A key component of commendable political leadership is safeguarding those in one’s care, which includes both constituents and their homes.Temperatures are rising all over the world. People are dying within the GTA and Quebec due to heat-related illness. The answer is not to simply to buy an air conditioner, but to understand how we can slow down the far-reaching effects of climate change. Re-evaluating our rates, methods and the consequences of energy consumption should be an ongoing and crucial focus of our human existence. By extension our provincial government should foster legislation that supports our shift to renewable energy.The 377 million dollar Green Ontario Fund, a non-for-profit agency launched by the former government, was established last year to provide subsidies for residential and commercial property occupants who wanted to take it upon themselves to participate in energy-saving programs. These initiatives included subsidized measures such as the modernization of windows and insulation as well as the integration of solar technology. Slashing that fund was Ford’s attack on the environment.Another target, the Cambridge renewable energy project, was shot down by the Conservatives in an apparent attempt to reallocate funds. The Business Council of Canada urged Ford to reconsider his choice to burn 800 green energy contracts, which sent a message of instability to many investors. Catherine Fife, NDP MPP of Waterloo, said, “Cancelling government contracts in this manner undermines investor confidence and it signals to the business community that the government of Ontario cannot be a trusted business partner.” Climate change is not a product of the political imagination; it is rooted in widely acknowledged facts and its effects are felt by people right here in Canada. Green jobs pave the way to a sustainable future. Ford wants to roll our province decades back instead of supporting progressive legislation that would build a healthy and prosperous province for us all. Our premier is fuelled by short-sighted decision-making that is ultimately reckless.Measuring and monitoring our emissions is the fiscally responsible choice. Cap and Trade regulated the oversight of businesses so that they would be held accountable for their energy usage and emissions’ credits. Ford terminated Cap and Trade in Ontario and by doing so he turned his back on what is best for business. And he turned his back on keeping Ontarians safe from extreme temperatures.
New Changes to Canada’s Food Guide and the Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet
The federal government is preparing to unveil its long-awaited update to Canada’s Food Guide, the first such overhaul in ten years. The new guide is expected to place greater emphasis on plant-based foods, not only for their health benefits, but also for the sake of environmental sustainability. Most notable is the downgrading of animal products such as red meat, and the removal of milk and dairy products as a separate category which the guidelines suggest must be limited due to their high fat, sugar and/or salt content.The current guide has been criticized by researchers and dietitians alike on a number of fronts:
- The inclusion of dairy products as a distinct food group;
- Counting juices as servings of fruits and vegetables;
- The reliance on serving sizes that can be difficult for people to interpret and measure;
- Its failure to reflect Canada’s diverse cultural landscape.
During the process of re-drafting the Food Guide, industry-commissioned reports were excluded for consideration. Instead, a series of public consultations were organized across the country and Canadians were encouraged to provide feedback on the draft guidelines. A plant-based diet places greater emphasis on plant sources such as vegetables and fruit, whole grains, nuts and legumes. This being said, limited amounts of lean meats and low-fat dairy products are still recommended. Numerous studies have linked plant-based diets to decreased risks of cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and a reduction in LDL cholesterol. Why? A diet rich in plant foods is naturally low in saturated fat, high in fibre and low in sodium and added sugar.Not only are plant-based foods a key determinant to human health, they also contribute to biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability. The new guidelines acknowledge that our current food system places stress on the environment, particularly the consumption of meats and animal by-products. The draft states, “Diets higher in plant-based foods and lower in animal-based foods are associated with a lesser environmental impact.”A shift towards more plant-based foods is achievable and here’s how:
- Begin by eating more plant-based meals you already eat.
- Change one meal at a time or one ingredient at a time.
- Initiate a 50/50 switch and replace some of the meats with legumes - for example, only add half the amount of beef you normally would to a recipe and top up with lentils.
- Eliminate animal-foods you don’t eat often.
- Choose whole grains over white varieties - e.g. brown rice or spelt pasta.
- Replace foods that contain mostly saturated fat (e.g. ice cream, high fat cheeses and butter) with foods that contain mostly unsaturated fat (e.g. nuts, seeds, and avocado).
- Consume a variety of differently coloured vegetables and fruits, and buy season-specific produce.
- Stock your kitchen with plant-based foods you want to eat.
