On Monday morning, Toronto-Danforth MPP Peter Tabuns met with the forces behind the development of the Ontario Cycle Tourism Partnership that will promote cycling as a viable way to travel and vacation in the province.Using a $351,800 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), Alternative Transportation Options Association of Ontario (aka Transportation Options), the leading cycle tourism organization responsible for the award-winning Bike Train Initiative and Welcome Cyclists Network, will build on their successful programs and collaborative partnerships to develop a province-wide partnership to catalyze destination development and marketing campaigns to support this fast growing tourism sector.
"Cycle tourism has been wildly successful in other places", said MPP Tabuns. "I am glad we are doing it here - promoting clean, green, healthy jobs."
Queen’s Park – NDP MPP Peter Tabuns said the announced closure of the Progress Child CareCentre in Scarborough is the result of the McGuinty Liberals' failure to put in place sustainable funding for child care in Ontario.
“Child care centres have been chronically underfunded by the McGuinty Liberals,” said Tabuns. “Now, with four and five year-olds leaving for full-day kindergarten,child care centres across the province are in danger of closing.”
QUEEN'S PARK - Peter Tabuns, NDP environment critic and MPP Toronto-Danforth, called on the McGuinty Liberals to permanently halt nuclear steam generator shipments across the Great Lakes.
He praised local opposition to the scheme and responded to a telling move by Bruce Power:
“This week, Bruce Power withdrew its request for permission from the US government to ship radioactive steam generators across the Great Lakes because of the widespread opposition from mayors, First Nations and Great Lakes communities or perhaps because the US Department of Transportation won’t approve the plan without a full environmental assessment.”
Tabuns criticized the Ontario Government for failing in its basic duty to protect the citizens of this province:
“Why is the government of Ontario not requiring an environmental assessment of this plan before allowing Bruce Power to transport radioactive steam generators on Ontario roads?”
Raising children in Toronto isn’t easy. Young families have to juggle high mortgages or rent just to live here, which often requires that both parents work.
As more families move into our community, it’s a growing concern I hear everywhere.
The catch-22 boils down to parents having to work, but being unable to afford the child care that lets them.
It can cost around $24,000 a year to keep two children in daycare.
Toronto, ON – ACTRA Toronto and some of its best known actors met with MPPs today to request their support for legislative measures which they want to see addressed in the upcoming provincial election to ensure the entertainment industry and its workers can continue to thrive.
ACTRA Toronto asked all parties to support a commitment to protect child performers; to amend the Status of Ontario’s Artists Act so that it meets the economic and collective bargaining needs of artists; and to support the film, television and new media industries through continued and further application of the tax credit program.
Queen’s Park – NDP Energy and Environment critic Peter Tabuns today urged the Federal Environmental Assessment Agency to reject a proposal for a new nuclear plant at Darlington.
The provincial government is stonewalling attempts to find out how much it will cost taxpayers to compensate a Calgary company after the Liberals abruptly cancelled its contract to build a major power plant in Oakville, the NDP charges.
After the Star quoted sources as saying the government had a legal opinion that TransCanada Energy could sue for $1 billion over the controversial cancellation, the New Democrats filed freedom of information requests that have been repeatedly rejected.
“I can see no reason for them not to tell the public,” said NDP energy critic Peter Tabuns.
The provincial government has suddenly abandoned any plans to construct offshore wind projects.
Citing environmental concerns, the Liberals made the surprising announcement Friday that they have placed a moratorium on building wind power projects in freshwater lakes.
While there are currently no offshore wind projects anywhere in Ontario, the issue has been a political problem for the Liberals as the October election inches closer and seats in rural areas are up for grabs.
NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns today joined mayors, environmentalists and aboriginal leaders in condemning the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s decision to allow Bruce Power to transport 12 radioactive nuclear steam generators across the Great Lakes for processing in Sweden.
TORONTO — The governing Liberals were once more in the hot seat Friday over why home electricity bills are climbing amid claims that the province is subsidizing power to consumers across its borders.
Over the holidays, Toronto learned the gap between its haves and have-nots is widening.
This is nothing new or surprising; it’s the result of decades of policy choices.
We hear a lot about how to reduce the poverty we see growing in our city. But we don’t hear much about how to do it, or how cuts like one threatening literacy programs can actually make poverty worse.
