Archive for Participatory democracy

Battles for good planning are lost only once but must be won over and over and over again to continue prevailing.  Once again, we are struggling against a small-minded view that would attempt to contain the full flow of the Don River in storm as it courses through a waterfront newly coated with densely packed buildings including a possible big box development.

What former GPC candidate Sharon Howarth led the fight for was the broad and compelling vision of a Don Mouth re-born into something like what nature intended for it – a broad wetland floodplain with a meandering river, filled with songbirds and tall grasses and boardwalks for people to enjoy.  Her vision prevailed in the public mind and thousands of citizens demanded it.  This led to an inspired visioning process that created an award-winning and internationally recognized design.  Since that time, the elements of that design are constantly being chipped away in the name of economy and profit.

Write to your Councillor now (all comments must be in before April 15 so do it today before you forget) and demand that the City recommit to more green space and more renaturalization.  Demand more wetlands to economically clean the air and water, and to help absorb and manage the floods that climate change is likely to inflict on the city.     Read more »

Monday, 2012 March 12, 7:30pm
Call toll-free: 1-888-886-6603, then 18338#

This is a chance for people to ask questions and have them answered by Elizabeth May and Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu.  Just dial in and speak directly with Elizabeth and Adriana.

The oil pipeline to Texas:

Update: The audio recordings of all questions and answers are now online:     Read more »

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: