From cco at web.ca Thu Feb 2 14:48:47 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Feb 2 14:49:31 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Poll shows overwhelming support for conservation Message-ID: <200602021947.k12Jl1wN081352@smtp0.beanfield.net> Green On. e-newsletter February 02/2006 To view online, go to www.weconserve.ca/articles/?p=13 To subscribe or unsubscribe, please use the form at www.greenontario.org Poll shows overwhelming support for conservation It's official: We Conserve! In an Ontario-wide opinion poll conducted for the Conservation Council by Oraclepoll Research, it's clear that public awareness and personal commitment to energy conservation is at an all time high. Click here to download .Poll Summary .Full Poll results 93% of the respondents said that energy conservation is important to them, and fully 99% said they do the simple things, like turning off lights and appliances when not in use. Over the past year, 72% of homeowners have installed one or more compact fluorescent lightbulbs, 69% have draftproofed doors ,and 64% have upgraded to more energy efficient appliances. 40% of homeowners reported adding insulation to their home, with 37% upgrading insulation levels in the basement, an interesting statistic given that the Ontario Building Code doesn't require basement insulation. Can we become better at conservation: absolutely! 84% of the respondents felt that Ontarians could do a better job at conserving energy. Interestingly enough, 54% felt that they were better than others at conserving energy Do we need Help? Definitely! 95% of respondents wanted new homes to be insulated to meet the highest energy efficiency standards, and 93% felt that renovations should also meet the highest energy efficiency standards. 89% supported an energy efficiency label for new homes (similar to appliances), 85% wanted the government to invest in incentives and low interest loans for conservation, and 80% supported increasing energy efficiency standards in the Ontario Building Code.In short, the Ontario public is committed to conservation, has taken many of the simple steps, and will go much further with the right kind of support. Here's some of the steps that carry a strong degree of public support: 1) Increase public awareness and commitment to steps that will have a significant conservation benefit, including * a minimum of 10 compact fluorescent bulbs per home * An Energuide audit * Improved insulation * Appliance upgrades (especially air-conditioners) 2) Raise home efficiency standards in the Ontario Building Code to a minimum rating of Energuide 80 (from the current average rating of around 72) 3) Require energy efficiency labelling of all homes, starting with new homes and incorporating existing homes on resale. 4) Provide financial incentives for investing in conservation, including * PST exemption on conservation supplies * Linking electricity surcharges to conservation financing 5) Investing in conservation * Building strong NGO and private partnerships to market conservation and develop a conserver economy * Strengthening the provincial network of green community groups (www.gca.ca) and other organizations that are delivering conservation solutions * Engaging businesses, retailers, municipalities and others in a common commitment to conservation We'll be pressing for action on these items over the next few months, and stay tuned for more announcements on upcoming campaigns and events! Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060202/73afc1ec/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 2966 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060202/73afc1ec/attachment.gif From cco at web.ca Thu Feb 23 16:49:58 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Feb 23 16:50:39 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Tackling the Doors Open Policy Message-ID: <200602232148.k1NLlY5Y096491@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement www.weconserve.ca To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.greenontario.org Dear friends, Here's a quick posting on the We Conserve website http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=16 "I'm sorry, doors open is company policy" Conservation should be company policy! It's minus 10 degrees Celsius in Toronto and I walk past a store with the door wide open. I went in and asked if they could close the door to help conserve energy. The manager apologized and said she had to wear a scarf herself, but that it was company policy to keep a door open. Aritzia is the company, a clothing retailer, but judging from the comments we keep receiving from you on the Doors Closed campaign it could be any chain. In Vancouver, where Aritzia's head office is, it's 5 degees above zero today. I have sent a message to their office asking them to clarify their policy for us. We will also contact all the major retail chains over the next couple of months and pull together a list of which companies will make it a policy to keep doors closed when the temperature is above 25 or below 5 degrees. Follow Up on a Conserver Budget http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=12 Thanks to everyone who submitted comments on a conservation budget. There were some excellent ideas, mostly around reducing energy consumption - PST exemptions, gas guzzler taxes - and promoting renewable power. With the current attention on the Ontario Power Authority's Supply Mix report, and the overwhelming public outcry in support of conservation, energy is certainly the best bet with respect to greening Ontario's budget. I was able to pass on a number of these suggestions in the pre-budget consultations, along with a recommendation for $1 per Ontarian towards the development of Ontario's conservation movement. For anyone who is interested in further research on tax-shifting, I'd recommend looking at The Centre for Integral Economics http://www.integraleconomics.org/. Donna Morton has done some great work on how municipal, provincial, and federal governments can adjust taxation policy to stimulate healthier and sustainable economies and societies. Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060223/3498000f/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Fri Mar 24 20:00:07 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Mar 24 19:58:28 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] An Empty Budget for Conservation Message-ID: Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca This article can be found at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=17 An Empty Budget for Conservation Chris Winter, Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario On any other day, I would have cheered a budget that put $838 million into a new transit line, doubled the subsidy for hybrid cars and maintained the operating budgets of the lead conservation ministries. The absence of any fiscal incentives for electricity conservation, however, was both disappointing and troubling. Granted, it's not fair to expect the moon in a budget - there are many competing interests and priorities that the government needs to manage. But in this instance, the omission was significant. The Ontario government is poised to make a decision on Ontario's power supply future. There are two options: follow the advice of the Ontario Power Authority and invest heavily in nuclear power or follow the overwhelming public support for conservation. If the Province intended to give conservation a chance to prove itself, you would have expected to see fiscal instruments in the budget that would contribute to a coordinated provincial conservation plan. There was nothing: no tax rebate on conservation products and no interest-free loans to implement conservation audits and other professional advice. In other jurisdictions, from California to South Australia, these measures are the financial cornerstones of a coordinated plan to engage the public, provide tailored advice, and offer fiscal and regulatory support for conservation. Earlier this year, for example, New Brunswick introduced an interest-free loan program tied to the Energuide for Houses program. (http://www.efficiencynb.ca/Promo/FAQ2-e.asp). I would normally be a little more lenient, and take heart in the slow and steady progress that is being made, but time is running short. If the government isn't putting its fiscal weight behind conservation, then it is leading us inexorably down the path towards investing in new nuclear plants. We know the political will for conservation is there. The Premier's announcement earlier this week of a Standard Offer Contract for renewable power placed Ontario at the leading edge in North America in its support for renewable power. It was truly a banner day. Conservation and renewable power go hand in hand. What we need now is an equivalent financial commitment for conservation, an integrated provincial conservation plan, and a postponement of any decision on new nuclear plants in order to give the culture of conservation time to take root. Ontario's claim to being a leader in conservation is at stake, and time is fast running out. weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060324/2718e655/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060324/2718e655/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Thu Mar 30 15:58:12 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Mar 30 15:57:22 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] What's our combined outreach? Message-ID: <200603302054.k2UKsYtD001589@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca Dear friends, This is a request to all NGOs, associations, community groups and green businesses that are involved in public outreach and support programs. Please take ten minutes to fill in a quick online survey on the number of people in Ontario that you can reach through your activities. The purpose of the survey is to demonstrate just how effective a conservation movement can be in a) raising awareness, b) securing an initial commitment, and c) providing deeper advice and support. To add your group to the survey, please go here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=841761939843 To just see the results, go here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=193984390162 As I write this, I see there are over 70 groups that have already replied and our combined potential reach is over 40 million. You can add filters to the