Sorry Earth

On Friday, June 24, the Conservative government once again embarrassed our country on the international stage. We alone prevented the United Nations from adding chrysotile asbestos to the global list of hazardous substances.

We won’t allow asbestos in our homes and offices. We are spending millions to remove it from our Parliament buildings. Here in Canada, we know asbestos is hazardous. Yet year after year our government refuses to let the world officially recognize it as hazardous, because they want to continue to export it to developing countries without even a warning label.

Our government has behaved shamefully on this issue, and when you behave badly there’s only one thing to do: apologize. Since Stephen Harper clearly won’t, the Green Party is apologizing to the rest of the world for our country’s disgraceful position on asbestos. We invite all Canadians to join us in saying “We’re sorry!”

We're all sorry for allowing our government to make poor choices that do not reflect the values of Canadians, choices that will harm future generations. Canadians are honest, decent, concerned about social justice, and hard working people. We deserve good quality health care, education, social services, and true democracy. When I see our elected government making poor choices that do not reflect Canadian values I am disheartened. Still I am able to keep the faith because I know despite the poor choices of Harper government, I know that these are not Canadian values and I know of so many Canadian sticking to their values. They are strong willed Canadians fighting for justice. Thanks to the NDP for the filibuster in support of the postal workers, Brigette Depape (the page who held the stop sign up in the Senate), every Green Party Canadiate, Elizabeth May, Mike Schriener, Sid and Chris Frere, Allen and Charleen Foster, Mary K, Pat Konkle, Vicky Jenkinson, Lauren Smith, Sam S (for their great green picture :), every farmer, teacher, cashier, postal worker. All of these people show me what true Canadians are. We all inspire each other to do more in the fight for social justice and the quest for a government that will make choices that do reflect Canadians and their values.

We must continue to be inspired by one another and stay strong willed in the face of a government that makes poor choices and does not respect Canadians and their values. We must find new and creative ways to express our disagreement with the Conservative party policies.

Congratulations to Bridgette Depape for her brave and creative stance against the Harper conservatives.

Together, we can be the change we want to see.

It's time, Niagara. Vote Green.

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Mike Schreiner visits Niagara West Glanbrook

June 18th Mike Schreiner Leader of the Green Party of Ontario spent the day in Niagara-West Glanbrook to attend the Berries and Blooms Festival, and take to participate in the local Green Party of Ontario bike tour and bbq. Mike and local candidate Meredith Cross attended the newly opened farmers market at Great Lakes Christian college. As the leader of the green party of Ontario Mike Schreiner is a strong advocate for local farms and businesses, and was very pleased to see Beamsville's Initiative. Mike and Meredith then spoke with citizens at Berries and Blooms receiving many questions and positive response. After a quick lunch Mike joined other Green Party members for a bike tour of more local businesses.

In the evening, Schreiner spoke about the green party vision commenting on the five point plan the Green Party wants to implement. 1. Creating jobs for a twenty-first century 2. Harnessing safe, affordable energy to power our communities 3. Promoting access to quality, sustainable health care close to home 4. Feeding our communities by championing local farms 5. Delivering government that works for people.

I will be at the Poultry Fest this Saturday, and I will be at the happening this Sunday, please say hi!

Hope you see you this weekend

and thanks to everyone who came out to the fundraiser it was a great success

Together, we can be the change we want to see.

It's time, Niagara. Vote Green.

Green Tsunami

Some people hope for another Orange wave to sweep through Ontario as it did in the Federal election May 2nd, but I think something bigger is coming to Ontario. Over the past decades we have seen parties do more harm than good, make ill informed choices when MPP's jobs are to make informed choices. We have seen government act in the best interest of the wealthy and not in the best interest of those all citizens that have elected them. This is proved by the continual shrinking of the Ontario middle class relative to the richest few. Our elected MPP's have been acting on behalf of the wealthy and have help to increase the riches' wealth to account for 32% of all income growth between 1997 and 2007, this is the most growth in recorded history. MPP's continue to act on behalf of the wealthy which has made the gap between the rich and the rest of hard working Ontarians greater and greater. Queen's Park has become more and more isolated and closed off leaving government not transparent and allowing for back room deals like Samsung. Deals that are not in the interest of average Ontario voters but are in the interests of the wealthy Ontarians. On Oct. 6 voters have another opportunity to make a statement to politicians that back room deals and opaque government is not acceptable. On Oct. 6 Ontarians have the chance to vote for the Green Party of Ontario, a party that has a compressive platform and has MMPs that are dedicated to making government work for the average Ontarian not just the very wealthy. We deserve a government that won't make back room deals, and that truly values our democracy like so many other Ontarians. So instead of an orange wave this Oct.6 I know a Green Tsunami is coming and it starts with your vote.

As I wait for the Green Tsunami I love to take part in green initiatives in my town like farmers markets for local produce. I am really looking forward to attending the farmers market in Grimsby tonight, and I am really looking to attending the Beamsville farmers market this saturday with Mike Schreiner (the leader of the GPO). Mike and I will be at the farmers market at Great Lakes Christian college around 10am to check out the farmers market. I will also be at a the GPO booth at Berries and Blooms, please feel free to come by and say hello :)

Together, we can be the change we want to see.

It's time, Niagara. Vote Green.

Advocating for Niagara's Seniors -change starts here

Everyone has a beloved Grandma, Grandpa, Mother or Father that they wish to honour by seeing they get the best health care possible. The Green Party of Ontario wishes to serve our seniors by improving the care available to Ontario's aging population. This is especially important in Niagara West-Glanbrook because a large part of our population is over 65 years old and we need to make sure that our seniors are being looked after.