- Don’t forget, canned and frozen vegetables are nutritious too, but be sure to choose options that are low in sodium and sugar.
Downsview's future is at a crossroads
For the bulk of my political life, I have been fighting for the future of Downsview. Chief among my efforts has been the battle against the sale and development of the Federal lands at Downsview Park. A few years ago, with the help of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB), the first portion of this land was sold to the highest bidder by the Federal Government. Developers then turned this beautiful green space into a disastrous "neighbourhood" fraught with horrible, systemic building flaws, and unbearable quality-of-life issues for some of its residents. The City still refuses to recognize these homes as up-to-code.This neighbourhood stands as a physical indictment of the Feds' vision for the rest of the Downsview lands. There are three other neighbourhoods planned like this, and it seems like the same future awaits them.To the north of this area, at Keele and Sheppard, is a beautiful swathe of federal parkland known as William Baker. It has bike trails, massive mature trees and, on a good day, you can witness some unique wildlife. According to plans by the Federal Government, this area is to be bulldozed and in its place, 3,500 apartment units are to go there, with the Feds pocketing the cash.It's unconscionable. Especially considering that as part of a necessary defense strategy in 1947, these lands were taken from 270 Downsview residents to build a military base. But today, with the based closed, they are trying to cash in on the lands they took away from us 70 years ago. The right thing to do is to give the lands back to the City.That is why I am planning to bring a motion to an upcoming City Council demanding that the Federal Government give us back our lands. In the City's hands, park land is illegal to sell. If this land is restored to its rightful municipal status, it will be protected for generations. It could thrive with amazing programming and activities that any design or control from Ottawa could never accomplish. This land is Downsview, not a cash cow for the Feds.We have a choice. We could choose a nightmare future of shoddy homes with limited green space plagued with traffic and flooding, or we can choose a bright future with these lands in the hands of the people of Downsview who will love and care for them in perpetuity. As it stands, you have a hand in this choice. Make sure you always choose leaders who will fight for the best of these two futures. You will have the opportunity to make those choices over the next two years.But I am not waiting. The time to give this land back to Downsview is long overdue.Maria Augimeri is the Councillor for Ward 9 (York Centre) and has represented Downsview residents for over 30 years. She is also the leader of the SetDownsviewFree movement which demands the Feds to stop selling parkland and hand the Downsview lands back to Toronto.
Highway of Heroes Living Tribute Honours Canada’s Military this Earth Day
Over one thousand trees to be planted at Downsview Park on April 23TORONTO, Ont. – Canadians who have served in the Armed Forces will be honoured with 2,000 new trees to be planted at Downsview Park’s annual Earth Day celebration. Contributions to the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute on behalf of TD Bank Group (TD) and Maple Leaves Forever will also be announced.As part of Earth Day celebrations on April 23, 2017, the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute will enlist the help of volunteers to honour the Canadian men and women who both served and gave their lives for their country. Volunteers will witness a special ceremony, hosted by Ziya Tong of Discovery’s flagship program, Daily Planet, and will also feature a special performance by JUNO Award winning group, The Trews, who will perform the hit song, Highway of Heroes.“With the 150th anniversary of Canada just around the corner, we’re doing something special to recognize Canada’s fallen soldiers in conjunction with Earth Day,” says Mark Cullen, Canada’s gardening Guru and Chairman of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute. “This is a perfect opportunity for people to take part in a great cause while also getting outside to enjoy the spring weather.”“The Highway of Heroes Living Tribute honours Canada’s fallen soldiers by creating a living reminder of the world they gave their lives to protect,” says Karen Clarke-Whistler, TD, Chief Environment Officer. “We’re proud to be supporting such an important event as part of the TD Common Ground Project, which is helping to connect people across Canada in celebration of Canada’s 150th birthday.”“We are proud to once again provide support for the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute,” says Ken Jewett, founder of Maple Leaves Forever, a founding partner of the Living Tribute. “This additional contribution was made specifically to honour the three gentlemen whose vision made this campaign come to life – Mark Cullen, Michael de Pencier and Tony DiGiovanni.”The Highway of Heroes Living Tribute is creating a living, breathing memorial along the Highway 401 corridor between Trenton and Toronto — known as the Highway of Heroes. The campaign will see 2,000,000 trees planted to honour Canadians who have served in the armed forces, 117,000 of which will be planted directly on the highway – one for each Canadian that has fallen in war since Confederation.The Earth Day event will take place on April 23 from 10:45 a.m. to 4.p.m at Downsview Park with the ceremony starting at 10:45 sharp.The day will also feature;
- Military focused story telling session
- Birds of Prey demos
- Campfire and busker
- Information booths
- People Mover rides
- Face painting, glitter tattoo booth and more.
