Quizzing the candidates on climate change
Local writer asks each to sum up positions on the environment and other issues
As climate change has become a hot topic, I decided to contact all of Peterborough’s local candidates to get a better idea of where they stand on this issue.
I asked them the following questions:
1. What will you and your party do to address climate change in Ontario to reduce our carbon footprint if elected?
2. What is your specific plan to increase renewable energy in Ontario as soon as you are elected? Here are the responses:
Sean Conway, NDP Party
“Thanks for your questions. We support Ontario's current price on carbon via cap-andtrade, however we feel that this system can sometimes financially impact smaller businesses and municipalities, so we would like to see revenues from cap-andtrade going back to them in the form of green energy retrofits for businesses, homes and buildings (such as solar panels to increase renewable energy). We would also like to use cap-and-trade revenues as incentives for municipalities to use in green public transportation (such as electric buses and vehicles), green technology and helping along average people in the fight against climate change with grants, rebates and incentives.
“Andrea Horwath and the NDP believe polluters should pay for the emissions they release, and we will continue with pricing carbon through a fair, effective and transparent cap-and-trade market. At least 25 per cent of the revenues from cap-and-trade will support communities and individuals who today are carrying more than their fair share of the burden.”
I contacted Sean via Messenger on his Facebook page and was pleasantly surprised at how quickly he responded—within five minutes of receiving my questions. He thought very quickly on his feet and his accessibility could be an indication of how quickly he might answer citizens’ concerns if he is elected.
Gianne Broughton, Green Party
“I would reduce Ontario’s carbon footprint by implementing a carbon fee dividend approach and phasing out the capand-trade program. This would be charged to all oil companies that are dumping carbon fuel emissions into the air. They would be charged this fee according to how much gas to they sell at the pumps. The revenue from this fee would go back into the bank accounts of Ontarians.
“I would also charge an extra licensing fee or “congestion fee” for people who want to drive their car to downtown Toronto, for example, to encourage people to use public transit.
“To increase renewable energy I would decommission the nuclear power plants as they come into their expiration dates and get electricity from Hydro Quebec, who has an overabundance of it and has already offered to sell it to the federal government for 5.5 cents per KWH. For some reason, this government refused the offer. I would also like to see more solar, wind and electric here and build more hydro-electric plants near rivers where the energy can be used in newer, better ways.”
Gianne answered my phone call immediately which could be an indication of how quickly she might respond to citizens concerns after the election.
Ken Ranney, Stop Climate Change Party
“We need to stop producing fossil fueled vehicles immediately and produce a variety of improved electric vehicles instead. (Ken drives an IMIEV). We need to shut down fossil fuel production and stop the Tar Sands. Anyone who loses their jobs from this should be paid a stipend by the federal government until they find work transitioning into green initiatives. If we stop using fossil fuels, a huge number of diseases will decrease significantly, especially cancer. Carbon fuel emission toxins attack the chemistry in our bodies and attack our DNA, creating cancer in people who have never had it in their family history.. The reason we don’t hear more about this is because oil producing corporations and the automotive industry don’t want us to know about the health risks (of driving fuel-injected vehicles) because this information would decrease their revenues. That is why this information needs to get out there and why we are posting ads about it.
“As far as renewable resources, I am a huge advocate of Solar Panels and believe that the building codes in Ontario should be changed so that every new build in Ontario is required by legislation to install solar panels. This would benefit the province by:
1. Alleviating Hydro One problems of delivering enough power to the province.
2. Alleviating the need for more coal fired plants, nuclear powered plants and importing electricity from Hydro Quebec and would therefore have positive environmental effects.
3. Lowering the cost of electricity
4. Lowering the cost of utilities for low income households including renters
5. Encouraging all home owners with existing housing to have them installed by taking advantage of government programs and rebates, which in some cases offer free solar panels that are paid for by putting electricity back into the grid.