PTP on the Danforth has been helping adults improve basic literacy skills since the early 1990s. During the last major recession, it started to teach unemployed workers the skills needed to read, write and do simple math. Demand for the services has only grown since.
QUEEN'S PARK – NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns welcomed news that Ontario's air quality has improved somewhat, but cautions that progress may be a temporary result of the economic downturn and could be undone by recent McGuinty government actions.
"While factory closures are reducing emissions, a number of recent McGuinty government actions pose a serious threat to air quality," said Tabuns.
QUEEN'S PARK – Niagara Falls Liberal MPP Kim Craitor voted for the Harmonized Sales Tax. Now, he's not so sure.
In the January 5 edition of Niagara This Week, Craitor is quoted: "Let me say, this is Kim Craitor the person talking, that I do not approve having the HST on hydro bills."
Craitor has become the first Liberal MPP to openly criticize his party's tax plan, but he likely won't be the last.
"I'm not surprised that Dalton McGuinty's MPPs are starting to get nervous," said NDP Finance Critic Peter Tabuns.
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns is urging the McGuinty government to protect Ontarians’ access to water by speaking out against the proposed Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union.
“This international trade agreement would threaten access to affordable, clean water by locking municipalities into private water contracts and preventing governments from regulating private water companies,” said Tabuns.
Film and Television Workers Applaud Private Member’s Bill
Bill would bring Labour Stability to Film and Television Industry
Toronto – Workers in the film, television and new media industry today applauded the introduction of a private member’s bill which will ensure that disputes arising from their collective agreements can be resolved at the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The Labour Stability in the Film and Television Industry Act will be introduced today by Peter Tabuns, NDP MPP for Toronto Danforth.
“This legislation, if passed, will send a message of stability and assist us in pursuing work opportunities for all Artists and other cultural workers in Ontario.The proposed legislation codifies the practices we have used for many years. There is no reason it cannot get full support from MPPs from all parties and I look forward to it becoming the law,” said Ron Haney, CEO & Executive Director of the Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario.
ACTRA Toronto, Directors Guild of Canada-Ontario, Nabet CEP local 700 and the Toronto Musicians Association have negotiated collective agreements with Producers for many, many years. These collective agreements establish minimum terms and conditions for workers in the industry.
With the municipal elections over, you might hope the politics is done. But here at Queen's Park, we're back in session and debate has a much harder edge. Question Period is rougher than before. Fixed election dates have their downsides, as we can expect a full year of politicking, through next October.
It's appropriate, then, that politics—not facts—dominate a hot issue no matter where you live. Electricity pricing.
As a strong supporter of clean, green energy, the level of politicking alarms me. And I'm frankly worried that the McGuinty Liberals are giving good, sustainable ideas an expensive image. As I'm sure you agree, the last thing we need is for people to think environmental ideas cost them a lot of money.
But in the face of all facts, the McGuinty Liberals are going out of their way to link price hikes with green energy.
Here is a Toronto Star report on the Liberal's policy convention a few weeks ago:
"The premier said he is not spooked by the poll, even while opposition parties attack him daily for making life less affordable for Ontarians because of the new 13 per cent harmonized sales tax and higher electricity rates as the Liberals modernize the power system with more green power."
The problem, of course, is clean energy only represents a fraction of current price increases. The overwhelming cause is due to nuclear power, gas-fired power and greater privatization. But these aren't as popular with the public, so the McGuinty Liberals use green energy as a shield to hide their own—and truly unpopular—policy choices.
I see the same in Question Period. Regularly, concerns about rising prices resulting from bad policy mistakes are defended by the Premier and Minister of Energy in green language. It's just factually wrong, and politically dangerous. The Tories do enough of a job demonizing green power; they don't need a hand from the Liberals.
Indeed, the Tories and Liberals agree on nuclear and privatization, the only point of difference is on the green aspect. So this is where they fight—leaving the impression with voters that if they got rid of the green, they'd get lower bills. But nothing could be further from the truth.
It's time we made this point strenuously to the McGuinty Liberals. And in place of this absurd partisan spat, build consensus among all parties for inexpensive, clean, green energy—which delivers cleaner air, and creates jobs and income across Ontario.
Ontario loses more jobs; HST jobs promise is empty
QUEEN’S PARK
"Thirty-thousand more people are looking for work this Fall and all the Premier can offer is empty promises," said Tabuns. "McGuinty’s new tax on everything from keeping the lights on to filling up has been bad for families and bad for jobs."
