The Environment

MARSTON TO HPA: Protect Harris Inlet Now
MP joins calls for a moratorium on infilling

Ottawa – Wayne Marston, MP (Hamilton East – Stoney Creek) has asked the Hamilton Port Authority to put a moratorium on the infilling of the Harris Inlet and put the issue before the public.

“On Friday, I wrote the new interim CEO to express the concerns of many in the community that the seclusion that has allowed Harris Inlet to flourish is threatened by the HPA’s centralized and intensified development plan.” Mr Marston added “This isn’t about stalling development, this is about examining new information to ensure that we have done our environmental due diligence.”

Last week with the Leader of Canada’s NDP Jack Layton, Wayne Marston, MP held a roundtable with environmental leaders, advocates and activists. The issue of Harris Inlet was raised by many. Concerns from the community include the apparent flourishing of the area under seclusion in the area that will be devastated by infilling, whether proper permits were issued and that infilling has begun without proper transparency.

“Development, economic growth and protecting and conserving the environment can go hand in hand. At our meetings yesterday and today, the NDP Federal Caucus is discussing environmental leadership at the Federal level. Protecting Harris Inlet can be an integrated component of the continued development of the port areas.”

“As interim CEO Tony Valeri, has a responsibility to do what is right: stop the infilling and consult with the public and other stakeholders given the new information about this unique biosphere in Hamilton’s industrial heartland.”

Budget 2008: Harper should think green to create growth
WAYNE MARSTON

Stephen Harper hasn't decided when his Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is going to hand down his budget, but already, there is rampant speculation and even a few promises about what will and won't be in it.

As your Member of Parliament, I try to stay away from speculation as much as possible and stick to what I know. I know we need investment in our community and to find ways to keep our jobs and to create more lasting jobs.

Statistics Canada's most recent manufacturing employment figures show 33,000 manufacturing jobs were lost last December alone. Tallied up, 2007 was worse than 2006 with a 6.2 per cent decline adding up to almost 350,000 manufacturing jobs lost since November 2002.

If Mr. Harper or Mr. Flaherty think a plan for this sector should look like Mr. Harper's recent forestry sector plan, which amounts to no more than showing up with a cheque after a mill or plant has been closed and the jobs have disappeared, they have misunderstood the potential of the manufacturing industry as much as they have the forestry sector.

But what can be done? If you looked around lately, a lot of people are talking about "greening" our economy and we in the NDP are talking about green-collar jobs. Green-collar jobs result from creating demand in existing sectors, while using many of the same skilled people in work that also contributes to the goal of reducing our ecological footprint.

Take for example our steel industry. If we were to look at Germany, where supports to the wind sector have increased demand for steel, because a lot of steel is needed to make wind turbines, we have an innovative way to think green and create jobs. Germany's wind sector employs 40,000 people, second only to its auto sector.

If Mr. Harper's budget were to support the wind energy sector so that it became more viable and widespread, in Steeltown we could talk about making the same product, perhaps with some modifications, for a new sector. And that would mean creating green collar jobs in our community.

Manufacturing jobs are disappearing in our community and others across the country. This affects everything from school enrolment to retail spending and has huge significance to local economies like ours, as well as our national economy. It is time for the federal budget to be about the manufacturing sector and the jobs depended on by so many in our community.

Published in the Stoney Creek News

ATTENTION FLEET MANAGERS! Natural Resources Canada and Environment Hamilton would like to invite you to attend a 1 day workshop on November 22nd. The workshop will help you develop a fuel management plan and implement it for your fleet.

For more information on Fuel Management 101, please click on the file below.

In June 2007, I sent the document linked below because I wanted to be in touch on a couple of important issues like the so-called Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) being negotiated between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico and highlight some of the community events and work that was going on at the time.

'Rare' salamanders widen debate on turtle ponds
Richard Leitner, Stoney Creek
Published: June 15th 2007

The Hamilton Conservation Authority is asking the city to consider extending environmental protections to school board properties by turtle ponds near the Stoney Creek lakeshore.

Directors voted unanimously last week to request a more comprehensive study of two Community Beach ponds previously earmarked for protection, as well as a man-made one also reportedly home to birds, turtles and salamanders.

Should the city decide to officially designate the ponds and neighbouring land as an environmentally significant area, directors also left the door open for the conservation authority to assume ownership.

Click on the link below to find a mailing regarding Wayne Marston's efforts to save Stoney Creek's Turtle Ponds.

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Statement on: Community Beach Ponds

Mr. Speaker, the Community Beach Ponds, also known as the Turtle Ponds, are one of the best remaining examples of diverse urban biospheres and are found in the Stoney Creek portion of my riding. Sadly, Turtle Ponds are at risk of being sold to housing developers.

The current land owners, our two school boards, cannot be faulted for wanting to sell and make money. We all know the shameful state of education financing in this country where the Conservative government and past Liberal governments have wiped their hands of providing adequate funding for our schools.

IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
FROM HANSARD

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address Bill C-288. The summary of the bill reads:

“The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that Canada meets its global climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. It requires the Minister of the Environment to establish an annual Climate Change Plan and to make regulations respecting climate change. It also requires the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy to advise the Minister—to the extent that it is within its purpose—on the effectiveness of the plans, and requires the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to submit to the Speaker of the House of Commons a report of the progress in the implementation of the plans.”

HOUSE OF COMMONS - HANSARD

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to the environment, everyday Canadians are way ahead of this country's business and political elites. The rest of us are ready to move from a polluting economy to a sustainable one. Daily I hear from constituents who truly worry that our children will not have clean air to breathe or water to drink.

The Conservatives want Canadians to believe that they are getting serious about the environment. They have a new minister and a new legislative committee to fix their flawed bill.

The Prime Minister has an opportunity today to back up his words with action. He can make a real impact in Hamilton by funding two important local environmental initiatives.

The Honourable Stockwell Day, P.C., MP
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Building, 13th Fl
340 Laurier Ave W
Ottawa, ON K1A 0P8
VIA FAX: 613-952-2240 (original to follow in mail)

Dear Minister Day:

I am writing to you to detail the events of Friday December 1 2006 when 50 mm of rain came down on the city of Hamilton and the surrounding area resulting in dozens of residents being forced to flee their homes. In some cases, inflatable boats were needed to bring them to dry land.

“The water was up to five feet high on some houses, submerging gas meters” said Chief Jim McKay of Emergency Services.