results to see how the number breaks down into various categories such as internet outreach, earned media, personal contact, and advisory programs. As expected, our combined efforts can help raise the "buzz" around conservation issues and create a more receptive audience for the personal contact programs and home and business audits and conservation services. With thanks, Chris Winter cco@web.ca weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060330/e6e75ab1/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060330/e6e75ab1/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Thu Mar 30 16:01:47 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Mar 30 16:00:54 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] What's our combined outreach Message-ID: <200603302058.k2UKw8gB001816@smtp1.beanfield.net> Dear friends, This is a request to all NGOs, associations, community groups and green businesses that are involved in public outreach and support programs. Please take ten minutes to fill in a quick online survey on the number of people in Ontario that you can reach through your activities. The purpose of the survey is to demonstrate just how effective a conservation movement can be in a) raising awareness, b) securing an initial commitment, and c) providing deeper advice and support. To add your group to the survey, please go here http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=841761939843 To just see the results, go here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=193984390162 As I write this, I see there are over 70 groups that have already replied and our combined potential reach is over 40 million. You can add filters to the results to see how the number breaks down into various categories such as internet outreach, earned media, personal contact, and advisory programs. As expected, our combined efforts can help raise the "buzz" around conservation issues and create a more receptive audience for the personal contact programs and home and business audits and conservation services. With thanks, Chris Winter cco@web.ca weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060330/71637466/attachment.html From cco at web.ca Thu Apr 27 16:34:02 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Apr 27 16:32:31 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Set aside May 30th for a Conservation Summit Message-ID: <200604272029.k3RKTFqF037273@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca This posting is online at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=18 Ontario's Second Conservation Summit Tuesday May 30, 2006 The Royal York Hotel, Toronto www.weconserve.ca/summit/ It was the first conservation summit in November 2004 that gave us the mandate for We Conserve. Now, a year and a half later, it's time to take stock. On the positive side, we've made significant progress and we can begin to point to some innovative and successful programs. Capitalizing on the need for electricity conservation, there are some great initiatives on the ground now, including Reduce the Juice, Project Porchlight and the Doors Closed campaign. And we the Conservation Bureau is beginning to roll out incentives and other programs, like the Every Kilowatt Counts program and rebate coupons. But have we made enough progress? The Ministry of Energy has provided the Conservation Bureau with directives for 1,300 MW of conservation, which it prices as a $1.3 billion commitment to conservation. However, there is no clear plan for how Ontario will achieve a "culture of conservation". We have a number of programs, but no integrated multi-sector strategy to engage Ontarians, provide tailored advice, and to support individuals, businesses and municipalities in implementing conservation solutions. And what about other issues? Are we any further ahead in promoting compact livable communities, transportation alternatives, pollution prevention, waste reduction, local organic agriculture, and biodiversity? A true "culture of conservation" applies a common social value to a wide range of issues; and it is supported by a vibrant conserver economy. It's time we come together and celebrate the positive steps we have made, launch a few new campaigns, and renew our common commitment to building a conservation movement in Ontario. As a first step, I'm asking all conservation leaders, be you from a group, municipality, agency, or company, to submit a page on how you are contributing to Ontario's conservation movement. We'll collate and synthesize these pages into a workbook for the summit, and it will be our guide for looking at how we can connect and strengthen these activities through a coordinated conservation movement in Ontario. See www.weconserve.ca/summit/contribute.html for details. Please set aside May the 30th in your calendar. Online registration for the summit will be open by Wednesday May 3rd. With thanks, Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060427/f7836345/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060427/f7836345/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Tue May 2 15:48:28 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Tue May 2 15:46:49 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Call for Volunteers -- Doors Closed 2006 Message-ID: <200605021943.k42JhdiK042275@smtp1.beanfield.net> Doors Closed 2006 Call for Volunteers With energy security and the danger of brownouts in the forefront of Ontario minds, public support for conservation is at an all-time high. Then why do stores and restaurants think it is a good idea to keep their doors propped open in the middle of a heat wave? Join Doors Closed Ontario! - a *positive* social marketing campaign to promote energy conservation to retailers across the province during the hot months of summer. We have lots of organizations, business associations, companies, and municipalities that are partnering with us on this campaign, but we can always use some volunteers to contact neighbourhood stores and restaurants. The Conservation Council of Ontario is looking for enthusiastic volunteers in cities and towns across Ontario to participate in Doors Closed Ontario 2006. Last year's campaign was a great success and hundreds of retailers agreed to close their doors when running their air conditioning. This year to expand the reach of Doors Closed we need your help talking to retailers in your community and getting them involved. Is there a retail strip you'd like to canvass? If you have a few hours or a few days you can become an ambassador for conservation in your community. We will send you a canvassers kit and, where possible, we will connect you with local organizations and associations that are helping promote Doors Closed in your community. To volunteer, please contact Allegra at the Conservation Council of Ontario 416-533-1635 x 2 or research@greenontario.org. Please spread the word. weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060502/5293a37d/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060502/5293a37d/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Wed May 3 15:39:58 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Wed May 3 15:38:16 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Register for the May 30th Conservation Summit Message-ID: <200605031935.k43JZ7So007327@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca Ontario's Second Conservation Summit Tuesday May 30, 2006 The Royal York Hotel, Toronto www.weconserve.ca/summit/ Registration for the Ontario's second Conservation Summit is now open, and the initial agenda for the day is now online. The cost for the one-day event is $120 full and $60 for NGOs or subsidized. For those on tight budgets (or whose budget may recently have been cut), please attend as our guests. We want the day to be an opportunity for discussion and interaction between Ontario's conservation leaders! Online Registration http://weconserve.ca/summit/register.html Please register early to ensure your space, assist us in shaping the agenda to the participants, and to alleviate my organizational stress. Summit Workbook http://weconserve.ca/summit/contribute.html Contribute to the Summit Workbook. Big, small, NGO, community, corporate, or government - tell us how you are (or can) promote a culture and an economy of conservation. And let's be sure to cover the full diversity of issues and opportunities. The deadline for submissions is May 19, but you can indicate on the registration form if you are submitting a page. You don't have to register for the summit to submit a page, but we'd love to see you! With thanks, Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060503/199b1bd7/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060503/199b1bd7/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Thu May 4 08:59:50 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu May 4 08:58:08 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Urgent Request-- Support a Conservation First energy policy for Ontario Message-ID: <200605041254.k44Cswm1028209@smtp1.beanfield.net> Dear Friends, If you agree Ontario should have a conservation-first energy policy, please take ten minutes to send a BRIEF note to the Premier at his feedback page, https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp and say "I agree with a conservation-first energy policy for Ontario". Add in your favourite reason - it's cheaper, safer, cleaner, more reliable; it will reduce our energy bills; and it empowers individuals and builds community spirit. The following is an open letter to the Premier on a conservation-first energy policy for Ontario. Any day now, the government will be announcing its response to the Ontario Power Authority report that called for a massive investment in nuclear and forecast only five percent reductions through conservation. The economic, social, and environmental impact of this decision will be felt by generations to come. We have one chance to make it a decision we can be proud of. Please make your voice heard. And please circulate this request and letter to your friends. With thanks, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario An open letter to the Premier May 4, 2006 Dear Mr. McGuinty, When you announce your government's response to meeting Ontario's electricity demand, please make conservation the first priority. Conservation is the cheapest option for up to 25% of the current demand. The first five percent can be achieved