Statistics Canada reported today that Ontario lost 23,000 jobs in September, including nearly 13,000 full-time jobs. The unemployment rate remained unchanged as young people stopped looking for summer work and went back to school. Since the introduction of the HST on July 1, Ontario has lost more than 30,000 jobs and the unemployment has risen to 8.8 per cent from 8.3 per cent.
Across the province, some communities have been hit especially hard. The unemployment rate is now 9.2 per cent in Toronto, 9.7 per cent in St. Catharines-Niagara, 10.0 per cent in Sudbury, 10.6 per cent in Oshawa and 10.9 per cent in Windsor.
"Not only are Ontario families paying hundreds of dollars more for the basics, they’re seeing fewer opportunities for jobs," noted Tabuns.
Today’s job loss figures do not include recently announced shutdowns at US Steel (400 jobs in Hamilton), Cargill (700 jobs in Etobicoke) and JM Smucker (150 jobs in Dunnville).
Recent reports by RBC and the Conference Board show that Ontario has the lowest consumer confidence in the country, and TD Economics says the HST is a "headwind restraining growth" (TD Economics Report, Sept. 24, 2010)
"The HST dampened the confidence Ontario families had in the economy," added Tabuns.
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Media contact:
Paul Ferreira, 416-325-3316 -- Despite promises of 600,000 jobs, 30,000 Ontarians have lost their job since Dalton McGuinty imposed his unfair sales tax, says NDP Finance Critic Peter Tabuns.
QUEEN’S PARK – Despite this morning’s rambling damage control press conference by Environment Minister John Gerretsen on Ontario’s eco fees, the McGuinty government continues it’s debacle without a resolution that truly protects consumers or the environment, says NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns.
“This is crazy! The McGuinty Liberals said that taxpayers will subsidize companies’ waste, even when they profit from it, for three months while they figure out what to do next. Bottom-line: Companies should pay these costs, not Ontarians,” said an incredulous Tabuns.
“The way the McGuinty government has handled the whole eco fee issue is a fiasco, plain and simple. They are now in full damage control, but where was the planning to protect consumers before they were blindsided by these new fees on July 1st?”
Tabuns noted that the eco fee mess is just the latest in a growing string of embarrassing government foul-ups and missteps.
“In the last month, the McGuinty government has misled the public on G20 security, has provincial ministries under criminal investigations, and has bungled its eco fee program, said Tabuns. “Ontarians are rightfully wondering what the heck is going on over there and who exactly is in charge” said Tabuns.
“New Democrats fully support the concept of producer responsibility. But putting oversight directly in the hands of industry is the wrong way to go. It has been proven over and over again that self-regulation doesn’t work,” he said.
“Stewardship Ontario should be scrapped altogether and replaced with a government body that is fully accountable and transparent. If the McGuinty government were truly serious about cleaning up this mess and protecting our environment from harmful and toxic goods, that’s the first step they should take.”
Toronto - NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Finance Critic Peter Tabuns called on the McGuinty Liberals to make plans for asset sales public.“Our public assets work effectively and generate billions every year for our schools and hospitals,” said Horwath. “Selling them off will leave us paying more and getting less for years to come.”
“If the McGuinty Liberals want to clear the air they should release all documents related to a potential sale now.”
Media reports yesterday indicated that a proposal to merge the LCBO, Ontario Lottery and Gaming, Hydro One, and Ontario Power Generation into a single corporation which will then be partially sold to private investors will be discussed at a Liberal Cabinet meeting June 23. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan subsequently denied the reports but indicated that the Liberal government does have the report of a committee that was reviewing assets.
“Deals like this might be tempting for politicians hoping to buy votes in an upcoming election but they’re a bad deal for the people of Ontario,” said Tabuns. “People deserve an open discussion. The government should release these plans today.”
Updated Jun 21, 2010 Written by Ontario's New Democratic Party
McGuinty’s “Strong Medicine” Pitch A Bitter Pill To Swallow: NDP
Queen’s Park – Dalton McGuinty’s televised HST sales pitch is a desperate, last-ditch effort that will only strengthen Ontarians’ opposition to the wrong-headed new tax, NDP finance critic Peter Tabuns said today.
“The premier’s desperate ‘strong medicine’ ads are leaving only a bitter taste in the mouths of Ontario families,” Tabuns said. “Instead of a last-ditch campaign to sell a tax that no one wants, the McGuinty Liberals should be listening to Ontario families and hitting pause on their plans to bring in the HST.”
