A Message on Nuclear Energy from Frank De Jong

A momentous but little known event, arguably more important then the federal election, is now underway in Ontario. The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) hearings on electricity demand/supply will impact the economic, ecological and technological life of the province for decades. Background: The provincial government's renewable energy standard offer program has been "too" successful. The flood of offers to develop green energy threatens the need for nuclear power. The Liberals are now desperate to subvert, sideline and bury the emerging consensus that the nuclear emperor stands naked.

Shining the light on the OPA perversion of sound planning is the Green Energy Coalition, comprising Greenpeace, WWF, Sierra Club, David Suzuki Foundation, Pembina Institute and the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association. The Coalition has filed 900 pages of expert evidence challenging the OPA's $26 billion plan to build, rebuild or replace nukes.

The submitted evidence shows that efficiency can be doubled, turning load growth negative. Wind power and co-generation can provide the power demand, allowing the phase-out of existing reactors. The province and the OPA all but ignore co-gen.

The Energy Board mandate is to recommend the most cost effective option. Will the McGuinty government wait for and heed the advice from the hearings or will they barge ahead with more nukes? The hearings last till November. Stay tuned.

Elizabeth May's Whistle Stop In Toronto

We expected her at 8 pm but her train was delayed until 9:45.

So Linda and I went for dinner. It's not often we get to go for dinner in a downtown restaurant, but we found a nice restaurant next to the Hockey Hall of Fame, where Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada was to speak as part of her Whistle Stop train ride across the country. We relaxed over a bottle of wine and some delicious pasta.

Neither of us could finish our meal and wondered why restaurants insist on serving such unhealthy sizes. Of course all the delicious bread we ate before the meal came, may have contributed to our lack of appetite.

We followed a torcherous poorly marked route down to the Hockey Hall of Fame which was open for the Green function and delighted in the displays ("Wow King Clancy's sweater!!) and in meeting old friends like Becky Smit, Alonzo Bartley and Frank de Jong, and enjoyed the entertainment.

When it was announced that May's train was further delayed until 11 pm, we went out to the fast food area for a coffee and a seat.

As bewildered Greens descended the escalator, we began directing them to the Hall of Fame.

"Are you looking for the Green Party party? Its around the corner and down that way! Washrooms, they're just over there. Cash Machine, it's hidden behind that tree!"

And generally made ourselves useful.

Elizabeth finally showed up with fifty supporters all carrying signs. A great cheer went up from the hundreds who had stayed patiently through the long evening.

Elizabeth looked refreshed and energized and made a rousing speech. We cheered, we clapped we pumped our signs while the media crowded in around her and lights flashed.

In the end we had to scramble for the last GO train out of Union station.

Very happy to have been a part of the event.

Parliamentary Choo Choo

Celebrating Elizabeth May's Historic Cross Country Train Ride--

Pardon me Greens, is this the parliamentary choo-choo?

On track, looking fine

Ms. May speaks devine!

Can't wait to board the green parliamentary choo-choo

I'll vote for you and my husband will too.

We'll leave the station in Vancouver with some stops in BC

Heading for the prairies, we've got voters to see

Keep the Arctic frozen, that's what we're proposin'

Look out Harper for the Green Party.

There’s gonna be all our supporters at the station
With air that is clean, keeping Canada Green
They will be swayed when they hear us on the televised debates
Parliamentary choo-choo, the House of Commons awaits!
Parliamentary, ooh parliamentary……….

Lyrics by Linda Fraser © 2008