through good will and simple actions. The next ten to twenty percent will require an investment, and here is where your government can achieve reductions at a fraction of the cost of a nuclear plant. Keep going until the cost outweighs the return. Efficiency, load-shifting, and deep-rooted conservation behaviours are the most reliable way to guarantee that Ontario's lights will stay on over the next few summers. Smart meters will provide people with the information they need, but how about some incentives to make conservation more immediately profitable? Conservation creates no pollution: no smog, no climate change, and no radiation. We can all breathe a little easier. Conservation empowers communities, schools, businesses, and individuals. Take a look at the immediate success of last year's community and provincial conservation campaigns. And best of all, conservation saves people money. As electricity and oil prices rise, conservation is the only way to make sure utility bills go down. Premier, our polling shows that 93% of Ontarians hold conservation as a top personal priority, and many of them are making a personal investment in conservation in their homes and businesses. Why would you even consider going in the opposite direction? When you announce your government's electricity policy, make it a conservation-first policy. Help us show that Ontario can conserve. Sincerely, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario To view this letter online, please go to.http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=19 To subscribe or unsubscribe to the Conservation Council of Ontario's listserv, use the form at www.weconserve.ca weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060504/a595d963/attachment-0001.html From cco at web.ca Sat May 6 00:52:50 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Sat May 6 00:50:14 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Al Gore and Stephen Harper on Climate Change Message-ID: Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca This post is online at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=20 Al Gore and Stephen Harper on Climate Change Yesterday (May 4th), I attended a special screening of "An Inconvenient Truth ", a compelling documentary on climate change - or more accurately, on Al Gore travelling the world giving a "slide show" lecture on climate change. The evidence is overwhelming and Gore is a compelling political leader. One cannot help but wonder what the global response to climate change would have been had Gore won the 2000 Presidential election. By comparison, our federal government confirmed today (May 5th) that, as part of its "made in Canada" approach to climate change, it is axing financial incentives for the Energuide for Houses program. EGH is arguably one of the most successful conservation programs in this country. If anyone dares to say that subsidies for energy audits and retrofits is a waste of taxpayers money, they should go see An Inconvenient Truth when it opens June 2nd. And that means you, Stephen Harper. And for bedtime reading, I can also recommend Tim Flannery's, "The Weathermakers ". It's a well-written yet exhaustive account of the scientific evidence of global warming and its impacts on weather patterns, the extinction of species, and the very foundations of our own economic security. I am still but half way through, needing to digest the full impact of the information each chapter holds. As I read the solutions offered by The Weathermakers (international) and the Inconvenient Truth websites, I heartened by one thing only and that is that we, in Ontario, are building a conservation movement around the very solutions that these two leading thinkers are proposing. With or without government leadership, we are building the support structure to assist our society to become better conservers. My goal is that when the world truly wakes up to climate change, soaring energy prices, and resource scarcity, we will be there to help with the transition to a more efficient and resilient economy. Keep up the good work everyone. And keep the faith, Chris You can add your comments to this post at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=20 weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060506/540cc161/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060506/540cc161/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Tue May 16 12:37:52 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Tue May 16 12:35:56 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Support Green Communities Energuide For Houses Message-ID: <200605161632.k4GGWO7i036218@smtp0.beanfield.net> Dear friends, I was told that my article on Al Gore and Stephen Harper last week was premature in announcing the demise of federal support for the Energuide for Houses (EGH) program. Well, the official news is in, and it?s not good. The Harper government has officially announced it is canceling its support for the EGH program, including low-income housing support and the popular rebate program for residential homes. EGH incentive program was one of the leading lights in Canada?s energy conservation strategy. I have often used it as an example of the effective use of federal funding. It rewards individuals for voluntary leadership, it supports community-based outreach, advisory services for homeowners, and it supported the development of a conservation industry. Even better, EGH was a made-in-Canada solution. It was Canada at its best. Fortunately, the federal government can?t cancel home energy audits altogether, and as you?ll read below our friends at Green Communities Canada will do all they can to make sure this essential program is continued! Please support EnerGuide for Houses by writing the minister of Environment, Rona Ambrose, the Minister of Natural Resources, Gary Lunn, and the Prime Minister. The Hon. Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa K1A 0A2 Fax: 613-941-6900 e-mail to pm@pm.gc.ca The Hon. Rona Ambrose, Minister of the Environment Les Terrasses de la Chaudi?re 10 Wellington St., 28th Floor Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0H3 Tel.: (819) 997-1441 Fax: (819) 953-3457 E-mail: Rona.Ambrose@ec.gc.ca The Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Telephone: 613-996-1119 Fax: 613-996-0850 EMail: Lunn.G@parl.gc.ca With thanks, Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's conservation movement -----Original Message----- From: gcanews-owner@lists.gca.ca [mailto:gcanews-owner@lists.gca.ca]On Behalf Of Julia Esrom Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 5:26 PM To: managers@gca.ca; advisors@gca.ca; gcanews@gca.ca Subject: [Green Communities News] Green Communities Special Bulletin - Ottawa Pulls Out Of Energuide For Houses Green Communities Canada News From Canada's Green Communities About Our Members About Us News & Events Our Programs Become a Member 15 May 2006 Special Bulletin: OTTAWA PULLS OUT OF ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES. PLEASE HELP. Dear friends of Green Communities Over the past two weeks, we have received shocking news: the federal government has summarily dropped out of Canada?s EnerGuide for Houses (EGH) programs, including programs serving both low-income and the able-to-pay households. This decision by the new minority government in Ottawa ? imposed without warning or consultation ? will have serious implications for residential energy efficiency in this country. It will also have serious implications for Green Communities, many of whom deliver EGH, and for Green Communities Canada, which has administered a federal EGH contract on behalf of its members since 1998. EGH is our flagship joint program, providing substantial revenues and full- or part-time direct employment to well over 100 people among our membership. Although resources to deliver EGH come from many sources, federal funding is critical. SAVING ENERGUIDE FOR HOUSES In the coming days and weeks Green Communities will work hard to address the federal government?s sudden withdrawal from a long-established program. Together with our supporters we are publicizing the government?s action and its impacts, and calling on the government to restore support for EnerGuide for Houses. Friends of Green Communities are urged to join in, by communicating with your local MP and the Prime Minister, and writing letters to the editor. (See the Green Communities Canada website for additional information.) Please let us know what you do, and what you hear. We will also pursue other ways to continue delivering residential energy efficiency services, including user-pay offerings, and various options involving initiatives by provincial governments and energy utilities. Both New Brunswick and Quebec have already announced plans to continue with EGH-based programs; other provinces are considering their options. THE STORY UNFOLDS News of the government?s action began to emerge on budget day, 2 May, when we learned informally that funding for the recently launched low-income program, EnerGuide for Low-Income Houses (EGLIH), had been cancelled. In addition, it appeared at first from a CBC report that a non-fatal cut had also been made to the EnerGuide for Houses Retrofit Incentive, which serves able-to-pay customers. However, grim rumours continued to circulate, and at end of work last Thursday we received a terse email from Public Works directing that no further EGH A labels would be honoured as of midnight Friday (i.e. no ?new? customers). In effect, funding for the program has been killed (although existing customers already in the system can continue to receive post-retrofit B labels and incentives until March 2007, or until the money runs out). IMPACTS Until now, the federal government has provided a subsidy to increase the affordability and accessibility of EnerGuide for Houses. To date, over 300,000 EnerGuides have been completed Canada-wide by all 50 contracted service organizations. Prior to federal withdrawal from the program, one million more EnerGuides were projected over the next four years. In addition, under the EGH Retrofit Incentive, 52,000 Canadians have received a cheque from the federal government as a reward for improvements to the energy efficiency of their homes. The cancellation of federal participation in this incentive will deprive 200,000-300,000 more Canadians of the opportunity to participate in the incentive program. (Other implications are