An organic and zero waste farming project, driven by 500 lbs of Tilapia fish, is currently on hold at the corner of Keele St. and Sheppard Ave.
Waiting on a long-term lease from Downsview Park, Fresh City Farms seeks to resume the largest scale cultivation of local food in the GTA - using fish excrement.
In a partnership with WaterFarmers Aquaponics, the Aquaponics system, at Fresh City is a closed water system that recirculates water between a fish tank and a floating vegetable bed. Nutrients from fish waste are feed to the plants and the plants in turn filter the water for the fish.
Issues with current agricultural practises like scarcity of freshwater, decline in soil fertility, and extreme weather aren’t an issue with this innovation and it is also beneficial for community building, job creation and food education.
Who wouldn’t be interested to learn about a clean, no waste way to grow food near or at home. Not to mention using fish that you can eat if you wish. Quite the conversation starter.
Saving up to 90% of water compared to traditional agriculture, aquaponics only needs a 10% volume top up to the total water volume each week according to Arvind Venkat, the Chief Scientist, Founder and CEO of WaterFarmers. Not only that, but it is close to one of the “purest food production technologies in the world”, as stated on their website.
“Vegetables grow up to 50% faster than soil farming” says Arvind.
Using the digestive system of cold blooded animal to its advantage, the excrement produces a broad spectrum of nutrients compared to cow or horse manure. Unlike commercial farming which causes erosion and soil depletion, no additives, pesticides or fertilizers are needed within this closed loop system which uses 100% of what goes into it.
The WaterFarmers have projects in over 10 different countries including Hong Kong, Turkey, Costa Rica and Indonesia. Aquaponics is said to be particularly useful for islands surrounded by salt water or areas with harsh climates experiencing extreme weather or drought.
Changes in soil temperature that would normally affect growing conditions are controlled in greenhouses.
That also means basil and cherry tomatoes are available in December - a surprise to those used to just having the choice of local Ontario root vegetables in the winter months.
The WaterFarmers seek to empower sustainable communities ranging from commercial and academic partnerships, down to helping you in your own home.
Visit www.waterfarmers.ca to learn more!
Hydro One: it’s not too late
Public meetings about Kathleen Wynne’s plan to sell-off Hydro One have been happening for almost a year now, yet they continue to fill up to capacity. These packed rooms are evidence of the overwhelming opposition to the Liberals’ plan to privatize this public asset.The room overflowed at a Jane Street Hub meeting in early March. Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath and MPP Jagmeet Singh listened and took note of the community’s concerns.One resident voiced her frustration with the already high cost of hydro, and her worry that it would go up even more if the Liberal plan moves forward. She explained that she only cooks on Sunday to take advantage of off-peak pricing, but her hydro bill is still too high.The truth about the many downfalls of selling Hydro One has been talked about for months now.Privatizing Hydro One will increase rates. Research on public vs. privately owned utilities has shown that customers of public firms pay lower prices for services (source: keephydropublic.ca). The less public ownership we have, the less control we’ll have and the less we’ll be able to turn to the Ontario Energy Board to stop rate increases.The loss of ownership also means the loss of revenue. Averaging $913 million in revenue per year since 2000, Hydro One is a reliable revenue source that we can’t afford to lose.Over 80 per cent of Ontario voters oppose the sale of Hydro One and as of December 2015, 194 of Ontario’s municipalities took an official stance against the sale. It’s clear that the movement to stop the sale continues to grow.Many people believe that it’s too late; that the deal has already been made. But this isn’t true. When asked what to say to those who think it’s too late, Horwath replied “It’s never too late, never give up.”“People want to do something about it. We’re giving people a voice,” Horwath said.The Liberals haven’t provided a timeline for their plan to sell. There’s still time to contact your MPP and have your voice heard.For more information and to sign a petition against the sale of Hydro One, visit:www.youpaytheprice.cawww.keephydropublic.ca
Tax Filling Help Awaits at Mathan Tax Services
The deadline to submit your 2015 taxes is approaching. Before you know it it will be April 30th and that means it’s time to track down all of those old bus passes, T4’s, T5’s and to scour through receipts to figure out what’s deductible and how much.
