Southern Ontario residents will soon be picking up the pieces after a devasting thunderstorm rolled across a large stretch of the province August 20th 2009, generating several tornadoes that destroyed homes and businesses, tore up roofs, flipped vehicles, and left at least one person dead.

Many of our fellow Canadians lost their homes and possesions in these tornadoes and Gail Bates’, as well as all members of the Oshawa Green Party’s, thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy.

We urge all members of the Oshawa Green Party and for that matter all residents of Oshawa, to help out in anyway that they can to ease the suffering of those affected by these storms.

Contact Vaughan Red Cross at 1-800-361-9448  Ext 223  and offer up what you can in the way of monetary donations or supplies. Make sure you designate your donation to the ” Canadian Disaster Relief Fund”.

Adriane Carr, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada will be visiting Durham Region on Tuesday August 25th, 2009 as part of her cross country tour as the Green Party continues to show voters they are the party of the future.

While in the area Ms. Carr plans to unveil the party’s Green Economic stimulus plan. She will be joined by Durham Region’s local Green Party candidates, including Oshawa’s candidate, Gail Bates, at Durham College’s new Renewable Energy Facility located at the Whitby campus, 1610 Champlain Avenue. A press conference is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and later that day Adriane Carr and the local candidates will visit various areas throughout Durham.

The highlight of the day will be an opportunity for everyone to meet Ms. Carr and their candidate at a Zero Waste Corn Roast to be held at Heydonshore Pavilion, 589 Water St. in Whitby between 5-8:30 p.m. While there Ms. Carr and Oshawa’s candidate, Gail Bates, will be glad to meet with you and answer any questions you have. It’s a great opportunity for voters to learn more about the Green Party platform and that the Green Party have real answers to the issues facing the residents of Oshawa.

RSVP Blaine Leal at blaine.leal@greenparty.ca or call 905 447 9311.

Replacing the ineffective Oshawa Harbour Commission with a port authority is hard to understand. Other than a few vested business interests, no one in our community has advocated for this option.

Federal control of Oshawa’s Harbour has given us a rotting and polluted hulk which cannot compete in a modern economy. For decades, residents and civic officials have pressed successive federal governments for improvements to the infrastructure of the port and a cleanup of the contamination. These requests have been met with indifference, scorn and, too often, hostility. Personal agendas have overshadowed the needs of the city.

David Crombie was hired by the current federal government to get beyond the personalities and provide us an impartial view. He consulted widely with all stakeholders. His report made it clear the future of the Oshawa Harbour was best served by transferring it to the City and establishing an arms-length agency to manage the port. If the federal government had no interest in Mr. Crombie’s recommendations, why was he hired? An explanation of the factors behind this decision is clearly warranted.

Now that Colin Carrie and Jim Flaherty have ignored Mr. Crombie and have chosen to support federal control, what is in the cards with this new authority? What lands are to be included? Is the proposed ethanol plant in or out? When will the lands be completely cleaned? Is a local marina still on the table? What is planned for the West Wharf? Is the rail line part of the plan? Will the Second Marsh and waterfront be protected? There are lots of questions, but to date, very few answers.

But as important is a clear vision on the future of the Port of Oshawa. The reason given by Transport Minster John Baird for the decision to go with a port authority was that Oshawa’s port is vital to the integrated marine transport network. While many would question this, the onus is now on our local MPs to ensure our federal government backs up its words with actions and dollars. The current rotting state of the port is unacceptable and significant federal investment is needed to give Oshawa’s port a fair opportunity to succeed. Without millions of dollars worth of rehabilitation, new infrastructure and environmental cleanup, our port has no chance to compete. With the feds keeping control, it is now their responsibility to make these investments. Without significant new capabilities, our port will continue the slow death of the last two decades.

These questions were so eloquently asked by City Councilor Brian Nicholson. Gail Bates, Oshawa’s Green Party candidate believes they are worth repeating until the citizens of Oshawa get some answers. It is time for Colin Carrie to start listening to those who elected him, and to stop being Harper’s yes man, after all it is our Harbour!