elaborated in backgrounders on our website). GREEN COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP For Green Communities, the government?s withdrawal from EGH is particularly bitter given our leadership in program delivery and development. Green Communities initiated, designed, and tested the retrofit incentive, which generated a major expansion in program results when it was adopted by the federal government in 2003. Green Communities also led the nation-wide call that resulted (if briefly) in a low-income energy efficiency program, so that Canadians with limited incomes could share in bill reductions and other program benefits. The federal drop-out from EGH was unanticipated. Although the Harper government had clearly targeted Kyoto and associated programs like the One Tonne Challenge, they said they supported effective, accountable energy efficiency programs. Since EGH is effective and accountable, non-advocacy, and delivered by private contractors and entrepreneurial social enterprises like Green Communities, we believed it would be spared. Instead, EGH was simply lumped in with other programs the government doesn?t support. (See our backgrounder for our response to specific allegations regarding the effectiveness and administrative costs of EGH). NO REPLACEMENT The government?s official position is that it will develop its own ?made-in-Canada? energy efficiency programs and announce them in the fall. Meanwhile, however, they have pulled the plug on existing programs with nothing to replace them. If the government eventually decides that EGH is the right answer after all, the infrastructure of delivery organizations, skilled staff, and partnerships will need to be rebuilt. Immediate action is needed to protect the delivery system that has taken years of hard work to create. On behalf of Green Communities, thanks for your support. Clifford Maynes , Executive Director Green Communities Canada _____ News from Green Communities is published weekly by Green Communities Canada, founded 1995. Contact: News , Member Services, (705) 745-7479. www.greencommunitiescanada.org past issues | subscribe | unsubscribe -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 632 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060516/8db8e770/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Wed May 17 13:17:58 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Wed May 17 13:15:59 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Summit Update! Message-ID: <200605171712.k4HHCT24071707@smtp0.beanfield.net> Join us May 30th for a day to strengthen Ontario's conservation commitment http://www.weconserve.ca/summit Great Speakers: Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer; Keith Stewart, World Wildlife Fund; L. Robin Cardozo, CEO, The Ontario Trillium Foundation; Tom Heintzman, Bullfrog Power; Neil Rodgers, Urban Development Institute; Mark Winfield, Pembina Institute, and more. Great Sessions: Ontario's Electricity Conservation Plan; smart growth; financing the movement; showcasing collaborations (energy and schools, at home with nature) and more Interactive: promote your activities and contribute recommendations for a stronger conservation strategy. Contribute a promotional page for our workbook on your projects, products, or services! (http://www.weconserve.ca/summit/contribute.html) New Campaigns: We will introduce two summer conservation campaigns 1. Doors Closed: a retail sector commitment to save energy when air-conditioning 2. Lighten Up: a public pledge campaign to use less electricity this summer (starting in Beer Stores this June, with Colin Mochrie on the posters). Both these campaigns are available to groups, businesses, BIAs, LDCs, and municipalities to use and integrate with their own outreach and support programs. Lighten Up, in particular, is designed to support the Conservation Bureau's rebate coupons, PowerWise, Reduce the Juice, Project Porchlight, and other community-based social marketing programs. Give us this day. May 30th at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto We have but one day to forge new partnerships, support each other, and promote a strong "conservation-first" policy for Ontario. Register now: http://www.weconserve.ca/summit/register.html With thanks, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060517/d6a943b6/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 39790 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060517/d6a943b6/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Fri May 26 00:47:06 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri May 26 00:44:11 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Onatrio's Second Conservation Summit -- last call for registration Message-ID: Join us May 30th at the Royal York Hotel for a day to strengthen Ontario's conservation commitment http://www.weconserve.ca/summit Last Call for Registration http://www.weconserve.ca/summit/register.html Show your support for conservation... Forge new partnerships... Build a stronger conservation movement! Please register online, or respond to this e-mail before 1:00 p.m. on Friday May 26 so we can confirm final numbers with the hotel. The full cost is $120; members and small budget groups can register for $60, and there is a complimentary category for the really low budget (or you can pay-what-you-can at the door). Expect great speakers, a few prizes, and most importantly, a chance to contribute recommendations to a report on how to strengthen Ontario's fledgling conservation movement With thanks, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario weconserve.ca Ontario's Conservation Summit May 30th -- one day for a stronger movement www.weconserve.ca/summit/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060526/05bfde3c/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 29614 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060526/05bfde3c/attachment-0001.gif From cco at web.ca Wed Jun 14 16:18:15 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Wed Jun 14 16:19:06 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] $6 Billion for Conservation -- Let's Make a Deal Message-ID: <200606142017.k5EKHY7P019704@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca (see the online version at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=22) $6 billion for Conservation - Lets Make a Deal! Ontario has opted for a nuclear future , directing the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to meet Ontario's base load of 14,000 megawatts (MW) with nuclear power and to develop a revised schedule for phasing out coal power. In effect, the government has rejected the conservation and green power path proposed by the World Wildlife Fund, Pembina Institute, Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace and others. If there is a bright side, it is that the government has also doubled the conservation targets suggested by the OPA, to a new total of 6,300 megawatts by 2025. The OPA, and hence the Conservation Bureau, has to define programs and actions which aim to reduce projected peak demand by 1,350MW by 2010, and by an additional 3,600 MW by 2025. These reductions are on top of the existing 1,350 MW target for 2007. Looks good on paper, and it adds up to a $6 billion commitment to conservation. However, if Ontario's NGOs and community groups are still required to fundraise and work on conservation on a project-by-project basis, then we are in deep trouble. I'm proposing a new approach: we need to cut our own deal for the voluntary sector, based in measurable reductions in personal electricity consumption. If a kilowatt (KW) of conservation is worth $1,000 (the Ministry of Energy's figures), then I believe every community group and membership-based organization in Ontario should be eligible to receive a bounty for the conservation commitments we are able to raise. One KW of base load power running for 24 hours and 30 days equals 720 KWh a month. So, if a group convinces ten of its members to each reduce their monthly demand by 72 KWh, then it has generated a conservation credit of $1,000. Shouldn't it be entitled to at least 50% of that amount? There are nuances abounding in the calculation of a fair price, including multiple messaging and the cost of incentive programs, but as with the Standard Offer Contract for renewable power, in the end I believe we will settle on a negotiated price, or bounty, for conservation. And then, every group out there from Reduce the Juice and Project Porchlight to the Guides, Scouts, and school groups will be able to raise funds through conservation. And when that happens, this conservation movement will take flight! In my next posting, I will introduce you to our newest campaign, which is how we can engage people in electricity conservation, and measure the results! Please post your comments! Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's Conservation Movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060614/0279cb26/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060614/0279cb26/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Tue Jun 20 15:10:11 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Tue Jun 20 15:10:52 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Support A Better Building Code Message-ID: <200606201909.k5KJ9JL8062116@smtp1.beanfield.net> Hi all: You may have seen an ad we co-sponsored in the Toronto Star and Globe and Mail today on the Ontario Building Code. If you wish to throw your support behind a strong Ontario Building Code that will implement EnerGuide 80 standards in new homes, please visit www.betterbuildingcode.com and send an e-mail to Minister Gerretsen. Chris Winter Conservation Council of Ontario weconserve.ca Ontario's Conservation Movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060620/7afd4f34/attachment.html From cco at web.ca Fri Jun 23 16:31:21 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Jun 23 16:32:13 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Announcing "Lighten Up, Ontario Message-ID: <200606232030.k5NKUO0r031323@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca (see the online version at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=23) Lighten Up, Ontario! Ready for our next campaign? We've been working for several months to design the second campaign under the We Conserve banner, and we think we've got a doozy! It should be lots of fun, but I need your support to help us secure a commitment from the Province for a conservation bounty! Read on. Welcome to the Lighten Up campaign - a province-wide pledge program in support of electricity conservation, featuring Colin Mochrie on our posters and pledge cards! Details on the campaign and how to get involved are at www.weconserve.ca/lightenup.html Design Features Using the "movement" model, these are some of the key features of the campaign: 1. a simple and common ask: "use less electricity". 