Are you planning on filing online? Have you bought the latest software? Or should you go old school and fill out the paper forms? If you’re anything like me, it all sounds more than just a little overwhelming. This year we have the solution to alleviate some of your tax season stress, by sending you over to Mathan Tax Services.
Mathan Tax Services is a family run business that has been in the Downsview community for over a quarter of a century -26 years to be exact. This is the perfect place to go for any Canadian resident in the Downsview area who needs help, or a consultation, with filing their personal or business taxes.
We asked the owner, Mathan Thava, why he decided to open up a tax services business in Downsview. He responded, “my experience in accounting and in-depth understanding of Canadian Tax Law led me to further educate myself in the intricacies of the Canadian Tax system. I decided to use my knowledge to serve the neighbourhood that I was raised in.”
Thava and his family are active members and business owners in the community. Mathan Tax Services is a professional business full of people who truly care about helping you meet your tax needs and are dedicated to ensuring you get the best return possible this year. This dedication and unique understanding of the area, great rates and reliable services, have helped Mathan Tax Services to continue to grow, year after year, as more and more happy clients keep returning and referring their friends.
So you could go through the time, effort, confusion and expense of trying to do your taxes yourself. Or you could go to one of the big chains who seem like they just use the same computer program as the rest of us. But we suggest you go to the experts, the people who know what they’re doing, have a sound knowledge of the Canadian Tax system, and who understand your needs and lifestyle because they are your neighbours.
This year, save yourself the headache that so often accompanies tax season.
Check out Mathan Tax Services located at 1290 Finch Avenue West, Unit #23, get more information at www.mathantaxservices.com or contact them directly at 416-665-4756.
Happy filing!
Ward 8 Environment Days
Taking responsibility for our Environment
Dumb big moves undo many little smart moves.
The first Earth Day in 1970 awoke us to the many dangers of climate change such as extinction, smog, deforestation, water and soil pollution -which today no one denies.
This year is the 46th Earth Day and we should consider the risks of climate change again. The negative effects occurring on planet earth are not a risk worth taking and as ambassadors of the World we need to address how to inform, educate and reform ourselves.
Consider bitumen. It is a heavy tar-like substance that no one knows how to clean up.It is pretty much worthless on world markets during an oil glut. And it is what Line 9 is pumping right through Downsview backyards. As a whole, Energy East would increase emissions by 32 million tons a year in CO2, undoing the vast good millions of us do every day.
We need another awakening. Efficiency saves money by replacing reliance on dangerous exports (asbestos, uranium, bitumen) that ultimately harm everyone. Green infrastructure which saves fuel and time is a better investment than pipelines.
This isn’t just economics, its morality. Our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be a part of the Vulnerable 20 (V-20) nations who demand justice for climate harms done to them. Earth Day should focus on goals bigger than our own country and longer than our own lives.
Yes, it’s depressing. So was nuclear standoff. We survived. We became better people. Now let’s become better again!
Whatever efficiency you pursue now, keep it up: LED lighting, sealing drafts, new appliances with better efficiency, gardening around foundations to hold in heat, ditching old fridges, electric cars etc.
Consider one new surprising transformative thought every week. A piece of advice from Stanford University’s Professor Marc Jacobson’s: renewable energy (with smart grid & conservation) already does compete on cost with fossil fuels even without charging for fossil’s ecological damage. What keeps us back? Ignorance. Influence. Inertia.
Don’t be shamed by what you don’t do, what we all do, or what failed Yes, we’ve all idled our cars to stay warm. Yes, we use much more than ‘our share’ of what the Earth can sustain. Not even great spiritual leaders live up to all their own ideals every day in every act or
comment. But doing nothing tomorrow because you didn’t do enough yesterday, is surrender.