6. Stimulating the solar power industry and creating new jobs.”
Ken had no phone number listed on his brochures but responded quickly to my email and gave me his personal phone number. He explained that he did not think about getting elected but wants to raise urgent awareness about climate change and what we can all do about it by putting ads in major newspapers throughout Ontario to inform the public about the seriousness of this issue and how immediate action needs to be taken to help prevent health issues and natural disasters caused by climate change.
The Stop Climate Change Party is beginning to organize a federal party by creating a petition that needs 250 signatures. For more information contact Ken Ranney at kranney@cogeco.ca. Ken is also very accessible if anyone wants to contact him regarding climate change.
Jeff Leal, Liberal Party
Jeff returned my phone call three days after I called him with this response: “We will continue with the cap-and-trade program as this has been proven to be the most efficient method to reduce Ontario’s carbon footprint. In fact, Al Gore who attended the public forum on climate change in Toronto and stated that Ontario is one of the leaders in the world based on the cap-and-trade Program. We also have a program for electric charging stations for electric cars and there are 11 overall in Peterborough. We also offer $14,000 incentives for people to purchase electric vehicles. It is up to the dealerships on how many electric vehicles they stock. Also, The City of Peterborough was given $20M from the Liberals.
With regard to renewable energy sources, three per cent of our generation capacity is renewable energy. We also closed down coal-fired plants so there were no longer smog days.”
Dave Smith, Progressive Conservative Party
He did not return my call or phone message.
Key issues
Contacting all of the candidates before the election was an interesting experiment to see how accessible and available they are to the average citizen and how quickly they respond to local concerns. This may also be an indication of how quickly they will respond to local concerns following the election (or not at all).
climate change initiatives are an important issue during provincial elections because they underline most of the other issues that voters are concerned about— health care, the economy, job creation, affordable housing and the environment.
Health care: Fossil fuel emissions and toxins are in the air we breathe in Peterborough and Ontario and have been proven to contribute to several health issues from asthma to cancer. If fossil fuel emissions are reduced, health care needed will be reduced as well.
Economy and job creation: climate change initiatives such as solar, electric and green housing materials can boost the economy immediately by the production and sale of these items in Ontario.
Affordable housing: If all new affordable housing was built with solar panels, rainbarrels, ceiling fans, and other green building materials, the cost of utilities would be much cheaper for owners and renters which would considerably reduce their monthly payments.
The environment: Cleaner air will reduce global warming, create a healthier environment for everyone and reduce the liklihood of natural disasters.
I have not only interviewed candidates, but also spoken to several citizens in Peterborough who are concerned about carbon fuel emissions creating health problems. They will all be voting strategically for the first time in this election so that Doug Ford does not get in because as one senior aptly put it, “He has no climate change Plan whatsoever other than to put more big “Fords” on the road.”
A member at the Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre concerned about health issues recently said to me, “What’s the point of getting richer, if we end up getting cancer from carbon fuel emissions?” He thinks that we are all better off to address the prevention of diseases rather than the cure, and this can be done by implementing more climate change initiatives.
Most of the people I spoke to finally understand that climate change initiatives should not be last on the agenda of our elected politicians, but first, because these initiative address all of the other issues. They also think that it is almost too late to do anything about climate change unless we act now.
While speaking with concerned citizens confirmed the importance of voting for a party that has the most chance of moving Ontario forward with climate change initiatives rather than backwards by accommodating more fuel-injected vehicles.
I am now an informed voter and ready to vote with certainty on June 7 -- not just for the immediate self-gratification of cheap beer and gas, but for the future health of our communities.
If Peterborough/Kawartha repeats as a bellwether riding, the party that gets in here would be the party to govern Ontario. I therefore hope that the citizens of Peterborough will look at the big picture when voting on June 7 and vote with their conscience.
Tricia Clarkson is a freelance writer and journalist who has written weekly lifestyles columns for the Okanagan Sun and Vernon Daily News, articles for the Ottawa Journal, Peterborough this Week, Peterborough Examiner, Running Room Magazine and Greenzine Magazine.