2. support for other outreach and incentive programs: Lighten Up is complementary to and supports outreach programs, advisory services, and subsidy programs from other groups, local utilities and the Conservation Bureau 3. promotion of products and support services: the campaign takes advantage of the improved availability and quality of compact fluorescent lightbulbs, energy ratings on appliances, and EnerGuide for Houses audits. 4. movement-based marketing: the campaign is designed to be marketed through participating retailers, community groups, and membership-based organizations - a multi-pronged approach! 5. build a social movement: Lighten Up will build a database of individuals who are committed to conservation, and who are likely interested in other conservation solutions (such as organic food, natural gardening, and ethical investments). There's one other unique and exciting element to this campaign - it can be a fundraiser! We've asked the Province to assist in arranging for a conservation bounty on the KWh savings that participants in Lighten Up are able to achieve. If they agree, then every community group and every membership-based organization in Ontario can use the Lighten Up campaign to raise funds by signing up homes on the conservation pledge. Stay tuned and send in your letters and e-mails of support! Get Involved We are looking for. a) local groups that can cover a community or neighbourhood b) membership organizations that can promote the campaign to their membership c) retailers who can display the poster and booklets in support of the campaign SEND ME LETTERS! Finally, we are looking for statements of support for a conservation bounty. If your group or company can help promote the Lighten Up campaign, and/or if you believe that Ontario should offer a conservation bounty to groups that can secure KWh reductions, please send me an e-mail expressing at cco@web.ca or post a comment on the website http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=23 With thanks, Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's Conservation Movement -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060623/d514b34a/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060623/d514b34a/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Mon Jul 24 16:33:59 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Mon Jul 24 16:34:02 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Campaign Updates Message-ID: <200607242032.k6OKVu1x038952@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca A Couple of Campaign Updates! Doors Closed! As I'm sure you all know, the Conservation Council, with the support of numerous partners, launched the 2006 Doors Closed campaign on July 13th. Allegra prepared the following update which includes a call for volunteers and photos. Lighten Up, Ontario! Our second campaign, Lighten Up, will be launched in the week of August 7, but you may see the posters and pledge cards in Beer Stores by the August 5th long weekend. Lighten Up asks people to make a personal pledge to use less electricity this year. Similar to Doors Closed, the campaign links focuses on simple actions but also connects people to advisory services that will help them go deeper. For more details on the campaign, see http://www.weconserve.ca/lightenup.html and please send me an e-mail if you are interested in using the campaign to co-promote your programs! Hope you are all having a great summer, Chris Winter weconserve.ca Ontario's Conservation Movement _____ Exciting Doors Closed Update - July 25th, 2006 Allegra Newman, campaign coordinator www.weconserve.ca/doorsclosed/ * Doors Closed Media Highlights The Doors Closed Ontario media launch on July 13th was a great success. Executive Director Chris Winter was heard and seen on Ontario Today, Global News, CTV News and articles about the campaign appeared in the Toronto Star, Toronto Sun and the London Free Press. For media highlights visit http://weconserve.ca/doorsclosed/?page_id=30b * Doors Closed Ontario gains speed Doors Closed Ontario is gaining momentum as the municipalities of Guelph and Oakville sign up to distribute poster throughout their regions. Volunteers have responded to the media blitz and are signing up to be Doors Closed Ambassadors in their communities. But many more volunteers are needed especially in the Ottawa and Kingston areas. Please promote Doors Closed in your region and have volunteers contact Allegra at research@greenontario.org or 416-533-1635 x 2 * Doors Closed Toronto Blitz winding down Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who have helped spread the world in Toronto over the last few weeks. We are delighted with the response from the media and the public and especially from the retailers. If you are interested in tackling another neighbourhood or have friends that want to get involved we still have posters and would be delighted to send them to you. Please contact Allegra at research@greenontario.org or 41-533-1635 x 2 For those who have completed their tracking sheets we have some fabulous prizes to be won (see Prizes below). So send in your sheets as soon as you can. * PRIZES! To thank all our wonderful volunteers we have three exciting prize packages that include: A membership to Autoshare Subscriptions to E-The Environmental Magazine Compact fluorescent light bulbs And many more fun and exciting e-gifts. Make sure to email/mail/fax your tracking sheet to Allegra at the Conservation Council of Ontario by August 11, 2006 to enter to win! Wanted Photos of stores and restaurants across the province displaying Doors Closed signs Send to research@greenontario.org We will be displaying photos of stores across the province displaying their Doors Closed signs proudly. Is their a conservation minded store in your neighbourhood that you would like to promote? For more information on how to get involved visit www.weconserve.ca/doorsclosed or contact Allegra Newman at the Conservation Council of Ontario at research@greenontario.org and 416-533-1635 x 2 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060724/f7b3a841/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060724/f7b3a841/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Fri Aug 4 12:13:18 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Aug 4 12:12:09 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Lighten Up Ontario! -- now live Message-ID: Lighten Up is now live! www.lightenupontario.ca Lighten Up is now live online, and in Beer Stores across Ontario. And that's just the start. My goal is to sign up 1% of Ontario homes on the pledge by year's end - 40,000. That's a tall order for one organization, but I believe it is possible for a conservation movement. And after all, this is what we are trying to do: build a stronger conservation movement in Ontario. Can you help? 1. Make your personal pledge today. - individuals Let's seed the site with several hundred pledges right from the start. Go to www.lightenupontario.ca and make your pledge. After you have done so, you will be taken to your own personal pledge page, where you can update your consumption data and actions over time, and set new priorities for yourself. 2. Spread the word ("tell two friends") - individuals and groups Help sign up others. Later today I will be circulating an open letter to all Ontarians. Please forward it to your friends and colleagues, or you can send your own message. Be sure to let them know you have already made your pledge. If you have a group membership, you can either send the open letter or a brief request for your members to make a pledge. This is especially valid for the non-environmental groups who are able to reach a broader audience. We all use electricity, and we can all conserve. The Federation of Cottagers' Associations (FOCA) and the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) are two groups that have made an early commitment to promote the campaign to their members! Use the logo at the bottom of this page as a signature line for your e-mails, or as a link on your website. You can also use the photo at the top of this e-mail, which is available on the artwork page on the website http://www.lightenupontario.ca/artwork.asp. 3. Adopt the campaign - groups, retailers, municipalities etc. Lighten Up is designed as an initial and long-term commitment to conservation. As such, it supports and can be integrated with any other conservation program, including those of the Conservation Bureau, distribution companies, municipalities, and provincial and local groups. We want you to adopt and adapt the campaign to help promote your services, programs, and products. Here are some suggestions: Local distribution: The 11x17 poster can adapted to include a logo and message from a distribution partner. If you can get your local stores, library, etc. to display the poster and pledge cards, we will send you a personalized series of posters. (If you wish, you can also add a sticker to each of the pledge cards.) Integration: Use Lighten Up as a way to co-promote your own programs or services. For example Project Porchlight will be connecting Lighten Up with their distribution of CFL bulbs in Ottawa, EcoSuperior will promote their conservation services (including the Energuide for Houses audit) in Thunder Bay, as will the Rideau Environmental Action League in Smith Falls. We are also encouraging retailers, municipalities and LDCs to adopt and integrate the campaign with their own programs. Tracking Let me know if your group, business, or municipality can help. We will include you in the list of campaign partners. http://www.lightenupontario.ca/our-partners.asp When people make their pledge, we ask them where they heard about the campaign. This way we can track how effective the various avenues are for signing up pledges. And, down the line, if we can convince the Province to pay a bounty for the conservation pledges and results you all achieve, we'd like to make sure your group is included! Thanks Thanks to all of you for your support and help! And a special thank-you to The Beer Store and Colin Mochrie for making this campaign happen! All the best, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario www.weconserve.ca www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060804/3d027737/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 5075 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060804/3d027737/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 27876 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060804/3d027737/attachment-0001.gif From cco at web.ca Tue Aug 8 10:24:18 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Tue Aug 8 10:23:55 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Pledge to conserve - an open letter to Ontarians Message-ID: <200608081423.k78EMpJK067119@smtp1.beanfield.net> An open letter - Please forward to friends and colleagues. Lighten Up, Ontario! Let's Generate a Long-Term Commitment to Conservation. www.lightenupontario.ca August 3, 2006 Dear friends, On August 1st, Ontario set a new record for power consumption. The new level of 27,005 megawatts smashed last years record by almost 1,000 megawatts, even with the calls for emergency conservation measures. We can't all perform conservation miracles overnight, or only when the thermometer soars. Conservation needs to be an ongoing commitment. On behalf of the Conservation Council of Ontario (a 55 year-old provincial association of conservation groups and a registered charity), I'm asking for your help. Please show your support for conservation as a top priority for meeting Ontario's electricity demand by making a personal pledge to use less electricity in your home. Visit www.lightenupontario.ca to make your pledge. You can also pick up a pledge booklet at your local Beer Store, or from other participating local retailers and community groups. Look for the distinctive posters featuring that Canadian icon of improve comedy, Colin Mochrie. This is not a quick-click campaign, but rather the first step in a multi-year commitment to improve your habits and to make appropriate investments in conservation products. In return, our commitment to you is to help you along the way with advice, with links to our local partners and with information about products, services and incentives that will make it easier for you to improve. Our goal is to help make conservation easier. Individually, we can shave a few dollars of our monthly electricity bills. Together, we can reduce the need for fossil or nuclear power, to spend over $40 billion on new plants and transmission lines, or to import expensive power from smoggy U.S. coal-fired plants. We might even turn down the global thermostat a notch. Please help us make Ontario a conserver society. If you give us your commitment to conserve, we will be able to back you up with a stronger conservation movement. With thanks, Chris Winter Executive Director The Conservation Council of Ontario www.weconserve.ca www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060808/e06c57eb/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 5075 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060808/e06c57eb/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Fri Aug 11 16:57:31 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Aug 11 16:57:27 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Remembering the blackout Message-ID: <200608112055.k7BKsrXt028518@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca Monday, August 14, is the third anniversary of the big blackout that rekindled Ontario's commitment to conservation. In celebration of the event, here's three simple ways that people can renew their support for conservation. 1. Lighten Your Load - buy at least two compact fluorescent lightbulbs this weekend, and be sure to ask the retailer for the $5 rebate coupons from the Conservation Bureau's Every Kilowatt Counts campaign. See http://everykilowattcounts.com for details. 2. Light a Candle - participate in the Voluntary Blackout Day, a community challenge initiated by the City of Woodstock. On Sunday, August 13, cut back your air conditioning, black out your house in the evening and light a candle on the front step or window. 3. Lighten Up - pledge to use less electricity at www.lightenupontario.ca . Lighten Up is a new campaign launched by the Conservation Council of Ontario with the support of The Beer Store and local partners across Ontario to promote a long-term commitment to conservation. I'm really impressed with the way the Voluntary Blackout has taken hold. I spoke with Woodstock's Mayor, Michael Harding, yesterday. "Last year," he said, "Woodstock achieved a four per cent reduction from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with the Voluntary Blackout Day. This year, we have expanded the challenge to involve 28 towns, counties and townships." A list of participating communities can be found at http://www.woodstockhydro.com/index.php?menu_id=3936. An annual rememberance day for conservation. I like it. Have a great weekend everyone, Chris www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060811/a96f7385/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060811/a96f7385/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 5075 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060811/a96f7385/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Thu Sep 14 01:35:34 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Sep 14 01:37:19 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] A Unique Funding Opportunity! Message-ID: Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca ACT NOW - A Unique Community Funding Opportunity September 13, 2006 The Ministry of Energy has announced a $750,000 Community Conservation Initiatives fund for community outreach activities to be carried out in this fiscal year (ending March 31st 2007). The program is designed to enhance existing activities or support quick start projects. Here are the files you need to apply: guide , application , and budget . The deadline is October 13 for applications. Here's what I propose we all do: Take the Lighten Up campaign and spread it door-to-door, in schools, and through groups that can reach special audiences. If you are interested, and can reach a particular community or audience with a small project grant of between $15,000 and $30,000, please send me an initial expression of interest. I will discuss with Ministry staff whether they would prefer to see individual applications or a single application where the Conservation Council would subcontract with each of you individually. Through Lighten Up, and with funding support from The Beer Store, we will provide campaign posters with your logo included, pledge booklets, a mini questionnaire or audit for homes and apartments and promotional material. We will also provide media support, incuding PSAs and media releases around Christmas and New Years. And we will work with municipal partners (such as the Town of Oakville) and retail partners (TBA) to develop additional avenues for promoting the campaign.. Your task is to contact people directly, help them with the easy steps, and encourage them to make a commitment to work on reducing their electrical consumption over the next year. This can be done through door-to-door contact, working with local schools, membership challenges, and/or community events, or whatever neat ideas you can come up with. And if you are a province-wide organization with a specific program, how can you integrate and support the Lighten Up message? Remember the Survey Monkey poll we did back in April? Well it turns out that the 143 groups (big and small) that filled in the survey can reach over 800,000 people through their membership, over 200,000 via door-to-door contact, and over 50 million through media campaigns. Each has a particular audience and skill, but taken together we have a pretty strong outreach potential. (You can view the results at http://www.surveymonkey.com/Report.asp?U=193984390162, or fill in the survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=841761939843 So what do you think? If we work together, we can use a good portion of the ministry's community fund to demonstrate the potential of a united community-based outreach campaign. Post your thoughts and send me e-mails with your ideas www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060914/653fe17e/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060914/653fe17e/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 5075 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20060914/653fe17e/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Thu Oct 26 16:09:30 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Oct 26 16:13:53 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Annual Meeting and Membership Drive Message-ID: <200610262004.k9QK4Jlf038858@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca GET INVOLVED Like you're not already! 1. New Directions for the Conservation Council of Ontario 2. Membership Drive (or the "Doors Open" campaign) 3. Annual Meeting, November 28th Our New Directions The last couple of years have seen some great activities and results for the Conservation Council. We've been experimenting with new approaches to promoting conservation, with tremendous results. In particular, the response to our campaigns and co-marketing initiatives from NGOs, community groups, municipalities, and businesses has been most encouraging. It seems we all realize the immediate need for conservation, and the value in working together as part of a common, broad-based alliance. At our upcoming annual meeting in November, we will enact some changes to our by-laws that will officially mark the CCO's transition from a policy forum to a coordinating body for implementing conservation. These changes reflect the dramatic changes in Ontario's conservation movement over the past decade and the widespread public desire to become better conservers. In particular, our new directions include: 1. opening our membership to include all organizations and individuals that are actively promoting conservation 2. introducing new membership categories for companies and municipalities that are committed to integrating conservation into their activities, policies, programs, services and products. 