Ever watch Mad Men? That’s how we behaved in the 1960s: casual sexism, drinking at work, drinking and driving, littering, smoking at work or in cars with children, and worse. Things didn’t get better all at once. We dropped one bad habit, then another, then another. We have a few more to drop. So consider Earth Day 2016 a funeral for those bad habits, a rebirth for yourself, and the day you finally ‘got it’.By Constantine Kritsonis and Craig Hubley
Celebrate our Earth with a free tree from the City of Toronto
Planet earth is where we live, work and play. Earth Day, on April 22, 2016, is when we say " THANK YOU" to Mother Earth and as in all special occasions, let us give meaning to our gratitude by requesting a FREE tree from the City of Toronto!
There are 34 different kinds of trees to choose from and they can be ordered for planting (by City of Toronto) on your front yard by calling 311, or online at toronto.ca/311.
Trees are amazingly good for us for a number of reasons:1) Trees get rid of bad pollution (by producing good oxygen, trees are in fact, the City's lungs -which keep our kids, our seniors and every one of us able to breathe healthy air.
2) Trees increase the property value of a home by 15% (that is why wealthy communities like Rosedale and Forest Hill have lots of trees).
3) Trees provide habitat for birds and other small animals.
4) Trees provide shade, which is not only pleasant on hot days but also helps individuals avoid skin cancer (a growing problem, especially in our older years).
These trees are planted on the portion of your property that is owned by the city (mostly front lawns). You may be asking yourself: why does the City of Toronto provide and plant a FREE tree on your property? Because the city knows all the healthy benefits of trees and wants to help increase the area under a tree cover from about 27% of the city's geographic area to 40%.
Help yourself, your family and our community in the Downsview area by ordering one of the 34 different types of trees to Celebrate Earth Day!!
Want to save some money and help the environment too?
You can do it by trading in your garbage container.
The entire system is designed to encourage you to pay less. After the great garbage debate of the 1980s, when our landfill site in Vaughn was filled up, Toronto Council searched long and hard for a place to put this city’s garbage. At one point we were shipping it to Michigan. When the city finally acquired its present site near London, Ontario, Toronto council realized that unless we could reduce the trash going to landfills we would very soon be looking for another dump and that was becoming increasingly harder and more expensive to do.That’s when we switched the present user pay system.
Now the less garbage you generate the less money you pay on your utility bill. To make it easier the city has been slowly adding more and more materials to the re-cycling stream. The recycling (blue bin) is free; wet waste (green bin) is free; you only pay for trash (grey bin). The difference between an extra-large grey bin and the smallest bin is $332.97. Just trading down from a large bin to a medium one will save you $158.66.
How do you do it? Easy. Call 311; give them your name and address and within two weeks the city will deliver the new bin to your home, remove the old one and reduce your utility bill. Just one warning; trading to a smaller bin is free but if you try to trade back up to a larger bin not only do you pay the higher utility bill but you pay a trade up fee of $21.22.
Happy Recycling!
The problem with a free ride
I am not a fan of Uber. In fact, the more I come to understand the concept of what Uber is, the more I dislike Uber, but let me explain why.
I was at the corner of Bathurst and Sheppard not too long ago. I went there to meet a friend for a coffee. And as I pulled into the coffee shop, there was this tent set up with this little table. And the roof of the tent said Uber. The tent had some four or five young people, and there was this young woman, very bubbly. She was recruiting people for Uber.
But I sat there for a few minutes, and imagine this: they were offering you a job and free gas! So I thought to myself “wow, how does it get better than that? Here they are on street corners offering you a job! And free gas as well!”
Well, it then dawned on me that Uber is no more than an app based recruitment agency! That is really their function. That is at the core of who they are.
You know what the lifespan of an Uber? Three months. And the wage? $11.00 per hour (Source: http://citypaper.net/uberdriver/) . That’s not a job. As a worker, you are better off delivering pizzas or working at Wal-Mart. More job security and better pay.
