For sustainable

MILTONGREEN NEWS
solutions to
preserve the September 22, 2011
environment of 1. Miltongreen Event Series 2. Miltongreen Updates –
Milton. News 3. Volunteering 4. Announcements 5. Resources

1. MILTONGREEN 2011 EVENT SERIES:

A. MARK-YOUR-CALENDARS

i. Greening Your Celebrations – mid-October

Guest speaker Rod Muir's extraordinary presentation
delivers urgently important information about genuine sustainability with a skill for
communication, humour, and personal connection with the audience. He can inform
and inspire a crowd. Rex Weyler, Co-Founder Greenpeace International.

ii. November Movie screening – The Lamp Details soon at www.miltongreen.info

2. MILTONGREEN EVENTS NEWS: All Candidates Meeting Sept. 14, 2011

This is a general summary (not all inclusive) of priorities and responses of the MPP
electoral candidates for the Halton Riding (listed alphabetically). More can be found on their
individual websites. Family Coalition (FCP) Tony Rodrigues’s priority is to re-establish the
importance of the family unit. Green Party (GP) Karen Fraser’s priority is for change in
politics, with informed and active people making leaders accountable. Liberal (LP) Indira
Naidoo-Harris’ priorities are balance in growth, economy and environment, and for Milton to
be a good place for families (including hers) to live. New Democrat (NDP) Nik Spohr’s
priority is to overcome insecurity in the populous and empower people to make ends meet
because when life is unaffordable it is really hard to be ‗green‘. Progressive Conservative
(PC) Ted Chudleigh‘s priority is to increase jobs by growth in private business because only
a strong economy can allow a focus on environmental issues.

Ted (PC) said green energy has a place but

it is not economical yet (i.e., infrastructure
costs). Nik (NDP) said he wants to see
‗tweaking‘ of the Green Energy Act so that
communities can own ―green energy‖. Indira
(LP) said, it can add diversity to the
economy while Karen (GP) spoke of solar
energy options. Tony (FCP) said we need
new coal technologies, criticizing the solar
energy industry.

See Miltongreen Update 3 A); 3 C) page 2 for Mid-Peninsula Hwy and waste questions.
See energy rates, aggregate industry and senior’s needs questions on page 4.

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3. MILTONGREEN UPDATE

A) Transportation News: All Candidates Meeting -

Candidates agreed in principle that the Midway-Peninsula Hwy through Burlington‘s

greenspace is not an option. Ted (PC) suggests a route from the Hamilton Airport to
Hwy 401, while Indira (LP) proposes a Hwy 403 to North Burlington solution. Tony
(FCP) noted that the relatively new Hwy 407 is underutilized. Nik (NDP) stated that
more roads just increase use of the combustible engine, he thinks transit is the key to
‗grid lock‘. Karen (GP) wants alternatives explored.

Transit is controversial because of U.S. ownership of our rail-lines (Ted-PC) and our
non user-friendly funding model (Nik-NDP). Indira (LP) said the government invested in
infrastructure and mass transit since 2004, targeting all corridors to remove millions of
cars from roads. Tony (FCP), a first generation immigrant, pointed out that the car
represents ‗freedom‘ and that rail across such a large country, is not practical.

B) Water News: Halton Region reviewing Fluoride in drinking water

 Halton ‗green‘ groups act as delegates to the Region to raise issues and
challenge the role of fluoride in municipal drinking water.
 Applied topically at the dentist it is useful to protect teeth but drinking fluoride has
no conclusive health benefits and may be harmful.

C) Waste News: All Candidates Meeting - When the MPP Electoral Candidates were
asked what they will do to improve the Waste Diversion Act – Indira (LP) argued that
the benefits are not understood, more than 3 tonnes of waste were diverted from the
landfill. Nik (NDP) wants ―cradle-to-grave‖ waste management and both Federal and
Provincial legislation. Ted (PC) will create a new program for Ontarians. Karen (GP)
thinks education and follow through is needed. Tony (FCP) doesn‘t think families should
get charged for waste disposal.