Despite the premier’s carefully-scripted TV campaign, no Ontarian will be unclear about the true costs of the HST once the price of everyday essentials starts going up July 1, Tabuns said. The average Ontario family will pay nearly $800 more per year in higher costs once the HST takes effect.
Tabuns urged people to join the 250,000 Ontarians who have signed the NDP’s anti-HST petition at www.unfairtaxgrab.com.
Updated Jun 21, 2010Written by Ontario's New Democratic Party
QUEEN’S PARK — NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is warning Torontonians that they have no reason to trust Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty when it comes to improving public transit in their city.
"In a Metrolinx report being released today, not one penny has been allocated for construction of some crucial Toronto transit lines over the next five years," Horwath said during today’s Question Period.
"It’s now clear that the Finch LRT and Scarborough RT lines are in danger of being completely axed," she added, emphasizing that the Metrolinx report clearly shows that not one penny has been allocated for construction of the two lines over the next five years.Horwath says the report casts doubt on McGuinty’s long-term commitment to Transit City and Torontonians, especially those in some of the city’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods who would stand to see the greatest benefit.
"Just as the McGuinty government has cut $4-billion from the five-year transit budget leading to 2016, a future government could easily cut $3-billion and kill off the two lines altogether," she warned."Since the Premier’s already broken a promise and cut $4-billion from Transit City’s initial five-year budget, Torontonians have no reason to believe that the Finch and Scarborough transit lines will ever be built."
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 28 /CNW/ - Young mothers and staff from the Massey Centre for Women today appealed to the Minister of Children and Youth Services, the Hon. Laurel Broten, to address the critical funding deficit at the east Toronto centre.
Many young new mothers like Victoria Hospedales rely on the Massey Centre to provide stability, support and security so they can provide the best possible care for their newborns while they get back on their feet.
Victoria lives in the centre's post-natal residence, which supports new moms as they return to school or pursue a career.
Victoria said staff at the centre have become like family. "I love the staff at the Massey Centre," she said.
But she made clear the centre's most important role is to help her go it alone. "I can't move on without daycare," she said.
Nicole Wall is another mother who relies on the centre for daycare. "As a first-time mom, I was a little nervous about taking my son to daycare. All my fears were laid to rest because the staff at Massey Centre are committed and take care of him like he was their own. They are open and helpful and do things they don't have to do," said Nicole.
The mother said she had contacted the Minister's office. "Their response was disappointing," Nicole said.
The local MPP for the area, Peter Tabuns, said he helped the women organize a press conference at Queen's Park today out of concern the funding crisis has gone on so long.
QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns today joined doctors and nurses in urging the McGuinty government to prevent unnecessary pollution-related deaths by immediately putting Ontario’s coal plants on emergency-only stand-by.
Figures released today by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, indicate that by keeping coal plants burning until 2014 the McGuinty government policy will cause the premature death of 1,000 Ontarians and pollution-related illnesses in another 100,000 people.
QUEEN’S PARK – Today in Question Period, NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns urged the McGuinty government to strengthen its proposed regulations for the Toxic Reduction Act in order to better protect the health of Ontarians.
“Ontarians expect that the air they breathe and the products they buy will not make them sick,” said Tabuns. “Unless the proposed regulations are tightened, the majority of polluting companies in Ontario will get a free ride and people won’t be much safer.”
QUEEN’S PARK – Today in Question Period, NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns urged the McGuinty government to strengthen its proposed regulations for the Toxic Reduction Act in order to better protect the health of Ontarians.
“Ontarians expect that the air they breathe and the products they buy will not make them sick,” said Tabuns. “Unless the proposed regulations are tightened, the majority of polluting companies in Ontario will get a free ride and people won’t be much safer.”
Environmentalists and University Students Launch “Message in a Bottle” Campaign in Support
TORONTO, October 29, 2009 – Today NDP MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth) submitted a new Private Members Bill – Bottled Water Spending Act, 2009 – to restrict government spending on bottled water.If passed, the Bill would make Ontario the first province in Canada to restrict bottled water.
At a press conference to announce the Bill, environmentalists joined with university students to launch a new “Message in a Bottle” campaign in support of its passage.The campaign kicked off with the delivery of 107 empty bottles of Nestle Pure Life stuffed with a message to every MPP.