You know who the real winner in all of this is? It’s not even the consumer. Uber only cares about the bottom line. Cases like a man who got charged over $1000 for a 40 minute ride are not the exception (Source: http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/uber-customers-taking-legal-action-for-expensive-new-year-s-eve-rides-1.2729078). The winner is Uber. It’s the recruitment agency. They want to monopolize the industry so that they can charge whatever they want. When they can they try to gauge employees and consumers. If the competition was gone, your Uber ride would go through the roof.
For the workers, the drivers, they already had a tough time. There’s shift drivers, there’s agents, there’s brokers, there’s license-plate owners and people who own cars, it was never a playing field. The drivers were overworked and not well paid in general. Uber is no better and no different than any temp agency, but they are not even at the bad boss level. A bad boss may want to fire you without reason. Uber claims they have no employees driving cars. That they are just an app. What drivers get from this deal is little money, no future, and a little free gas. They end up paying for the vehicle, the insurance and yes, they pay for the gas too.
The truth behind Line 9 in Downsview
Line 9 is part of the controversial Energy East Pipeline and runs from Sarnia to Montreal.
Entering Downsview from a point near Eglinton and Hwy 427, Line 9 runs north-east to north of Hwy 400 and Finch Ave. Then it runs east through metro.
Line 9 is a quarter inch thick steel pipe over 40 years old, originally built for natural gas. It carries a toxic carcinogenic, corrosive and explosive mix of crude oil, imported diluents and benzene. The newly revised "Line Rules and Regulations Tariff" passed and will also allow transportation of a substance known as "dilbit." Unprocessed, bitumen is a solid and cannot flow in pipelines, bitumen will be mixed with another fossil fuel product called "diluent" -which is imported into Canada. This mix is what makes dilbit and is toxic to the human central nervous system.
In 2015, while government representatives at the critical Paris Climate Conference were all declaring their support for ending fossil fuel usage to save our planet, Canada through Energy East's Line 9 began adding 32 million tons of CO2 per year to the atmosphere.
Enbridge cite studies tells us Line 9 is safe from corrosive elements. Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, found that between 2007 and 2010 pipelines carrying dilbit had a spill-rate three times higher than pipelines carrying conventional crude.
Oil sand products have a higher sulfur and a higher acidic content than conventional crude oil and those properties could explain its increased corrosive nature. According to CTV's W5, there have been at least 35 spills associated with the pipeline. Some of these haven’t even been reported to the communities they affect and parts of Line 9 have been exempted from the hydrostatic testing required in other sections.
What would a spill near Lake Ontario mean for the water supply of millions of people? What are the risks for York University students and Downsview residents living right on top of the pipe?
"Social licence is more important than ever. Government may be able to issue permits. But only communities can grant permission,” said Justin Trudeau on pipelines and energy projects. That's strange…I do not recall anyone asking us for pipeline permission.
As part of Toronto's 2014 submission to the National Energy Board, an excerpt from the Supreme Court of Canada stated that "municipalities are trustees of the environment", and that as the level of government "being closest to the people, should be empowered to exceed, not lower, the national norms". This was part of a precedent-setting 2001 decision in favour of municipalities’ taking control of their cities.
Torontonians are being forced to risk their safety in order to support out of province jobs in a fading planet killing fossil fuel era. As Stanford's professor Mark Z. Jacobson tells us: renewable energy can completely replace fossil fuels and their CO2. Only the politics of entrenched interests is in the way.Canada could commit to becoming a leader in clean energy and be a part of a Green Marshall Plan currently being advocated for the planet.
There is no amount of regulation, legislation or consultation that will 100% guarantee a pipeline disaster just won't happen.
Call your Mayor, your city council member and your MP. Stop Line 9!
ICC International Women's Day Seminar
To celebrate International Women's Day the Iranian Canadian Congress' Cultural Committee and the Iranian Women's Association of Ontario, led a discussion about Iranian Women in Cinema. The discussion was held on March 6th at the North York Public Library and featured Dr. Khatereh Sheibani a professor from York University.