Bay of Quinte Greens, Newsletter
November 2020
Welcome to the Quinte Provincial Greens online newsletter. The idea here is to provide info that that Greens – people who care about the environment and social justice – might appreciate.. So we will range from very local things (Picton Terminals, Ford’s Highway?) to international issues (nuclear, electric?). Let me say that we welcome any feedback from our readers.
Local Executive:
Our president is Lori Borthwick from Belleville. Our Chief Financial Officer is Don Wilford in Prince Edward County. I am Jim Colby, Secretary, in Picton. Other members of the executive are Beth Wylie and Lynne Rochon in the County, and Ric Jones in Demorestville.
Green Policies:
For readers who are new to the provincial Green approach here is Green leader Mike Schreiner’s (MPP for Guelph) keynote address from the recent Provincial Green Annual General Meeting:
Below also is a concise summary of what we call People Powered Change taken directly from the provincial Green website:

Online Speaker Series: Dimitri Lascaris
Don Wilford: We are excited to announce the first in our speaker series, “The Importance of Being Green”. Dimitri Lascaris will speak on,“Why Fiscal Conservatism is deeply flawed and is holding us back”.
As I’m sure you all remember, Dimitri ran for the leadership of the Federal Greens. Fiscal Conservatism is the ideology that tells us we can’t afford to care for our seniors, educate our children, and provide free drugs for sick people but we can afford to spend $12 billion and counting of public money on a bitumen pipeline. Dimitri will explain why the ideology is so embedded and why it’s impeding the kind of dramatic action we need to achieve a sustainable and just society.
Like all of you, I am sorry to be headed into winter with Covid-19 once again escalating and being constrained to our homes with restricted access to friends and family.
I hope our speaker series will help through these difficult times and, as well, help us understand that when the time comes (hopefully soon) to recover and rebuild, it must be with Green policies leading to a Green recovery.
Register for this first in our Speaker Series on Nov. 25th at 7 PM
News:
Picton Terminals: The proposed rezoning plan of Picton Terminals (endorsed by the Prince Edward County Planning Staff), which would jeopardize Picton Harbour and be of questionable cultural and economic impact was unanimously rejected by a Council vote. The owner of the Terminal has promised to appeal beyond the municipal level but the local outcry was heard by Council. Good. We’ll see.
Ford’s Highway :
Becky Smit, Campaign Chairperson, GPO:
Doug Ford is resurrecting the GTA West Highway – a $6 billion project that would cut through thousands of acres of farmland in Halton, Peel and York regions.
The Liberal government killed the idea in 2017 when an expert panel warned of huge environmental damage with negligible economic benefit. But now the Conservatives are bringing it back from the dead.
It’s an urban legend that more highways mean less congestion. In fact, they just invite more cars and climate pollution onto the road. And if this highway gets built, it will only save drivers 30-60 seconds from their commute.
The environmental loss from the GTA West Highway would be grim:
• 1500 football fields of Class 1 and 2 farmland
• 2500 acres of Greenbelt land
• Permanent damage to 75 wetlands
• Degradation of the headwaters of the Credit and Humber rivers • 53 river and stream crossings
Further developments from Reddit
A member of Doug Ford’s Greenbelt Council, mandated to offer government officials guidance on the protected environmental lands, has resigned over the province’s decision to issue a ministerial zoning order for a development that will destroy a provincially significant wetland in Pickering.
Linda Pim, an environmental biologist and planner who was appointed to sit on the advisory committee in 2018, said she has been concerned with the increasing use of ministerial zoning orders, or MZOs, by the government over the past two years.
Bay Of Quinte Provincial Green Newsletter 4 November 2020
Since 2018, the province has issued more than 30 orders, which give the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Steve Clark, extraordinary powers to override local planning processes, eliminate public consultation and environmental assessments in order to fast-track development. Previous governments used MZOs sparingly.
But the decision by Clark to issue an MZO last week for the Durham Live project that would see 22 hectares of environmentally sensitive lands replaced by a warehouse and movie studio in Pickering, was the “last straw” for Pim. (Retrieved November 5 2020)
Lori Borthwick is honoured by Provincial Greens
Our President Lori Borthwick was honoured at the Green AGM as a recent but outstandingly active Green. We know her as a gracious and intelligent friend and are grateful for her energy and patience.