This planting is being undertaken in partnership with Downsview Park and in collaboration with TD, Maple Leaves Forever and Michael Levitt, Member of Parliament – York Centre.Available for interviews:
- Mark Cullen, Chairman, Highway of Heroes Living Tribute
- MP Michael Levitt
About Highway of HeroesWhen is a tree more than just a tree? The answer is when the tree is part of a memorial to honour Canada’s fallen heroes. The mission of the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute is simple: To honour Canada’s military contributions by planting 2,000,000 trees, 117,000 of which will be for each Canadian that has fallen in war since Confederation. The Highway of Heroes Living Tribute is made possible by contributions provided by Mark’s Choice, Landscape Ontario, TD, Maple Leaves Forever, the Garden Club of Toronto and donations from Canadians from coast to coast.To learn more, visit www.hohtribute.ca
| Daniel G. Lovell | Special AssistantMichael Levitt, MP | York CentreOffice: 660 Wilson Ave, North York ON M3K1E1T: 416.638.3700F: 416.941.2421 |
Community Spotlight: Against All Odds (part 1)
Samuel Boakye was on a downward trajectory in his middle and early high school years. Today, he attends the University of Toronto and runs a non-profit program that exposes marginalized youth to experiences in the field of construction.Samuel moved into local community housing at age 10, his mother struggling to raise three children after her husband had left her some years ago."At my old school, I was a popular, energetic and playful kid." says Samuel, "When I moved, it was like I dropped rank and had to ascend again. There were many terms like 'teacher's pet' that would deter you from taking a positive role and become a target of bullying."Samuel reflected on his feelings of isolation and being bullied when he first arrived. His priority in school was his social status and he reached the top of that food chain as a tough kid with little interest in his studies.The transition to high school meant starting from the bottom once more. Samuel had few thoughts of the future and his focus was on fun and the respect of his peers. It was a time of frequent fights, trips to the principal's office and school suspensions.Samuel speaks of his mother's feelings about him during those years, "I think she had accepted I would never be the smart kid at school. At best, she hoped I would make it through school and find any job I could." By grade 10, Samuel's mother came to believe that her son's only chance of redemption might lie elsewhere; she made the hard decision to send her son to live with his father in Ghana.At the time, Samuel was extremely resentful of her plan to send him to his father. He plotted mischief he would unleash upon his arrival but when he faced his father once more in the flesh, all his plans melted away. "The moment I saw him again it was back to the drill sergeant and cadet." says Samuel with a grin.Samuel's father was a successful businessman back in Ghana, managing and owning over a dozen pharmacies. His father demanded discipline of his son but had no time to administer it so he sent Samuel to a boarding school where he would live on campus and under strict rules and supervision. At this new school, Samuel observed something that was incredibly surprising: some of the coolest and toughest kids also were the most academically involved. This was in stark contrast to the youth culture he was used to, which he described as idolizing mediocrity and apathy towards studies.Despite this realization, Samuel continued feeling resentment and disinterest in his studies. Half a year passed and Samuel's grades continued to be poor, so his exasperated father took him out of school and sent him to live with his two uncles. It was during this time with his uncles that two defining moments happened in Samuel's life, setting him on a path of reflection and ultimately redemption...to be continued next month
As hydro bills continue to climb, families in North York are suffering
Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath met with numerous residents of 2901 Jane St. in North York to discuss the impact of skyrocketing hydro rates on their families. “Hydro rates are out of control in this province because of bad decisions made by the Liberal government to privatize more and more of our electricity system,” said Horwath. “Instead of looking after her friends on Bay Street, the Premier should take real steps to help families throughout the GTA by making hydro affordable.” Residents of 2901 Jane St. told the NDP Leader about the challenges they are facing as retired people living on a fixed income. Even after switching to equal billing and receiving small rebates through the Ontario Electricity Support Program residents are still struggling, some going so far as to not cook or use electricity at all between 7am to 7pm. The residents of 2901 Jane St. are not unique in their struggles. Hydro bills have been skyrocketing out of control for many Ontarians all across the province. “I hear stories like these regularly from people I visit,” said Horwath. “Hydro rates are too high, they have been for a long time and Kathleen Wynne isn’t doing much about it. In fact, she is making it worse by continuing to sell-off Hydro One which will drive rates even further up.” The NDP Leader urged the Liberal government to do the right thing and cancel her plan to sell-off Hydro One because it will only make electricity more expensive for families, businesses and community organizations in Ontario.
Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire holds its 6th Annual Gala
Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire (PEH) celebrated its 6th annual gala aiming to collect donations in favour of St. Paul School in Corail Cesselesse, Haiti. The event took place Saturday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m., at the Don Valley Hotel and Suites in Toronto.Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire organized an unforgettable event with great food, an amazing dance presented by Rugcutterz Danz Artz and an opera presented by the amazing young man, Jeffrey Smith along with pianist Maria Merkolova.Dr. Eric Pierre, founder of this organization and Honorary Consul, does not hesitate to affirm: "this event is one of the most important to raise funds for the school. It is by working together that we make it possible to finish the construction of the second floor level of St. Paul School.”Since 2008, Pierspective organizes the gala with the help of volunteers and, each time, the revenues help with the construction of St. Paul School. The intention is to provide education to more students at the primary, secondary and professional level in one location.During the Gala, a few people received an award for the humanitarian and social work services they have accomplished. Among them, Annik Chalifour, journalist at the Express Toronto, Akwatu Khenti from CAMH, Maria Masucci and Mohini Basran as well as Father Michael Corcione and Claudio Moser, from the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter.According to Antoine Derose, president of Pierspective, "the Ministry of Education in Haiti lacks resources to rebuild schools and train teachers since the earthquake in 2010. Therefore, charitable contributions, including Pierspective, are extremely important."Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire is a charitable organization created in June 2002 that built St. Paul School in Corail Cesselesse, Haiti. Today, the school welcomes more than 400 students. The organization is currently in the midst of building the second floor of this school so every donation makes a huge difference.To learn more about: visit www.haitiaide.ca or check out their Facebook page: Pierspective Entraide Humanitaire.
The Economics of Flushing your Toilet
Water is free. It falls from the sky. So why is the water bill so high? When you think about it, we have a pretty amazing system. You flush your toilet, it flows down to Lake Ontario where it is cleaned at a disposal plant before it is dumped into the lake. They then suck it up from the lake, purify it, pump it up to your home where you open your tap and drink it. The price of the water is determined by how much it costs to clean it, deliver it and take the waste away.The Toronto water system, through most of its history, operated at a loss. Downtown homes didn’t even have water meters. You paid a flat rate for water based on the number of taps in your home. In 2005 the city made a conscious policy decision to restructure the water payment system so that the cost of water would rise until it reached the point where it actually covered the costs of cleaning, delivering it and removing all waste. Right now in the Keele St. and Finch Ave. neighbourhoods the sewer system is being rebuilt. It’s the water rate that is paying for this upgrade.The 2005 decision included a policy of annual increases in the water rates. Between 2005 and 2016 the price of water rose from $1.35 per cubic meter to $3.45 per cubic meter, an increase of 255%. The expectation was that as the price rose and water became more expensive people would start to take measures to conserve it. Apart from wanting to cover the real cost of supplying water, the city’s secondary objective was to get you to use less water. Toronto council has increased the price of water by an average of 9% a year each year since 2005. If they had done that with your property taxes or TTC fares there would be a revolution to rival the Boston Tea Party.The standard toilet most people have in their homes uses seven gallons (US liquid gallons) or (26.5 litres) of water to flush. In 2005 it cost you three and a half cents to flush that toilet. Today that cost has grown to nine cents a flush. If the average household size is three people and each flushes the toilet three times a day, the actual cost of water to flush the toilet in your house is $296 a year; up from $115.00 in 2005.Modern low flow toilets use a fraction of the water. The new standard six litre toilets use four times less water than the toilet most people sit on. The water bill for flushing this toilet is $ 69. That’s a savings of $227 a year. If you buy one of the new three litre ultra-low flow models your savings increases to $261 a year.The cost of a new low flow toilet ranges from $112 to $568 with the average around $270. If you can install it yourself, all the better. If not, allow around $200 for installation charges.That means that your new toilet will pay for itself in about two years.Get off the pot, go to your local hardware store, pick out a low flow toilet and stop flushing your money down the drain!
