Toronto Observer: New Scarborough Councillor Opposes Wind Turbine Project
Toronto Observer: New Scarborough Councillor Opposes Wind Turbine Project
Cole Carruthers, Kyle Larkin
Published 24 January 2011
Newly elected Coun. Gary Crawford hopes that the proposed wind turbine project in his ward will amount to nothing but hot air – and his opinion is making him popular with local environmental groups.
The Ward 36 representative’s says the turbines high pricetag far outweigh any benefits.
“I am completely against it, they just don’t make sense at an economic level. The cost is too much,” Crawford said Tuesday.
Local protest group Save the Bluffs state on their website that consumers pay an average of 2.5 times more for power generated from wind turbines than normal system prices.
The group also claims wind turbines erected too close to residential areas can affect the health of nearby residents.
But moving the turbines further out can drive the cost even higher, Crawford said.
“It’s more economically feasible to have them closer to shore,” he said. “The cost increases the farther away you place them, it becomes directly high.”
Toronto Hydro wants to erect the wind turbines on the shores of Ward 36. The ongoing debate is whether enough research has been done into the long-term effects of the turbines.
Local environmental groups worry that there could be negative environmental effects on the land in addition to potential health issues for the community.
John Laforet, president of Wind Concerns Ontario, a coalition of dozens of anti-wind turbine groups from across the province, welcomes Crawford’s take on the matter.
“It’s important that he is against it, it’s a city project and if they’re not happy with it the city can tell Toronto Hydro there is no project,” Laforet said.
Michelle Mears, office manager for Bluffer’s Park Marina hasn’t heard any of the residents complain about the turbine project.
“The people who are against the proposal are the advocates from Guildwood, the residents from the marina are not too concerned to my knowledge,” she said.
1 Comment »Advanced Polls Open in Ward 43 Saturday October 16th and Sunday October 17th
This morning at 10am I joined with family, friends and neighbours and cast my ballot for Mayor, City Councillor and School Trustee in Ward 43. I was pleased to go to the polls with my grandparents and some of my key campaign supporters to exercise our democratic responsibilities. If you believe our ward needs a strong, local voice at City Hall, it’s critical you vote as well.
John Laforet voting with his grandparents at the advanced polls
Voting is open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday October 16th and Sunday October 17th at Galloway Road Public School (192 Galloway Road).
To vote all you need to do is bring your voter card and a piece of ID. If you didn’t receive your voter card, a drivers licence or another piece of photo ID with signature (citizenship card, passport etc.) and something with proof of address like a utility bill or bank statement. For a full list of acceptable identifcation and voting requirements please visit this City of Toronto Election’s Link.
No Comments »Generous Ward 43 Residents Help John Laforet Take Second Place in City Wide Food Poll 2010
Laforet is top Scarborough Councillor Candidate in Food Bank Contest
Generous Ward 43 residents help Laforet take second place in Toronto-wide challenge
SCARBOROUGH, Fri. Oct. 8, 2010 – Ward 43 Toronto City Councillor Candidate John Laforet collected more food donations in Scarborough than any other local candidate as part of a food drive challenge coinciding with the current Toronto municipal election.
With the help of Ward 43 residents, Laforet collected 249 pounds of soup, rice, pasta and other non-perishable food items during the city-wide Toronto Food Poll 2010. This food drive was organized as a friendly challenge among all city councillor candidates in the upcoming October 25th municipal election.
In addition to winning in Scarborough, Laforet took second place overall, competing among the 22 candidates from 18 wards who participated in the food bank challenge.
The Toronto Food Poll 2010 collected a total of 5,008 pounds of food. All food collected goes to Toronto residents who use food banks to help them provide for their families. Final results of the food drive challenge are available at TORONTO FOOD POLL 2010-results (www.foodpoll2010.com/index.html).
“This comes at such an important time,” said John Laforet. “With Thanksgiving this weekend, I’m grateful that so many residents in Ward 43 provided so many donations to the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank. I’m so proud to have collected this food and give a helping hand to people.”
The motto for this year’s Food Poll was “Politics doesn’t matter if you’re hungry…. Everyone needs to eat.” John Laforet was the only councillor candidate in Scarborough’s Ward 43 to participate in this community food drive.
Laforet said food drive organizers took a creative approach to link urban poverty with the current municipal election. Laforet points out that food drives like this are important to many Ward 43 residents, a place where city officials estimate about 3,000 families depend on local food banks. All the food collected by the John Laforet campaign in Ward 43 was delivered to the Toronto Daily Bread Food Bank, which supplies food to Scarborough’s volunteer-run food banks.
“In addition to its low-income residents, Ward 43 continues to lack many of the city services that other parts of Toronto take for granted,” Laforet said. “We have no subway service. Some of the worst roads in Ontario are in this ward. And only one library is now operating in this whole ward.”
John Laforet is the only candidate for Ward 43 City Councillor who lives in the ward. He’s campaigning to improve local services – including expanding the subway in Scarborough and revitalizing the historic Guild Inn. Laforet’s priorities also include bringing more financial accountability to City Hall, and addressing chronic poverty issues in Ward 43.
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