Posts Tagged ‘Save the Toronto Bluffs’
Save The Toronto Bluffs Demand a Voice for Toronto at Queen’s Park – Endorse Sue Ann Levy
Below is a press release issued by Save the Toronto Bluffs after a discussion of next steps this weekend. It is important to note that 90% of members of the Save the Toronto Bluffs steering committee, myself included, do not hold any provincial party membership. This isn’t about being partisan, this is about being represented. Sadly, we’ve seen how badly Liberal MPPs fail to represent communities when it is a choice between party line and community consensus. When elected officials fail to do their jobs and represent their communities, they get replaced.
Members of Save the Toronto Bluffs will actively participate in Sue-Ann Levy’s election as MPP in St. Paul’s in hopes of sending the Ontario Liberals a message, and finding a voice at Queen’s Park that will stand up for the City, where the Ontario Liberal’s Toronto caucus has so badly failed.
I anticipate criticism from Ontario Liberals for this move, but my response is simple – we were participating in a bureaucratic process for months before the Premier and Minister Smitherman decided to come to the public aid of a law breaking, irresponsible developer (Toronto Hydro Energy Services). The Premier and Deputy Premier chose on their own to attack residents, resorting to name calling and distorting our arguments and we’ve stood up and will continue to, until they are defeated or back down. Considering John Gerretsen personally signed off on Toronto Hydro’s illegal application, it’s clear the Ontario Liberals still aren’t listening, so residents will once again turn up the heat and continue to, until Scarborough’s waterfront MPPs find their spines, stand up for residents, or are defeated.
Members of Save the Toronto Bluffs frustrated at the lack of representation Toronto’s timid Ontario Liberal MPPs have provided, are calling on St. Pauls voters to heed their warning and elect someone who will stand up for their community and our City at Queen’s Park.
‘We’ve seen first hand how poorly Liberal MPPs respond to community concerns that don’t line up with the ‘party line’. Toronto doesn’t need an 18th Liberal MPP who won’t stand up for their constituents or our City. Said John Laforet. ‘Sue-Ann Levy has a proven track record of being outspoken, and her election can only help Torontonian’s voices to be heard at Queen’s Park.’ Laforet continued.
On August 11th, members of Save the Toronto Bluffs staged a protest of Premier McGuinty’s visit first visit to Scarborough since he and Minister Smitherman attacked Scarborough Bluffs residents for opposing Toronto Hydro’s Lake Ontario wind proposal. Last week, the government, ignoring all community concerns, accepted Toronto Hydro’s application.
‘Members of Save the Toronto Bluffs have tried for a year to convince the Provincial government a project like this does not belong in our drinking water, so close to a sensitive natural shoreline and especially without an environmental assessment.’ Said Barry Matthews, Vice President of Save the Toronto Bluffs, a group representing thousands of Scarborough residents who oppose Toronto Hydro Energy Services proposal to install a wind farm 2km off the Scarborough Bluffs. ‘Our pleas have fallen on deaf ears, have been met with indifference from local MPPs and have seen members of Cabinet resort to name-calling while passing legislation specifically intended to deny residents a voice.’ Matthews continued.
The Progressive Conservative Party is the only party that stood up for Scarborough Residents during the debate on the Green Energy Act, a law that stripped environmental assessments, community participation and city planning legislation from renewable energy projects.
Save the Toronto Bluffs is endorsing Sue-Ann Levy in hopes of sending a clear message to Dalton McGuinty ‘listen, or be defeated.’
Members of Save the Toronto Bluffs are planning to go canvassing in support of Sue-Ann Levy in hopes that an upset win for her could see all Torontonians with a voice a Queen’s Park.
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No Comments »Promise Made, Promise Kept – Guildwood Residents Stand Up to Dalton McGuinty in Scarborough
Bluffs residents have warned McGuinty they’re ready for a fight. “Residents won’t lay down,” said local activist John Laforet. Toronto Star: McGuinty Vows to Stop Wind-Farm NIMBYs February 11 2009
When Dalton McGuinty came to Scarborough six months after he and his Deputy Premier launched an unprecedented attack on Guildwood residents, residents stood up and made good on that pledge. With just a weekend to plan, we were able to get as many protesters as the Premier had guests at an Ontario Liberal Party BBQ intended to get Scarborough Provincial Liberals excited about the next election.
While the Ontario Liberal Party BBQ was organized by staff from taxpayer funded government offices at Queen’s Park, the food was provided by Enbridge – a wind farm developer, and the Premier tried to use his bodyguards to intimidate us into leaving – resident’s stood strong and sent their message loud and clear.
I am proud to have worked with so many Guildwood residents to organize this event. It was great to be joined by members of the community, members of the sailing community and to see folks whose lives have been personally affected by the wind installation at Ripley come out to tell Dalton McGuinty that all is not well for him and Ontario Liberals.
We were so clear with that message that CityTV led with tonight for the 11pm news. Below is that footage and some pictures taken by Jessica Laforet. If the video doesn’t work click on this link to CityTV News and watch the clip on their website.
Slide show of pictures:
10 Comments »Dalton McGuinty’s Date With Protesters in Scarborough Tonight
This went out to a number of Toronto media outlets last night. I am posting this now, as I am already on site, as are many protesters – awaiting the Premier’s arrival.
For Immediate Release: Dalton McGuinty to be met by protesters from Save the Toronto Bluffs at Liberal BBQ in Scarborough this evening.
The protest will take place at Miller Lash House 130 Old Kingston Road at the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus – Tuesday August 11th 2009 at 6pm at an Ontario Liberal BBQ to be attended by the Premier.
Dalton McGuinty is making his first visit to Scarborough, ON since he and Deputy Premier George Smitherman unleashed an unprecedented attack on Scarborough Bluffs residents who oppose Toronto Hydro’s proposed wind farm installation in Lake Ontario.
“Dalton McGuinty can’t expect Scarborough residents to pretend all is forgiven when he decides to come to Scarborough after attacking residents in a speech delivered hundreds of kilometres away. We’re here to let him know we heard what he had to say, and will not let him forget it.” said John Laforet
On February 11th 2009 in London, ON Premier McGuinty cited Scarborough Bluffs residents who oppose Toronto Hydro’s proposal stating that the Green Energy Act would limit citizen’s right to participate in local decision making, and remove municipal planning control over renewable energy projects.
Deputy Premier Smitherman called Guildwood residents ‘absurd’ and accused them of working themselves into an ‘artificial lather’.
Residents have been engaged with Toronto Hydro Energy Services to prevent the installation of a one million dollar wind test facility off the Scarborough Bluffs where modeling data already shows there is not sufficient wind for an offshore wind farm.
Residents are not satisfied Toronto Hydro has done any of the necessary environmental studies to ensure no harm is done to water quality or aquatic life during the unnecessary million dollar study.
“The Premier has abused his power to purposefully deny residents the right to participate in their democracy through the Green Energy Act. We’re not going to let him forget his words, or his attack on our community.” Said John Laforet
“When Dalton McGuinty comes to Scarborough this evening for a love-in with his Liberal partisans, it will be citizens of this province exercising their democratic rights to warn the Premier that this is far from over.” John Laforet
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