Local waste diversion -

Miltongreen members
physically supported
Ribfest 2011Event
organizers in their efforts
to divert waste from
landfill to recycling and
composting through
optimized bin usage. Milton Ribfest diverted materials
(recycling, organics) at a total weight of 4 metric
tonnes. The percentage of diversion is not known at this time.

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4. VOLUNTEERING

MILTONGREEN EVENT COMMITTEE seeking VOLUNTEERS –

Contact: tundeotto@hotmail.com

MILTONGREEN EVENTS SERIES planning miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com

5. ANNOUNCEMENTS

MILTONGREEN MONTHLY A meet-and-greet to discuss Events & Projects – October

3rd, 6:30 – 8:00 pm. Email Milton.green@gmail.com or call 905-878-0995 for directions.

THE RARE BOBALINK BIRD SPOTTED IN SOUTH HALTON

Many of us haven't even heard of the

Endangered Ontario Bobolink Birds but they
have been sighted along a stretch of Britannia
Rd from Regional Road 25 to Fourth Line, and
4th Line to the end of Lower Baseline and back
up 5h Line. They require tall grasses which are
found in the large farmlands in the area. Their
habitat is threatened by road and urban
expansion (o/a development). See this link for
more: http://www.insidehalton.com/community/environment/article/1051344--couple-on-
quest-to-protect-bobolink

HALTON REGION ART CONTEST for the Cover of the 2012 Waste Management
Guide and Collection Calendar. Halton students Gr. K-8 submit at www.halton.ca/waste.
Deadline Oct. 14, 2011.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR YOUTH Submit Events and News items to

the Miltongreen Newsletter to:
to pursue Post Secondary studies in fields related to
the environment. $1,000; www.halton.ca to apply. miltongreen.ontario@gmail.com

We will circulate as appropriate.

MILTONGREEN YAHOO GROUP launched - join us!
.
6. RESOURCES
Check our weblog: www. miltongreen.info
for links to groups and helpful green organizations &
companies.

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EXPANDED NEWS AND INFORMATION

2. MILTONGREEN EVENT NEWS: All Candidates Meeting Sept. 14, 2011

Nik (NDP) wants all levels of government to improve the aggregate industry’s approach to
environmental concerns. Ted (LP) noted we each use 7 tonnes per year of gravel
equivalent, expansion approvals are exhaustive and working. Karen (GP) encourages us to
know the extent of the problem. Indira (LP) wants citizens to raise issues, she knows the
process is challenging. Tony (FCP) wants policies to reduce demand for the construction
industry‘s gold (i.e., limestone).

Both NDP and PC agreed that eco-fees are not improving the environment. Nik will work to
improve the ―mismanaged incentive program‖ to help people live ‗greener‘, while Ted will
cancel it. Indira spoke of a legacy for her children, and Liberals are actively protecting the
environment (e.g. 5 coal plants close by 2040). Karen (GP) said need more awareness,
while Tony (FCP) said families shouldn‘t have to pay.

Liberal, Indira noted that energy rates are reducing usage and helping conscientious
Ontarians pay less. PC, Ted noted that high daytime rates hurt business, he‘ll give options.
While NDP, Nik noted that all sectors of society share the burden of a shift to a ‗green
economy‘, he‘ll work to make it easier to be ‗green‘.

3. MILTONGREEN UPDATE

C) Waste News: Joint Regional/Municipal Waste Management Advisory Committee—Sept.

07, 2011 Miltongreen‘s Eleanor Hayward reports that Halton Staff conducted a public
survey of plans to increase waste diversion from 60% up to 70%, strategies to achieve this
and impacts on property taxes ($7.26/$100,000 CVA). Results, residents prefer increase to
65% which adds 4 y to the landfill‘s lifespan and impacts taxes at $2.42/$100,000 CVA.

C) Waste News: waste diversion can be FUN!!! Miltongreen Members July 1st Event

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