Posts Tagged ‘John Laforet Campaign’
Globe and Mail: Scarborough Bluffs residents determined to fight wind turbine project
Some key points about the motion discussed in the article below:
Councillor Ainslie voted for Toronto’s renewable energy targets even though Toronto Hydro said advised Council could only be met with offshore wind. He moved a motion of support for the Green Energy Act even though Dalton McGuinty and George Smitherman cited Scarborough Bluffs residents opposition to Toronto Hydro as the reason to take away citizens rights. I am the only candidate who fought them on their attacks then, and the reason why George Smitherman has attempted to apologize three times for his abusive comments that Ainslie seems to have condoned.
Paul Ainslie’s motion amounts to nothing more than a political deathbed conversion brought on by the fact that Guildwood residents are sick of not being represented and are overwhelmingly supporting my campaign to replace him and stop this project. They are also pretty open about this with him from what I understand.
The City of Toronto owns Toronto Hydro and could instruct them to stop tomorrow. Instead of trying that avenue, Paul Ainslie is literally copying and pasting a motion passed by Clearview Ontario that the Minister of Energy has already stated would have no impact on anything. Ainslie has said for over a year this is a provincial issue (yet he voted to support the City and Toronto Hydro moving forward with the research in December 2009). Folks, Toronto Hydro’s project is municipal as it gets. We own this issue as a City.
We need a Councillor who will address the real issue which is the City of Toronto’s ownership of Toronto Hydro and therefore this Council’s ability to stop the project regardless of what the Green Energy Act, the Minister of Energy or Dalton McGuinty think. Having a Councillor who voted for targets that can only be met with this project going forward and moved a motion of support for the Green Energy Act, praising the City and Toronto Hydro for their expertise in developing renewable energy projects isn’t going to be a winning strategy if we’re serious about stopping this project.
My position: ‘I’d fight like hell to kill the project.’
Paul Ainslie’s position: ‘I’m scared to death, so I’m going to look like I’m trying and hope my electoral defeat can be postponed.’
Residents need action, not excuses. We need success, not failure.
This project must be stopped and I am the only candidate that is serious about doing that.
Keep our message alive. Give us the tools to succeed. Click donate to do what you can to help or visit the ‘Contact’ page to get involved in taking back our community’s seat on Council.
Below is the text from the Globe’s article.
Globe and Mail: Scarborough Bluffs residents determined to fight wind turbine project
Anna Mehler Paperny
From Saturday’s Globe and Mail
Published on Friday, Apr. 16, 2010 11:40PM EDT
Last updated on Friday, Apr. 16, 2010 11:42PM EDT
It’s an ongoing battle worthy of Cervantes, if he’d been an eco-minded urban planner: A furious group of residents, tilting at a hypothetical windmill.
The proposed turbine project, which would set up windmills in Lake Ontario off the Scarborough Bluffs, would be one of the province’s first forays into offshore wind power. Studies into whether such a project is even feasible are still in the nascent stage. It will take at least two years before Toronto Hydro knows whether there’s enough wind to make it work, and provincial regulations governing such a proposition are a ways off.
But the Don Quixotes of the Scarborough Bluffs are dead set against the suggestion. And their vocal opposition is putting local politicians on notice.
A motion going before Monday’s executive committee, put forward by two local councillors, proposes to ask the province for a blanket moratorium on wind-power development in Ontario. Even if the motion does make its way through council, it will have little impact, but it’s symbolic of the sway local opposition can have on such a project.
As Toronto commits to sourcing a quarter of its energy from renewable sources and the Ontario government commits billions of dollars to green-energy projects across the province, local opposition to backyard energy generation is something with which next year’s council will have to contend.
Already in the Guildwood community’s case, the turbine spat has galvanized candidates challenging incumbent councillor Paul Ainslie, arguing he hasn’t been vocal enough in his opposition. Mayoral candidates are being told in no uncertain terms that if they hope to pursue projects like these, they’ll have to find a way to work with angry residents.
Mr. Ainslie, the Scarborough East councillor who put forward Monday’s motion along with Scarborough Southwest councillor Brian Ashton, says he was motivated to do so out of concern for a precious part of the Toronto waterfront and fear that residents’ concerns are being ignored.
“People have a lot of concerns and people want to be listened to,” he said. “We’re asking for a moratorium because there’s health concerns, there’s real estate issues with property values and there’s a lot of things that are unanswered.”
The wind turbine issue is making Mr. Ainslie political enemies in his own ward: It’s the reason John LaForet is gunning for Mr. Ainslie’s council seat in October. “I’d fight like hell to kill the project,” he says.
Ontario Energy Minister Brad Duguid said even if the city’s executive committee passes the motion, it won’t change anything. If the project is deemed feasible and meets whatever provincial rules are put in place, it will likely go forward.
“There’s an 80-fold increase in wind turbines happening across Ontario – it is going to be something that’s going to be part of our landscape,” he said. “I think it would be a little bit hypocritical for Toronto, given its efforts to try to portray itself as a green city, to support this resolution. But that’s something that council will have to deal with. We’re determined to move forward with building green energy.”
Mayor David Miller, who has championed the city’s push towards renewable power, said opposition to the Scarborough Bluffs turbine is the exception, rather than the rule.
“The vast bulk of the green projects we’re doing are not only not controversial, they’re overwhelmingly embraced by people.”