Last week I was very pleased to read about the possible expansion of the GO train to Grimsby. Having the GO train extended to Grimsby would help with traffic on the QEW and help with the ever growing problem of urban sprawl. Most of all the extension of the GO train would open up the discussion for possible public transit in Grimsby and other towns in Niagara West-Glanbrook. Many of our seniors could use public transit to travel to their various health care appointments as well as any other desired destinations in the area.

The Green Party of Ontario wants to ensure that seniors receive the continuum of care they need where they want it by improving home care, transitional care, assisted living and long-term care. The GPO wants to serve our seniors by creating case managers at the family clinic level to proactively coordinate the care seniors need, and the GPO wants to support all long-term care facilities to provide services in compliance with provincial standards. The GPO aims to make health promotion and illness prevention a top priority, to ensure our seniors and everyone stay healthy. To promote a healthy lifestyle the GPO wishes to feed our communities by championing stronger local farms. Farms like the ones that have booths at the market, which moved downtown Grimsby this week. If you have not yet been - check it out.

I was so pleased to attend the local market this week. As the Green Party of Ontario candidate for Niagara West-Glandbrook I am always happy to see the support that goes towards our local farmers market . Moving the market downtown means more people will attend which could create a higher demand for local goods/produce. The market is open Thursdays 3-7pm with approximately 30 vendors. I look forward to shopping there tomorrow!

As citizens of Niagara West-Glanbrook we all want to honour our seniors and we need to do this by promoting access to quality, sustainable health care close to home. We need to ensure we have quality public health care and we need to make sure on Oct. 6 we elect MPPs that will continue to honour our seniors with quality health care. We need to ensure we don't allow what happened to public education under the Harris's Conservatives to happen to our public health care. Under Harris's Conservatives the reform of the public education system drastically cut funding for the newer, larger school boards under-funding public schools and creating school boards that were too big to manage. The quality of public education went down. Essentially the tax cuts achieved during the Harris Conservatives reign were on the backs of the public schools. (for more information on public education read Playing Fast and Loose with the Public Education). Citizens of Ontario and especially citizens of Niagara West-Glanbrook, with so many seniors, need to elect MPPs that will not make tax cuts on the back of our public health care system.

To ensure we have enough money to continue providing citizens with quality health care we need to get our spending on health care under control. Ontario Minister of Health Deb Matthews stated that, "our government has increased funding to the Niagara Health System by more than 50 per cent since 2003." This is not to say that the Liberal government does not provide quality health care, but rather says that the Liberal government provides quality health care in a fiscally inefficient way. The GPO wants to provide health care in a fiscally responsible manner, the GPO believes that less spending can result in more services and better health. The GPO advocates for preventive health care, healthy food, clean air and water, and access to health care when citizens need it. We wish for Ontarians to stay healthy and avoid expensive cures for illnesses. This is the cause of our health care spending spiralling out of control. Serve our seniors in Niagara West-Glanbrook by voting for a party that will not cut funding to public health care and will promote healthy living and preventive health care. We need Green MPPs at Queen's Park. Honour your Grandma, Grandpa, Mother or Father by voting Green Oct. 6

Together, we can be the change we want to see.

It's time, Niagara. Vote Green.

Working for You

Bill 150, the Green Energy Act, promotes the use of Green energy including renewable sources, conservation and clean distribution of energy. Renewable energy sources include on-shore wind, off-shore wind, bio-energy, hydro power, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and geothermal.

The Green Energy Act promotes community energy projects which are initiatives owned by First Nations, farmers, public sector institutions, community organizations, co-operatives, remote diesel dependent communities, renters and homeowners, condominiums, municipalities and/or local utilities. Denmark has done a great job in the implementation of community energy projects with their locally produced and owned windmills. Niagara West-Glandbrook needs some community energy projects like the solar paneling that is being proposed for the Peach King Centre. We need local energy projects to green up our energy and to create jobs for local construction worker. Construction jobs for community energy projects are jobs that stay in Niagara West-Glanbrook and are jobs to can help with our local economy. Now thats' green energy working for you!

Some of those jobs could go to people using the Grimsby Affordable Housing Project which is a great organization, and having the Green Energy Act implement effectively in Niagara West-Glanbrook could help with our local economy and help with homelessness just like the GAHP.

We need to have good government that works for the average Canadian to help green up our world, provide good health care and education and keep our local economies thriving with many jobs for everyone. We need bills like the Green Energy Act to be implemented effectively in our local communities so we can all benefit.

Once again, on June 18th Mike Schreiner Leader of the Green Party of Ontario will be visiting Niagara West-Glanbrook. He will be stopping by the Green Party of Ontario Booth at Berries and Blooms are will be attending Our "Take a Ride with the Green Tide" fundraiser.

Our "Take a Ride with the Green Tide" fundraiser is a bike ride followed by a bbq. The ride will begin at 1pm on June 18th starting at 3125 Twenty-first Street, Pat's house. The bike tour will include stops at:

Old Mill

Canada's Farm Toy Museum

Ridge Metal Farm

Parker Bees

Feather Stone

The ride will end back at 3125 Twenty-first Street, with a bbq. At the bbq Mike Schreiner Leader of the Green Party of Ontario will give a speech. Tickets are $25 for adults $15 for those under 21 and free for children under ten. Please contact mcrossdu@uwo.ca, 9055638828 for tickets:) I am really looking forward to this event and the opportunity to host our Leader Mike Schreiner.

I encourage everyone to come out to our event, for those who are already green and those who just have green practices, it will be a fun day for all. see you there :)

Together, we can be the change we want to see.

It's time, Niagara. Vote Green.