Archive for News

The video embedded above can be found on CPAC’s site.

Thursday, 2012 March 8, 9pm
Rogers cable TV channels 10, 63

Watch the complete debate online.

Jack’s seat and the Trail of Pierre Poutine
Wednesday, 2012 March 14, 8pm & 11pm
TVO TV: Rogers 2 & 580, Bell 1265, Shaw 353

TORONTO – The robocalls scandal shows the need for a wider clean-up of our electoral system, says the Green Party of Canada.  “First of all, we need to have a public commission of inquiry into the robocalls scandal and get to the bottom of it.  But we also need to look at wider issues including the investigative power of Elections Canada, the increasing use of negative election tactics, and whether more teeth need to be added to the Elections Act,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands.

Green candidate in the ongoing Toronto-Danforth by-election Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu agreed, “The robocalls scandal involves such a volume of complaints and is so widespread, it should now be turned over for a full public inquiry.  Then we need to make sure that Elections Canada can handle any future complaints.”     Read more »

Quoting Joanna Lavoie, writing in InsideToronto.com, quoting Adriana at the all-candidates meeting:

However, a number of hot-button issues did come up during the debate, notably the alleged robo-calls scandal, the questionable automated calls during the May 2011 election, and how to restore voter confidence in light of it.

Green Party candidate Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu said her party’s leader Elizabeth May is the only parliamentarian to open her budget to the public.

“I’d like to see more transparency across the board,” she said of the scandal, which she called “a serious, criminal act.”

Further, she pointed to the Greens’ support for proportional representation, adding if implemented, the robo-call scheme wouldn’t have been as effective as a much smaller percentage of the voting population would have been impacted.

President Mohammed Nasheed has been ousted by a military coup and is under house arrest.  I’m taking a bit of time out of my campaign to urge everyone to help him.  Please sign this petition and then write to Prime Minister Harper, urging him to use his influence to secure the release of Mr Nasheed.

President Nasheed was the first democratically elected leader of the Maldives.  Hear why we need his voice to be free:

Update: Harper updated the original announced date.

Voting day in Toronto-Danforth will be Monday, 2012 March 19.  Of course there will be advance polls and other alternatives available before then.

Update: It’s Adriana.

Nomination Meeting
Sunday, 2012 February 5, 4pm
(followed by Annual General Meeting)
Riverdale branch, Toronto Public Library
(northwest corner of Broadview and Gerrard)
All are welcome.

Following the untimely passing of Jack Layton, Toronto-Danforth is not currently represented in Parliament.  This vacancy will be filled in a by-election that must be called by Prime Minister Harper before the end of February.

On February 5th, 2012, we will select both a new riding executive and our candidate for the Toronto-Danforth by-election, who will aim to double the number of Green Party representatives in Parliament.     Read more »

Update: The by-election was announced February 5, the same day we chose Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu as our candidate.  Election day will be Monday, March 19.

According to Elections Canada, the by-election in Toronto-Danforth must be called no later than 2012 February 26.

The local Green Party riding association hold their candidate nomination meeting on February 5 at 4pm at Riverdale Library, click here for all the details.     Read more »

The Green Party has for many years been promoting a guaranteed annual income (GAI).  It should be more economical than the hodgepodge of existing income support programmes, it will capture people who aren’t served by the current system (such as caregivers for family members who need round-the-clock support), and it addresses the dignity that every Canadian deserves.     Read more »

I’ve been following the COP17 climate change conference in Durban, South Africa from right here in Riverdale.  This will be a long, rambling omnibus post on my thoughts and concerns.     Read more »

I’ve been following the “Occupy Toronto” movement that’s powered by youth and hope in a world of corruption and decadence.  I hope that it will prove to be the catalyst for the new ideas we need to take us forward.

This movement is occurring in a context.  Though many of the participants may be unaware of it, there is a fairly obvious underlying reason for the rising levels of anger.     Read more »

The Beaches Riverdale Mirror and East York Mirror have published a question-and-answer article featuring Tim Whalley and other candidates.

Follow this link to the whole article reproduced on Inside Toronto.

Here are Tim’s answers:     Read more »

You can watch the debate live on Rogers TV or later, online.

The Local Campaign: Toronto-Danforth
Hosted by Dale Goldhawk
Monday, 2011 September 26, 9pm
Rogers TV cable 10 and 63, and online

I previously wrote about Patricia Warwick, one of the “Fabulous 45″ – so named because although they came to Washington expecting to face a $100 “post and forfeit” for defying the rules of the park in front of the White House, they discovered that those arrested the previous day were to be held for 3 days.  The 45 risked arrest anyway.

The actions against the Keystone XL pipeline (which would enable a vast expansion in the capacity for oil production from the tar sands) at the White House continued for another 12 days after Patricia’s arrest, with over 1200 arrests in total, including east Toronto residents Sharon Howarth, the Green Party of Canada candidate in Toronto-Danforth in the 2008 federal election and David Wilson, an oil industry retiree.  Tar Sands Action, which organized this demonstration, vows to continue working to oppose the pipeline

The action against the Keystone XL Pipeline is now moving to Canada, where activists are planning a sit-in on September 26. You can find out more and join here.

Tim Whalley has been chosen by the local riding association to represent the Green Party of Ontario in the 2011 provincial elections.  Voting day is October 6.

Tim is the executive director of Scarborough Arts and actively works with a broad range of organizations, stakeholders and residents to enrich the community and make it more liveable.  He holds a Masters in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto, and has taught at the university level and served on a number of boards of directors.  Tim lives in the Greenwood / Gerrard neighbourhood with his teacher wife and their infant child.  He is a member of local organizations such as the Toronto Environmental Alliance and Toronto Cyclists Union.     Read more »

Toronto-Danforth Greens extend their sympathy to Jack Layton’s family and to his NDP family and supporters.  Jack will always be remembered in this community as a tireless fighter, a passionate spokesperson, a man who loved Canada and inspired everyday heroes.

Update: Read Patricia’s first-hand report.

Toronto-Danforth resident and climate activist Patricia Warwick was just arrested in Washington D.C. while opposing the Keystone XL pipeline, which is to allow for the expansion of tar sands operations in Canada.  President Obama is to reject or approve the plan later this year.

The “mug shot” photo was taken by the group Tar Sands Action.  And here she is at the protest, in the red behind the sign, in a big sun hat:

Patricia’s arrest was covered in the Globe and Mail and Ottawa Citizen, where she was quoted as saying,     Read more »

Elizabeth May confronts the government on its twisting of reality in her first press conference as an MP, pointing out that the world demands a continuation of Kyoto.

I have often thought of reversing the way that proportional representation is calculated and applying it to the MPs already in Parliament.

The one Green seat represents almost 580,000 votes.  166 Conservative seats represent 5.8 million votes.  So while each Conservative MP represents just over 35,000 voters, Elizabeth May represents 580,000.

Therefore one Green is worth 16 Conservatives.     Read more »

Elizabeth’s question regarding the budget was smart.  Watch the Conservative member avoid the question.  He does not answer why the government perversely chose to trim the most democratic and fair form of public finance for political parties.  The Conservatives like the subsidies that give rich people the majority of their money back when they contribute to political parties, but would deny the funding that goes to parties people vote for even when they can’t afford to contribute.

You can get a good explanation of what is going on here.

I have never been prouder to be a Green.  Bravo to Elizabeth, the only member of Parliament who refused to support the escalation of war in Libya.