“Bottled water may serve a purpose in situations where potable drinking water is not available, or in certain emergency situations, but it is not a substitute for the tap nor is it a long-term solution,” says Richard Girard, Research Coordinator of the Polaris Institute.
NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns welcomes the McGuinty government’s announcement of a new Feed-in-Tariff for renewable energy, but says that the success of the program depends on significantly raising targets for wind energy in Ontario - and that means canceling plans to build new nuclear plants once and for all.
“The McGuinty government’s stubborn commitment to new nuclear plants leaves very little space for new wind and solar energy,” said Tabuns.
“As long as the government remains committed to its expensive nuclear plan, it will not be able to achieve the full potential of renewable power or fully spark green jobs.”
Last fall Minister Smitherman asked the Ontario Power Authority to increase its conservation and renewable energy targets, but the OPA has yet to report back.
“Electricity demand is falling so the only way for OPA to significantly increase green energy targets is to reduce nuclear energy and to date Smitherman has ruled that out,” said Tabuns.
Under the current system plan, no new wind energy will be brought on line after 2018 - when new nuclear reactors are expected to come on line.
Tabuns also raised concern about the unexpectedly high set back requirements for wind turbines.
“The Premier suggested all along that 550 meters was a sufficient set back to address health concerns,” said Tabuns.
“Today he tells us that even higher set backs will be required for farms with more than five turbines - perhaps up to one and a half kilometers. That is more than is required of new gas plants, and could significant reduce the development of wind power in Ontario.”
June 29, 2009
Queen’s Park - Peter Tabuns, NDP energy critic says the McGuinty Liberals’ decision to suspend the bidding process for new nuclear reactors at Darlington is more evidence that their energy plans are in disarray.
Now that the Toronto Board of Health has added its voice to thousands of concerned citizens, we can only hope that Metrolinx and the McGuinty government will stop their excuses and finally commit to put in place electric trains on the Georgetown rail corridor (Use Electric for Expanded Rail Services - June 9). Electric trains are quieter and faster, reduce smog and greenhouse gas emissions, and prevent a range of negative health impacts. They are also only marginally more expensive than diesel trains, which is why the vast majority of jurisdictions around the world are now going electric. It's time the Greater Toronto Area followed suit.
Peter Tabuns, MPP
Ontario NDP Transportation Critic
June 12, 2009
QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns says the activation of 10,000 so-called “smart meters” by Toronto Hydro over the coming weeks will enable a pricing scheme in which rates will spike during afternoon hours, hurting many modest income hydro users who have far less flexibility than others to shift their electricity use to low-cost, low-demand times.
Queen's Park
May 22, 2009 - 3:00pm
NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns says the McGuinty’s government’s Home Energy Audit and Retrofit program still poses too many financial barriers for most Ontario homeowners.
Hotel workers demonstrate strong support for union at Novotel MississaugaWorkers call on MPP to witness mounting employer attacks
Mississauga, ON. On Monday, workers at the Accor-owned Hotel Novotel Mississauga took the first step towards forming a union at their workplace. Before filing for an election, however, a committee of workers actively organizing the union met with MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth), to discuss an aggressive anti-union campaign by their employer.
ACTRA Toronto Applauds as Artists' Rights Bill Moves ForwardBill would amend Employment Standards Act to include artists
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 24, 2009)A private member's bill to amend the Employment Standards Act to include artists, while protecting their status as independent contractors, has survived its second reading in Ontario's legislature. Bill 165, introduced by NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Peter Tabuns, would see artists obtain basic protections and benefits enjoyed by other workers in Ontario.
Queen's Park
February 2, 2009 - 1:00pm
Dofasco’s decision to drop its plan to build a clean and efficient “co-generation” plant shows that the McGuinty government is not really serious about expanding renewable energy, says NDP Energy and Environment Critic Peter Tabuns.
January 14, 2009
Ban export of polluting coal-fired electricity: NDP
Queen’s Park - NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns is calling on the McGuinty government to put an immediate moratorium on the export of coal-fired electricity from Ontario to the United States.
Queen's Park
December 12, 2008 - 5:00pm
NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns says the McGuinty government’s decision to proceed with an expensive low-efficiency, gas-fired plant in York Region is a serious economic and environmental blunder.