BAY OF FUNDY

We’re well into summer, the best time to see some of the magnificent sights Canada has to offer. Many have already had vacation. Many are going soon and some are still planning this year’s getaway. I am leaving in the middle of August for the East Coast and am visiting there with family and friends. But as soon as one vacation ends I start planning the next, so here are a few choices for a “see Canada first” vacation. I’ve visited a few of these but sure want to add the rest to future plans.
1) Point Pelee Park – Ontario
This is an International Monarch Butterfly Reserve and a United Nations Biosphere Reserve.
2) Riding Mountain National Park – Manitoba.
Home to a 1700 member elk herd. September is your best chance to see these magnificent animals.
3) Kluane National Park – Yukon Territory
Experiencing the worst outbreak of the spruce bark beetle, scientists believe that warmer summers in the North have spurred the growth of beetle populations.
4) Mingan Archipelego National Park Reserve – Quebec
The Mingan Thistle is a species at risk and Parks Canada currently has a monitoring and re-establishment program for this plant.
5) Fundy National Park – New Brunswick
As part of an eco-integrity plan, Fundy is working toward becoming a dark sky preserve – a place to come and see the stars.
6) Cape Breton Highlands National Park – Nova Scotia
In 2008, 25 American maartens, a species at risk, were released into the park. Listed as endangered in 2001, the population was estimated at fewer than 50 animals.
7) Banff National Park – Alberta
The Banff Springs snail is an endangered species protected under federal law.
Pacific Rim National Park – British Columbia
The Cheewhat Cedar grows here. It is one of the world’s largest cedars and can grow to a trunk diameter of more than 5 metres.

So enjoy your vacation and try to see Canada first!

Do you wonder what the Green Party believes in, what do we base our policies on?
Our policies are based on 3 main principles.
1) We want integrated policies that support each other & are fiscally responsible.
2) We believe in Grassroots democracy where citizens have the power and government exists to serve them.
3) Last, the policy must benefit the common good. Government must work to reduce inequality, ensure quality public services & help citizens to be empowered & engaged.

If the policies advocated by the Green Party of Canada are implemented, our children & their children will be able to look back & thank this generation for making the world a better place. Failure will leave them an increasingly unlivable & dangerous planet. These are not merely political choices. They are the moral imperatives of a generation that accepts its responsibilities.
We can look forward to the day our children look back and thank us.

The Oshawa Green Party applauds the efforts of the Canadian Coalition Against Terrorism in their efforts to protect Canadians. We fully support the Coalition’s efforts to create legal avenues for victims to pursue perpetrators of terror via civil lawsuits. This initiative not only enables victims to hold terrorists responsible, but also creates a means to locate and seize terrorist assets, compensate victims, and deter future acts of violence. The Green Party supports C-CAT’s goal to empower victims with tools to combat the very forces that undermined their agency- turning victims into victors over terror.

The Oshawa Green Party is wholly committed to ensuring the security of all Canadians, and we remain vigilant in our opposition to those who would threaten the safety of our communities. We view terrorism as a dangerous criminal offence, as it is an aggressive and illegitimate political act. However, we also believe what Canadians believe—true security within a democratic society will be gained from good governance and fair procedures, administered according to the rule of law.

During the National Victims of Crime Awareness Week, held this year April 26th to May 2nd we honoured the memories of Canadians lost to tragedy. We also welcome the reintroduction of C-CAT’s legislative proposal to amend the State Immunity and the Criminal Code. It is our hope that this legislation will prevent future tragedies and better protect Canadians from acts of terror.

Once again we mourn the loss of Canadian troops. Two more young men were killed this week in Afghanistan, how many more have to die before the government views our losses as unacceptable. The Green Party believes that Canada’s role in Afghanistan must shift back to more diplomacy, appropriate development and creative peace-building strategies. We support the UN sanctioned “Blue Helmet” reconstruction effort that focuses on rebuilding critical infrastructure destroyed through decades of war as well as providing continued training to the Afghanistan Army and Police forces so that they can fully take over from international security forces as soon as possible. Although it is a slow, long term process, diplomatic efforts must be increased to improve Afghanistan’s domestic governance mechanisms and democratic institutions.(from Vision Green)  I will be at the Simcoe St bridge today to honour our troops. Please join me.

Gail Bates and the Oshawa Greens would like to express their condolences to the family and friends of Right Honourable Romeo Leblanc (12/18/27 – 06/24/09), Canada’s 25th Governor General, from February 8th, 1995 to October 8th, 1999. LeBlanc was born and educated on Canada’s east coast and also studied in France prior to becoming a teacher and then a journalist for Radio-Canada. He was subsequently elected to the House of Commons in 1972, whereafter he served as a minister of the Crown until 1984, when he was moved to the Senate and became that chamber’s speaker. LeBlanc’s later appointment as the Canadian viceroy caused some controversy, due to perceptions of political favouritism, though he was praised for raising the stature of Acadians and francophones in Canada, and for opening up Rideau Hall to ordinary Canadians and tourists alike. LeBlanc cited his health as the reason for his stepping down from the viceregal post.

Even the weather co-operated and Oshawa had a fantastic Canada Day. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Green Party tent to say “hi”, your support is terrific! Thanks too to the team who worked so hard to make the day a great success. Gail