3. making the We Conserve wordmark widely available to promote conservation programs, services and products by groups, businesses and municipalities. 4. developing new collaborative social marketing campaigns and projects to promote various aspects of conservation. We have road-tested the new model over the past two years. Now is the time grow the model! Together, we have the opportunity to facilitate the transition to a conserver economy and society in Ontario. Membership Drive Currently, the Conservation Council has two membership categories: Individual Members and Member Organizations. In the past, with our emphasis on developing and voting on policy, the Council attempted to maintain a balance of Member Organization delegates and Individual Members. Under our new model, the key role of members is to promote conservation in their activities and to provide expertise and resources for the Council and its projects. Basically, if you are promoting conservation, or a particular aspect of conservation, we want you to become a member. There is no fee for membership, but we do expect members to help each other out and to contribute to the common campaigns and the overall vision of a conserver society in Ontario. In general, the CCO does not develop formal policy statements and Members are not bound to any policy position of the Council. We do, however, promote conservation. CCO Board and staff will work to promote conservation in the name of the organization, working within the core definitions and principles of conservation. We believe that conservation should be the first and foremost approach to dealing with Ontario's resource and environmental issues. A list of our current membership can be found at http://greenontario.org/cco/members2.html If you are interested in becoming a member, please send me an e-mail with a one paragraph bio /organization description. Annual Meeting -- First Notice The Conservation Council of Ontario will be holding its annual general meeting on DATE: November 28, 2006, TIME: 9:00 am to noon at LOCATION The Centre for Social Innovation, Suite 120, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto Please RSVP to cco@web.ca if you plan to attend. With thanks to all for your support! Chris Winter Executive Director www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061026/bc2eaf76/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 6982 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061026/bc2eaf76/attachment-0001.gif From cco at web.ca Fri Nov 10 12:58:13 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Nov 10 13:02:29 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Connecting the Dots on Conservation and Climate Change Message-ID: <200611101753.kAAHqlaq015895@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca Connecting the Dots on Conservation and Climate Change http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=27 Chris Winter Executive Director, The Conservation Council of Ontario Here's a couple of interesting developments -- signs that we are making some headway. First, a CBC national poll shows that the environment is the number two issue, behind health care. The environment was the top issue for 13 per cent of the people polled, up from 4 per cent last January. Second, the same poll shows that 71 per cent feel that the federal government's approach on the environment is not tough enough. Only 3 per cent felt it was too tough. Third, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer released his annual report yesterday. Ontarians used 2.5 per cent less electricity per capita last year (seasonally adjusted figures). It's baby steps for conservation, but it's movement in the right direction. Now connect the dots. We're concerned about climate change, we don't think the government is doing enough, and we are investing our own time and money in conservation. We're scared about the future and we are taking action. We want our governments to help us. The governments that adopt a "conservation first and foremost" approach in a climate change strategy will be the one to gain widespread public support. Yes, we need to set limits on the major emitters, but what most people are looking for is help to become better conservers in their own lives. It's a climate change strategy for the people. To all my friends and colleagues in the conservation movement, keep it up. The public demand for our products and services is on the rise, and the powers that be are beginning to see the light. CBC Poll: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/public-opinion/ Conservation Bureau Report: http://conservationbureau.on.ca/Page.asp?PageID=924 &ContentID=1680 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061110/406a02d2/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 4635 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061110/406a02d2/attachment.jpe From cco at web.ca Fri Nov 17 15:29:02 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Nov 17 15:32:57 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] GET YOUR SLEDs RUNNING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Message-ID: <200611172023.kAHKN7cj046947@smtp0.beanfield.net> To the Green-On listserve (and with apologies to those outside Toronto) I want to forward you this e-mail from Brian Owen at the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas about the seasonal LED light exchange they are running in partnership with Toronto Hydro. TABIA has been one of our best supporters on We Conserve and the Doors Closed campaign, and it's worth noting how business groups are taking the lead in promoting conservation! Well done! Chris _____ Hello Everyone and Happy Holidays in Advance! It is the season again, both the holiday season and the conservation season for SLEDs, not the ones sliding down the snowy hills, but the Seasonal Light Emitting Diode (SLED) Holiday Lights and the many exchanges for Toronto residents to bring in their old incandescent electricity 'guzzlers' for new and free LED Holiday Lights. This year, the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) in partnership with Toronto Hydro will host 16 events at venues throughout the City during the Neighbourhood Cavalcade of lights Illuminations at the selected venues within the 16 BIAs. AT OUR EVENTS, EACH TORONTO RESIDENT WILL RECEIVE ONE ABSOLUTELY 'FREE' SET WHEN THEY BRING IN TWO INCANDESCENT SETS. THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE $48.00 IN EVERY KILOWATT COUNTS COUPONS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRODUCTS, INCLUDING A $5.00 COUPON FOR ANOTHER SETS OF LED HOLIDAY LIGHTS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT www.torontohydro/sled -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 110685 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061117/85c86d6b/attachment-0001.jpe From cco at web.ca Tue Nov 21 15:14:00 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Tue Nov 21 15:17:54 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] Nov 28: Looking Ahead -- We Conserve in 2007 Message-ID: <200611212009.kALK9K9a002226@smtp1.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca TO: Members and friends of the Conservation Council FROM: Chris Winter, Executive Director RE: Our AGM and Thinking Ahead + last call for new members WHEN: 9:00 to Noon, Tuesday November 28, 2006 WHERE: Suite 120, 215 Spadina Avenue, Toronto, M6R 2C8 Please help us plan for the next phase in building We Conserve! RSVP requested to cco@web.ca If you can't make it, you can send me a brief comment and/or suggestion and I will copy it for everyone to read. Hi everyone. To say it's been a great year is a bit of an understatement: 1. weconserve is gaining momentum, both as a formal initiative and as an expression of the overwhelming public support for conservation 2. The Doors Closed campaign was tremendously successful, with over 90% of stores following along and with terrific partnerships for follow energy audits and support services from Cool Shops, GreenTBiz and the Better Building Partnership. "Doors Closed" is now the dominant social value, with a few notable exceptions to follow through on. Congratulations to everyone who helped market the message! 3. The Lighten Up campaign, featuring Colin Mochrie, is poised to break new ground in "movement-based social marketing", the collaborative approach to engaging Ontarians in conservation. Next year, we expect to have communities across Ontario running door-to-door canvasses for a common pledge. The campaign is flexible, and can be adapted to any existing outreach program, advisory service, or incentive program. 4. We have other campaigns in the works, branching into other conservation issues like a cycling and "At Home with Nature". The design workshop for At Home with Nature brought over a dozen key organizations together to share ideas on how to market natural yards, provide homeowners with advisory services, and make it easy to plant native species and create habitat. The campaign will complement and support work at a provincial level to protect and enhance Ontario's biodiversity. 5. The model for organizing a conservation movement via networks (see the discussion paper on the website) is taking root. We continue to host the Ontario Smart Growth Network, which is seeking to capitalize on an unparalleled window of opportunity to re-shape urban design in Ontario. We expect that the new Provincial legislation, combined with strong voter support for green candidates in the municipal elections will translate into a tremendous demand for community participation in rethinking municipal development. This is our chance to turn urban sprawl into urban villages! 6. We've had great support from our main sponsors: The Beer Store, the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Conservation Bureau, who have each shared our vision of a strong Council supporting an even stronger network of conservation leaders. We'll be looking to expand on this list of premium sponsors in 2007. 