences.
We will respond, and it will be fierce. We’re in this for the long haul and will not allow a single turbine to enter the Lake off our shores as part of your illegal application, through your law breaking, lies and other dirty tricks.
You will be stopped.
David O’Brien has already retired, perhaps it’s time for Chris Tyrrell, Jack Simpson and Joyce McLean to walk the plank before the next round of Scarborough Vs. Toronto Hydro kicks off.
If I were to write a modern ‘Prince’ or ‘Art of War’ this would be a message, I would dedicate to you: ‘Never fight a battle where your opponent has everything to lose, because if they fear the prospect of a loss that steep, they have nothing to lose in doing everything possible to defeat you.’
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