Queen's Park
November 12, 2008 - 11:00pm
A new report released today is yet more proof that the McGuinty government continues to ignore investment in renewable energy while plowing ahead with expensive nuclear projects, says NDP Energy Critic Peter Tabuns.
NDP Energy critic Peter Tabuns called Premier McGuinty’s ribbon-cutting today at a new wind plant near Chatham an attempt to paper over his government’s failure to support renewable energy and a slap in the face to Ontario’s manufacturing workers.
“The government likes to say that it has doubled the amount of wind energy on line, but doubling close to nothing doesn’t cut it. Manipulating statistics and making noise about small one-off announcements can’t hide this government’s failure to adequately invest in proven renewable alternatives,” said Tabuns.
“And to add insult to injury, these windmills were manufactured in Europe. At the same time that Ontario has lost more than 230,000 manufacturing jobs, the McGuinty government has done nothing to attract high-paying green-collar manufacturing jobs. There’s no reason why these windmills couldn’t have been manufactured right here in Ontario,” added Tabuns.
Tabuns said the McGuinty government’s performance on solar energy is even worse, with the government committed to only increase solar energy by 200 megawatts by 2027 – far less that the 1000 megawatts installed in Germany in 2006 alone.
Tabuns noted that while the costs of wind and solar energy continue to drop as production increases and technology improves, the cost of large-scale nuclear is increasing.
“Ontario has built 20 nuclear reactors and not a single one has been on time or on budget. Ontarians are still paying debt charges each month from the building of past reactors and will do so until 2020. Recent experiences with reactors in France and Finland shows that new generation of nuclear technology is even more expensive and unreliable,” he said.
NDP urges action on Environment Commissioner’s report
Queen’s Park
"The report indicates that we are in the midst of an energy crisis, a water crisis and a climate change crisis," said Tabuns, the NDP's environment critic. "The report says that Ontarians have been lulled into a ‘false sense of security’ because of all the government programs, but that many of these programs are not working."
The report outlined the following flaws in the McGuinty government’s environment programs:
· The Environment Assessment process fails to address whether a project is actually needed, and is so biased in favour of project approval that only two of 64 projects have been refused since 1996;
· Water-bottling companies are allowed to pump millions of litres of water from watersheds practically for free (one cent per 3,000 litres);
· The Air Quality Index understates air quality problems because monitoring stations are placed away from sources of pollution and there is no "street-level" monitoring system;
· There is no law in Ontario that obligates government to monitor or conserve biodiversity.
"This report is a clarion call for real action to protect the environment and human health," said Tabuns.
"Ontario has fallen behind other jurisdictions in areas where it used to lead. Thirty years ago its Environment Assessment process was visionary; now it is so limited and weak that it almost constituted a predetermined approval in favour of developers and other companies. The Air Quality Index, which used to be leading edge, lacks basic street-level monitoring that is conducted in cities such as London and Paris."
Queen's Park - The proposed generating station planned for northern York Region is inefficient, will damage air quality and is the wrong solution to the power problem in the area.
NDP Energy and Environment Critic Peter Tabuns brought forward Bill 79 today to stop the plant and encourage energy conservation and sustainable solutions. “This big and expensive plant is exactly the wrong way to move Ontario forward,” said Tabuns.
Tabun’s Bill 79 is aimed at stopping the construction of this type of plan in York Region, Bradford and West Gwillimbury, all areas in the green belt or sitting right next to it.
“This bill is the kind of forward thinking environmental solutions that Ontario families need,” said Tabuns. “It promotes innovative energy conservation measures to meet the overall demand for electricity and protects peoples’ health.”
“Respiratory concerns and the increased likelihood of cardiovascular diseases are a major concern for local area residents and I am proud to stand with them to say no to this plant,” he added.
Among the innovative solutions put forward in Bill 79 are demands that Ontario Power Authority engage in activities that promote electricity conservation and facilitate the diversification of sources of electricity supply by promoting the use of cleaner energy.
“By investing in our future and in clean energy sources we can build a new energy economy to bring jobs back to Ontario which has been hard hit by the manufacturing crisis,” continued Tabuns who also noted that this type of plant is very wasteful of the energy it consumes. “This is not the type of leadership that Ontario families are looking for to solve our energy problems. It’s time for renewable solutions and conservation measures.”