7. I've been blessed with an exceptional and talented Board of Directors who have nurtured the Council into a mission-based, project-driven organization. I want to give a special mention to our President, Jeb Brugmann, for his leadership and advice at every step along the way. 8. Lastly, our list of friends and allies is longer than my arm (in small print). You all share the vision of a conserver society and economy. More importantly, you each are contributing a piece of the solution. Thanks everyone! Enough praise. More challenges. For all the success we've had thus far, it's still only the beginning. Please join us as we look ahead to the opportunities for 2007. You can come for the full meeting, or drop in for the Round Table discussion at 10:30. Just RSVP, so I can get a sense of the numbers. Interested in becoming a member? -- If you've read this far, and been saying to yourself, "what a cool outfit!", then here's your last chance to apply for membership before the annual meeting. Membership is open to not-for-profit organizations that share our vision of a conserver society, and to individuals who are taking a lead role in promoting conservation. There is no membership fee, just a commitment to work with others and support each other in our areas of expertise. (NOTE: Corporate and municipal membership categories are being proposed at the annual meeting). To apply, please send me an e-mail with a brief bio or description of the organization's mandate and activities. I will forward all applications to our Board for review and to recommend a slate of new members at the Annual Meeting. Thanks, Chris The Conservation Council of Ontario Annual General Meeting and Strategic Planning Agenda 8:30 Reception 9:00 Welcome 9:15 CCO ANNUAL MEETING We are proposing important changes to our by-laws, including new membership categories for Municipalities and Corporations. Approval of Minutes President's Report Executive Director's Report Auditors Report and approval of audited financial statement 2006 / 2007 initial operating budget Nominations Report Amendments to By-Laws Discussion of Future Directions Adjournment 10:15 Break 10:30 ROUND TABLE Next Steps for We Conserve. A Round Table discussion with friends and featured guests, including Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer Suzanne Austin, Town of Oakville CAO/Town Manager's Office Sara Taylor, Manager of Communications, The Beer Store Brian Owen, GreenTBiz . and all our friends and allies! This has been a tremendous year for building networks and campaigns related to We Conserve, but it is only the beginning. Where we go next depends on where YOU want to go o Connecting Issues - what does local organic food have to do with saving energy? o Marketing opportunities for "We Conserve" - linking social and economic marketing o Opportunities for municipal leadership - Oakville Conserves, Markham Conserves, Toronto Conserves, etc. o New Campaigns for nature and cycling (other issues) o Other Great Ideas 12:00 Lunch and Networking! www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 6982 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061121/483e0816/attachment-0001.gif From cco at web.ca Fri Dec 8 16:15:20 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Fri Dec 8 16:18:42 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] An END to waste for Christmas Message-ID: <200612082108.kB8L8f0A024388@smtp0.beanfield.net> To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca An E.N.D. to Waste This Christmas http://www.weconserve.ca/articles/ Ever had that feeling when shopping for Christmas gifts, that the whole store is just a garbage dump in the making? Or that it will take a whole new power plant to keep all the electronics running? Christmas shopping can be depressing enough, especially as you get down to the wire, so my suggestion is that you start with a values check, and then shop proactively. Our recommendation this year is that we all put an E.N.D to waste, by shopping for gifts that are ENERGY EFFICIENT, NATURAL, and DURABLE. Before you hit the stores, here's three key questions to ask yourself: 1. Are there gifts that reflect conservation values? 2. Are there options that better reflect conservation values? 3. Can I offset the environmental impact of a gift? We've set up a special page on our website as a guide to conservation gifts. Take a peek at www.weconserve.ca/lightenup/gizmos.html. You can check out the radio ad with Colin Mochrie as well. Ideally, we are all shopping locally, buying locally-made or fair-trade products, and focussing on quality, long-lasting gifts that will have special meaning. The reality is, we all have wish lists to fill. My son wants LEGO, my daughter wants a sled. Not much choice in the LEGO, but with the sled we are shopping around for an alternative to the cheap plastic toboggans that wear out in a couple of months and wind up in the garbage. You have to admit, Christmas is the toughest time of year to be a conserver. All those tensions between consumerism and conservation come in to play in the worst way. Do your best, relax, and if you still feel guilty remember that we do accept donations. and we will give you a whole year of great conservation campaigns. Seasons best to everyone, Chris Winter www.lightenupontario.ca -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061208/d45a4373/attachment-0001.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 7114 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061208/d45a4373/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 6982 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061208/d45a4373/attachment-0001.gif From cco at web.ca Thu Dec 14 12:15:21 2006 From: cco at web.ca (Conservation Council of Ontario) Date: Thu Dec 14 12:18:39 2006 Subject: [greenon-l] FW: Of Bikes and Cars in the Eyes of the Law Message-ID: <200612141708.kBEH8ViW057346@smtp0.beanfield.net> Ontario's Conservation Movement To subscribe or unsubscribe to this listserve, go to www.weconserve.ca The following article can be found on our website at http://weconserve.ca/articles/?p=29 Of Bikes and Cars in the Eyes of the Law December 13, 2006 I went to court today. Last January, I'd received a ticket for going through a red light on my bicycle. It was at a pedestrian crossing, not an intersection, but a violation nonetheless and I was indeed guilty of the infraction. The fine was $150 and three demerit points. I consider myself to be a safe and alert rider, but like the vast majority of cyclists I will occasionally take liberties. We cyclists consider ourselves more like people with wheels than cars without engines. Probably only Jack Layton and Olivia Chow can claim to have never rolled through a light, and maybe even then... I went to court not to fight the ticket, or even plead for a reduced sentence, but to witness how bikes and cyclists are treated in comparison with cars and drivers. It started with a pre-trial consultation with the prosecutor and the arresting officer. The officer said that I had "blown though the red light" and the prosecutor frowned. Only then did he tell her that I had been on a bike. "A bike?", she exclaimed, and her demeanor changed. Then she was told it was a pedestrian light and not a traffic intersection and that no one had been endangered. The prosecutor recommended a $50 fine and we all agreed. Then came the trial. The prosecutor made her recommendation to the judge, who cut her short saying "Absolutely and categorically not". Bicycles, he said, were vehicles and the law applied equally to cyclists as it did to drivers. The judge could have been lenient, but in a way I am thankful to him for staying to the letter of the law. He could not have made the point any clearer: in Ontario, a planet-saving 20 lb. bicycle is subject to the same laws and penalties as a gas-guzzling 4,000 lb. car. Is a bike as dangerous as a car? Look at the Ministry of Transportation stats for 2003 (from the Ontario Road Safety Annual Report 2003). The primary measure of road safety used by the Ministry is the number of fatalities per 10,000 drivers. In 2003, this number was 0.97, the lowest rate since records started being kept in 1990. In 2004, there were 6 million registered passenger cars in Ontario (one for every two people). There was a total of 246,463 collisions resulting in 77,879 injuries (including 4,798 pedestrians) and 831 fatalities (including 120 pedestrians). 3,654 people were admitted to hospital, requiring 44,096 days of hospital care.In 2003, thirteen cyclists were killed in collisions with motor vehicles and another 2,398 injured. It goes without saying that in 2003 there were no deaths caused by a cyclist or any record of anyone in a car being injured by a cyclist, and the Ministry does not keep statistics on cyclist-pedestrian injuries. Statistically speaking, a bicycle is nowhere near as dangerous as a car. On the contrary, cyclists themselves are the ones at risk. Safe cycling habits are important, but the solution does not lie in equating a bike with a car and a cyclist with a driver. Safe cycling should be supported as a transportation, health, and environmental priority for Ontario. Bikes reduce traffic congestion and they produce no emissions. Cycling is good exercise and helps reduce the health care costs associated with obesity. We need more 20 lb. vehicles on our roads. Ontario's towns and cities are already well populated with cyclists, and many more people would join them if the streets were safer for cycling. In a poll conducted for the Conservation Council last May, 47% of the respondents in the GTA said they would ride a bike more often if their were safe routes. Ontario needs a safe cycling strategy that recognize bicycles as a distinct and preferred method of transportation in law, policies, and programs.In particular, the Ministry of Transportation needs to set out a standard policy on cycling infrastructure (uninterrupted shared or dedicated bike lanes on all major streets that give priority and safe passage to cyclists). It needs to assist Ontario municipalities in implementing a province-wide cycling infrastructure program. It needs to define offences and set fines that both address safe cycling and protect cyclists from dangerous drivers. With these steps in place, organizations like the Conservation Council and bicycling groups across the Province can then promote cycling as a preferred form of transportation with the knowledge that the provincial and municipal governments have taken all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of the cyclist. Until then, keep your head up, cycle safely, and take your lane when you need to. You are, after all, just another vehicle on the road. Chris Winter -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.web.net/archives/greenon-l/attachments/20061214/d4da6678/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... 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