Cutting grass or shoveling snow: What would you prefer?
One of the most frequent comments I received as a councillor was: “I cut my lawn and maintain my property…why should I have to cut the grass on the boulevard in front of my house? It belongs to the city.”That boulevard is there to make life easier for you. In the early years on North York Council, whenever it snowed heavily I had a strong urge to hide under the bed and not go to work. That’s because I knew I would get at least 30 telephone calls that went something like this:“I spent two hours shovelling my *@#% driveway yesterday and last night your &%#@+ snow plough came along and filled it up again. It froze and I can’t get to work this morning.”The pile of snow that obstructs your driveway is known as a “windrow.” Until I was elected to office I didn’t know the meaning of the word “windrow” let alone that I had to find a way to deal with them.In the 1980s North York invented the “snow rid.” It was a gate at the end of the plough, a sort of a short blade or scoop that the operator lowered when he came to one side of a driveway and raised it after he had pushed the windrow to the other side.Streets downtown don’t have a grassy boulevard -the sidewalks are built to the curb. The city doesn’t even plough the streets downtown. Suburban areas, on the other hand, have boulevards as a place to store ploughed snow. In North York, not only are the streets ploughed but so are the sidewalks.For downtown residents, there is a bylaw that requires every homeowner to shovel their sidewalk clear within 12 hours after a snowfall or face a fine of $125. There is no bylaw that requires North York residents to cut the grass on the boulevard. Most people, because they care about the appearance of their neighbourhoods, do it by unwritten convention. More importantly, if we didn’t have the boulevards the City couldn’t provide the great snow clearing services that they do.When amalgamation arrived in 1998, those of us from North York knew that we would have the fight of our lives to keep both sidewalk ploughing and driveway opening. Downtown councillors were chomping at the bit to save money by cutting these services. Why not? Their residents didn’t get them. Same went for Scarborough and Etobicoke councillors who were only too happy to make the budget cuts. Neither of these municipalities had them. We knew that the only way to keep them was to spread these, what some called “cadillac” services, to Scarborough and Etobicoke. Once established, we knew that their councillors would never vote to take them away.When my neighbour moved to Downsview from downtown he spent his first winter shovelling the sidewalk in front of his house until he learned that he didn’t have to. So next time, when you are out there cutting the grass on the city boulevard, think about how lucky you are. You could be shovelling snow instead.
Greener Acres at Downsview Park
World Food Day, celebrated on October 16, mobilizes action around hunger and the disproportionate impact of hunger on the world’s most vulnerable populations.The 2016 World Food Day theme, “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too,” has been chosen to raise the profile on food security. The world’s poorest, many of whom are farmers, are being impacted the most by higher temperatures and increased weather-related disasters. At the same time, the global population is growing and is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. To address these realities, agriculture will need to adapt and become more resilient to the adverse effects of climate change.Food security suggests that people can obtain safe, nutritious, culturally appropriate food through a sustainable food system. Growing food in a sustainable way means adopting practices which produce more with less in the same area of land and using natural resources wisely. It also means investing in better post-harvest handling and management along the entire food supply chain that will increase returns to farmers.Farming is no longer confined to rural areas. Food is now being cultivated in dense urban areas on unused space. It is hard to get more urban than Fresh City Farms. Founded in 2011, Fresh City Farms combines three things: a farm, a delivery system and a grocery store. The six acre urban farm and greenhouse, on the western edge of Downsview Park, grows organic, high-value per square foot produce and sources from more than 80 farmers and food makers across Ontario and beyond. The social enterprise also provides 15 member farmers with a starter plot where they learn to farm as a career. Making agriculture urban - against the backdrop of traffic from Keele Street - is a constant reminder that this model can work. Fresh City now serves 2,000 customers and delivers almost 4,000 orders monthly through its bag delivery system.“The hyper-local approach to growing food means it is fresh, it is accessed easily and we are encouraged to eat in season,” says Fresh City Farms manager Hannah Hunter.This fall, celebrate World Food Day by supporting small-scale urban farmers. To learn more about Fresh City Farms, visit freshcityfarms.com.