It would be “tragic” if fear of angering residents prevented the city’s politicians from pursuing much-needed renewable energy initiatives, said York University environmental studies professor Mark Winfield.
“I think the potential is enormous and the benefits are enormous,” he said. “The biggest danger in some ways … is, frankly, the derailment of some of these efforts.”
Comments Off‘You get the politicians you deserve’ – My Appeal for Help
Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue said this today at a Housing Forum I attended, in reference to what happens to marginalized communities that don’t vote and then get ignored by those who win.
Voter responsibility is something I believe in as a candidate and an activist because, at the end of the day, it is the electors and not the candidates that control who runs, wins and loses. Unfortunately, without the financial support of electors who believe in me, my candidacy will be forced to end soon.
In late 2008 when people began approaching me about running, I told them very simply that ‘if I run you would need to help me by donating time and money’. Since that time, I’ve done my part, but can’t wait much longer on members of the community to do theirs.
I have spent countless hours fighting on behalf of my community and pushing back against attacks and attempts to victimize residents. It has become increasingly clear that our fight lies at City Hall and stopping Toronto Hydro will be easiest from there.
Residents asked and I answered their call to enter the race. Two months later I find myself with unbelievable levels of support on the door in high and low income communities, but with a campaign running on fumes. Campaigns need money to operate, and without finances we will not be able to compete against Paul Ainslie’s abuse of tax dollars (which is well underway) and the lobbyist and developer money he will surely take this time around (as he did last time).
I remain the only candidate that lives in the Ward, the only candidate stepping up to fight for the community and sadly the only candidate who could be forced from the race over a lack of financial support.
Those who believe I would be a good Councillor need to get involved and take ownership of the fate of my campaign. Our community’s future hangs in the balance.
If you want to see me in this race, I need your help today. Please donate to my campaign now. As an example, a $300 donation will cost just $75 after the City mails you a rebate cheque. For a more detailed breakdown of the city’s rebate program and how much you can get back, click here.
Without your help, it is a matter of weeks before my campaign ends and with it my intention to devote the next four years of my life to standing up for residents who I believe currently have a failed representative. Elections are the opportunity for communities to decide who they want to represent them, and everyone should respect the outcome. If inaction causes my withdrawal and the re-election of Paul Ainslie, then, sadly, as Michael Prue said today, ‘you get the politicians you deserve’.
We have the opportunity to defeat a lying, weak, inactive member of Council and elect a strong, honest and committed representative in his place.
My pledge is simple – with your support we can win and I will do all that I can to make that happen. Together we can reclaim our voice and do the right thing. Without your support, I can’t and because I know I can’t win without the community investing in my campaign I can’t justify staying in the race.
If you believe as I do, please do something about it. Allow me to run, to be your voice and to stand up and fight for us. If you don’t then the next four years will be filled with more of the same and I will respect the community’s decision to be represented by an ineffective light-weight who does more harm than good.
Help fund the campaign and I pledge to devote myself fully to the task at hand. I will campaign until our victory is won and serve with honesty and integrity on your behalf.
I apologize to those who feel I am being too blunt, but a campaign without funds is not winnable. I believe residents and supporters have a right to know that I will not be in this race without them making it possible for me to run and win on their behalf.
For my part, I have begun making calls to community allies. A core group of volunteers are reaching out and I’ll be asking all friends and family to do their part to support me. If you’re someone who believes I should run and would like to see me elected, turn that belief into action.
Do your part today and donate now.
Comments OffThere Is Much We Can Do Together, But I Need Your Help
I have been a candidate for a month now and the kind words and best wishes I’ve received from folks living in Ward 43 and around the City are genuinely humbling. People seem to believe voice like mine on Council would be a good thing, even if we don’t agree on everything.
Having a principled, honest, socially progressive, fiscally conservative, community oriented voice who is committed to enhancing opportunities for local communities to take a more active role in decision making would be a fundamentally good thing for the City and my community.
Our campaign is grassroots driven, and will need the financial support of those who believe in what we’re trying to achieve if we are to succeed. We have receptive voters, and a good team coming together, but need the tools to run the distance.
I will stand up for local democracy, support effective and efficient public transit, demand action on affordable housing and childcare, while seeking financial sustainability to budgeting. I bring the same passion and energy to these other municipal issues as I have to my principled opposition to Toronto Hydro’s ill-conceived proposal for my community and will demand results when elected.
I am committed to community building, citizen engagement and collaborative decision making. It’s our City and we need a voice at the table reflecting our views. Whether you live in Ward 43 or not, if you want to see active, responsive Councillors who listen to real people and not just the folks on the lobbyist registry, I’m your guy.
We have a good chance of winning here, but not without your help. I can’t do this alone or on your behalf without your active support. It just won’t work.
I’m asking you to consider making a contribution to my campaign if you believe in what we’re trying to achieve.
The City of Toronto has a generous rebate program that all donors regardless of where they live in Ontario are eligible for. A donation of $300 would cost you just $75 as the City rebates the first 75% of any donation between 25-300 with a sliding scale for larger amounts over that. For more information on the rebate program for specific dollar amounts please click here.
Don’t wait for others to step up, because they’re waiting for you to do the same.
Join us, take action and contribute to what can only be a success with your help.
Keep our message alive. Give us the tools to succeed. Click donate on the right hand side of the screen to do what you can to help.