Tabuns has been demanding that the Mcguinty government invest the billions of dollars it has focused on nuclear and other expensive and inefficient means of energy to green and renewable solutions instead. Tabuns, a former Executive Director of Greenpeace says that that money is better invested in making Ontario a green energy leader to spur a new energy economy which would support job growth and help combat climate change.
NDP Environment critic Peter Tabuns today urged the McGuinty government to abide by the wishes of Ontarians and agree to phase out pesticides on Ontario golf courses.
A new poll of 741 Ontario residents has found that 68% support a phase-out of golf course pesticide use.
“Spraying of pesticides on golf courses is dangerous to golf course workers and players alike - and it is simply unnecessary,” said Tabuns. “The vast majority of Ontarians want the government to do the right thing and close the loophole in the Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Act which allows the continued application of pesticides to golf course greens,”
The government is expected to release regulations for the Act at the end of September. A range of environmental, health and medical groups are calling for the government to ensure that the regulations end golf course pesticide use.
There is a significant body of research showing links between use of certain pesticides on golf courses, such as 2,4-D, and cancer in humans and wildlife.
While more and more golf courses in Canada are going pesticide-free, the vast majority of Ontario’s 800 golf courses still use pesticides. 2,4-D -- widely used on golf courses -- is banned by Denmark, Norway, and Sweden because of health and environmental concerns.
Queen’s Park - NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns today said that the McGuinty government’s failure to adequately monitor and control water use by golf courses on the Oak Ridges Moraine is threatening water supply for more than 250,000 Ontarians.
“Dalton McGuinty’s Oak Ridges Moraine management strategy doesn’t make the cut,” said Tabuns. “His government is blindly handing out permits that allow golf courses to take billions of litres out of the watershed without any real consideration of the human or environmental consequences.”
June 16, 2008Queen’s Park – Liberal members of the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Social Policy have voted down NDP amendments that would have ensured stronger cosmetic pesticide ban legislation.
The 13 amendments, which were lauded by environmental groups, would have allowed Ontario municipalities to pass more stringent pesticide-restricting by-laws on top of the provincial legislation.
“The McGuinty Liberals are saying that municipalities cannot be entrusted with that responsibility. We think that’s just plain wrong. We believe local governments should have the right to pass stronger pesticide by-laws should they choose to do so,” said Peter Tabuns, the NDP’s Environment Critic.
NDP MPP Peter Tabuns today once again called on Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Rick Bartolucci to explain the continued solitary confinement of Fahim Ahmad, Zakaria Amara and Mohammed Dirie.
The three men have now been in solitary confinement for two years.
“These men haven’t even been tried, let alone convicted,” Tabuns said, after meeting with Mr. Amara’s wife, Nada. “Despite the Minister’s statements to the contrary, Mr. Amara’s treatment has violated the most basic of human rights standards.”
Queen’s Park – NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns today slammed the McGuinty government’s flawed cosmetic pesticide bill which quashes stronger municipal pesticide by-laws.
“Municipalities have been at the forefront of the cosmetic pesticide ban movement. Now, Dalton McGuinty is taking away the power of local governments to make decisions that respond to local health needs,” said Tabuns, the MPP for Toronto—Danforth.
Queen’s Park: Toronto-Danforth NDP MPP Peter Tabuns applauds the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) on the excellent report they have provided with recommendations to protect Asian anglers from further discrimination and racist attacks.
The report, Fishing Without Fear, sets out the reality of race-based attacks against Asian anglers and makes practical recommendations for action to protect people in future. The report lists the commitments from numerous bodies to carry forward the recommendations.
April 22, 2008
Queen’s Park – NDP Environment Critic Peter Tabuns today slammed the McGuinty government for its continuing failure to present a comprehensive climate change plan.
“Another Earth Day has come and Dalton McGuinty still does not have a meaningful climate change plan for Ontario,” said Tabuns.
Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes –Brock-NDP
Provincial Environment Critic Peter Tabuns Speaks Out at Public Meeting in Lindsay
LINDSAY, April 7, 2008 – Today the local NDP hosted a public meeting on the environment and the economy at Fleming College in Lindsay, featuring provincial NDP environment critic Peter Tabuns who outlined a plan to build a clean and healthy economy, based on energy efficiency and renewable resources.
“The planet is on the brink of crisis. Climate change and diminishing energy supplies are putting both our health and economy at risk,” said Mr. Tabuns. “Saying we have to chose between a strong economy and a healthy environment is not true. It’s a false choice. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.”
