Judging by the enthusiastic reception that Elizabeth May received last night during the Sierra Club Peel session at Jack Brown’s Education Centre, it’s a lot easier being green these days, Kermit the Frog’s opinion notwithstanding.
You have to think that The Green Party will get a lot more consideration from voters this time around, especially if the voluble May gets an opportunity to debate the other leaders on the national stage.
She has a nice touch with the numbers without being overwhelming, making it plain that our climate change policies must be based on science – real science that is — not the political brand.
Most of all she struck the right tone. Yes, the prospects of rising sea-levels and flagging gulf streams and tundra slushies and methane bombs released from beneath the polar ice are scary as hell. But there are lots of things that can be done by rational people to start turning it around, starting with honouring international treaties that force everyone to be part of the solution.
Judging by opinion polls, it looks like the public is way ahead of politicians on this issue, which can only be to the advantage of the Greens. They are starting to look like a haven for voters who are: a) sick of the mainline menu and b) anxious to prove that the environment really should be the number 1 priority for everyone who shares the planet.
• • •
Donald Barber was in court again yesterday, pursuing a private charge against the security guard who was involved in the incident at City Hall last June 7 that led to the two assault charges he faces in a trial scheduled for November. The counter-charges that Barber has filed of assault, public mischief and making false statements, among others, will now be re-filed because of administrative problems with their wording.
While in the private court session, Barber was handed a CD containing the 9-1-1 calls made June 7 from City Hall to police. Even though he had not heard the tapes, Barber was happy with the description accompanying one call: “Male had been causing problems in the council chamber.” He says that a tape of the council session which he is still trying to get through the courts will prove he was not causing any disturbance (that charge has already been withdrawn) and that the security guards were harrassing him because of his ongoing criticism of the McCallion regime. The search for a free lawyer continues.
• • •
A Mississauga South update. Dave Duncan of the Conservative Association, one of the 25 members who have petitioned for a general meeting to show the will of the association for an open nomination, says that there is nothing in the party nomination rules that ensures an incumbent an automatic nomination. The rule states that, “a riding association which has a sitting PC MPP... is not required to conduct a candidate search.” That seems to suggest they could have one if they wanted.
The next paragraph states that, “a riding association which does not have a sitting PC MP seeking the nomination shall strike a candidate search committee.” Since we are told that Tim Peterson is an independent at the moment and the riding doesn’t have a sitting PC MPP, doesn’t that mean a search committee should be struck? How about candidates like... say ... Brad Butt, Zoran Churchin and Effie Triantafilopoulos?
One self-described “dyed-in-the-wool” Conservative, who also signed the call for an open nomination, is 76-year-old John Hart, a former Ward 2 public school trustee. “He’s not our sitting member,” says Hart of Peterson. He calls the party’s plans to install Peterson over three candidates who’ve been running since October, “ridiculous.”
Hart is afraid that he will lose his right to vote Tory once again. He was never a supporter of Margaret Marland, to put it politely, so he has handed in his ballot unmarked for the past five elections.
Meanwhile, over on the Liberal side, Charles Sousa appears to be the annointed one, although there are apparently three other prospective candidates. Sousa, the senior banker who is a lifelong riding resident, officially confirmed his candidacy this week, complete with a quote from past president Tanya Zaritzky.
It states, “I am overjoyed that Charles is seeking the nomination. He is exactly the candidate we need to win in October. Anyone who meets Charles is impressed by his integrity, his intellegience and his compassion. He is a good man and a strong leader, which is why so many people from the riding association have already expressed their support of Charles as our candidate.”
One other aberration. Apparently Tim Peterson’s application to renew his family membership in the Liberal association arrived the day before he made the announcement that he would be switching parties. Guess somebody really knows how to keep a secret in that family.