The Importance of Donating and Volunteering
Don Wilford: Being together, this year, will be difficult for all and impossible for many. Thomas Homer-Dixon – Canada’s renowned political and climate scientist talks about Covid-19 in his new book, “Commanding Hope”. “I was thinking about the pandemic as a really vivid example of how things can change extraordinarily quickly”. He tells the story of how the crude climate models of 20 years ago got it basically right – predictions of climate heating, fires, droughts, and floods. And what more sophisticated models tell us about the next 20 years – how impacts will accelerate and affect more and more people. He dedicates his book to children, “It’s the best I can do to explain what I think you need to hold on to in your future.”
The Green Party is the only party that is unequivocally committed to a green future for our children and a new way of doing politics. You can listen to our leader, Mike Schreiner, describe our 5-point, post-Covid, “Green and Caring Recovery Plan” here – tinyurl.com/yye5e2co.
Ontario’s next election is in June 2022 – just 20 months away. If you agree that Green voices are essential in our next Provincial assembly, please consider donating to us – the Bay of Quinte Greens – we need money to put up signs, organize, and mount a competitive Bay of Quinte campaign – go to tinyurl.com/y25geka.
Bay of Quinte Provincial Green Newsletter 2 December 2020
Canada’s tax system provides generous reimbursements – total donations up to $423 receive a 75% tax refund, up to $1,410 a 50% refund, and up to $1,625 a 33.33% refund.
Please think of us at Thanksgiving, talk about what it means to you and your family, and consider donating to the Bay of Quinte Greens.
here is the 5-point plan for a green recovery as mentioned in the newsletter.
here is the 5-point plan for a green recovery as mentioned in the newsletter.
HERE is the 5-point plan for a green recovery as mentioned in the newsletter.
TORONTO, ON — At the Green Party of Ontario’s first virtual election, Mike Schreiner delivered an impassioned plea to Build Back Smarter from COVID-19.

Schreiner asked Ontarians to harness the resilience that has seen the province through the pandemic thus far to build a greener and more caring Ontario.
“The path we were on was not doing justice to workers, elders or the planet.”
Schreiner blasted Doug Ford for using the pandemic as a cover while selling off prime farmland and wetlands to deep-pocketed supporters.
“His solution to get the economy moving is to rip up protections for our air, our water, our land and our climate, which he calls red tape,” said Schreiner.
The Green leader urged the Premier to adopt bold ideas in the COVID recovery like a universal school lunch program sourced from Ontario farms and a job-creating, Made-in-Ontario supply chain for electric vehicles.
“The only thing holding us back from leaping into the green economy is political will,” said Schreiner.
Bay Of Quinte Provincial Green Newsletter 7 November 2020
The Green leader pledged to hold Ford accountable on his promise to fix long-term care by hiring more staff and guaranteeing more hours of direct care.
“How we treat elders in their final years should be a source of pride – not shame,” said Schreiner.
He pointed to safe and decent housing as being the most important lesson from the pandemic and pledged to be a champion for affordable, community-focused neighbourhoods.
“It’s very difficult to stay home during a pandemic when you have no place to call home.”
Schreiner reflected on his many accomplishments since being elected, including legislation to ban sick notes and help EV drivers, as well as his advocacy for small businesses, community gardens and mental health during the pandemic.
“I am proud to say that the Ontario Greens have made their mark, even during these unprecedented times when all eyes are on those in power,” said Schreiner.
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Editor’s comment: You made it to the bottom of the newsletter again! Well done. We would love to hear from you. We need donations, members and volunteers. Remember what Tarfon said: “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. … You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” We can help.