Are you a resident of the Kanata-Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding?   Support our NDP campaign to help protect the South March Highlands

Special to The Canadian

KNL initially agreed to the land swap, but has withdrawn its agreement. According to the Ottawa Citizen, the developer is not interested in selling any of the 29 hectares.

KNL is typical of the corporate culture of capitalism today.

It is apparent that the elites who preside over such corporations view the Earth to be little more than raw materials for them to pursue an ego-driven insatiable profit at “whateva” social cost.

Are you a resident of the Kanata-Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding?   Support our NDP campaign to help protect the South March Highlands

Are you a resident of the Kanata-Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding?   Support our NDP campaign to help protect the South March Highlands

Special to The Canadian

For generations, the forest just north of the Beaver Pond was protected from development, and rightfully so. It is Ottawa’s last true wilderness forest, with soaring old growth trees and rare plants and protected species found nowhere else in such a dense area within the Ottawa Region.

Yet the owners of Urbandale Construction and Richcraft Homes purchased this property and have decided to cut this old-growth forest down and blast the lands flat to put up 3200 homes. This is ridiculous, and regardless of the fact that they can legally build here, I will not support these companies ever again with my future new home, townhome or condo purchase.

The area is properly called the South March Highlands (SMH), and it is geologically unique in the City of Ottawa. Information shows that it supports over 440 species of vegetation, including: 64 Regionally Significant, 50 Locally Significant, 6 Provincially Rare, and 2 Nationally Endangered species of vascular plant life. This habitat is crucial for 164 species of bird, including 136 species that breed in this area, 9 bird species at risk, and the 30 Regionally Significant species of bird that inhabit this ecosystem.

Yet, even though the Regional and City Official Plans have officially protected the SMH since 1972, less than 1/3 of the original forest area remains. So after building on a huge portion of this forest over the last 20 years, and clear cutting other forests, Urbandale and Richcraft, through their joint operating company called KNL have decided to ignore the demands of the community and disregard the environmental and potential archaeological significance of this land.

I will not support a company who demonstrates such blatant disregard for a unique environmental and possibly archaeological gem for the sake of the almighty dollar. The company has the resources to sell this land to the City of Ottawa for a fair market price for raw land and purchase land elsewhere which does not have the environmental impact that the destruction of the SMH would have. KNL has made NO effort to communicate with or respond to the mounting evidence presented by the community, concerned politicians or concerned groups.

Therefore, if KNL proceeds with forest destruction of the South March Highlands, I pledge to NEVER purchase a home, townhome, condo or property from either Urbandale or Richcraft ever again and I will endeavour to inform at least 10 people who will take the same pledge in the years ahead even without having to sign this pledge.

Together, we will never forget what Urbandale and Richcraft are about to do to these lands and we cannot and will not support a company with such disregard for our community and its environment.

internet reference: LINK

Are you a resident of the Kanata-Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding?   Support our NDP campaign to help protect the South March Highlands

Edited by John Stokes

Ray seeks the NDP nomination in Carleton-Mississippi Mills for the upcoming provincial election.  He was inspired in part to become an NDP candidate, because of the apparent on-going ecocide in Kanata Narcg Highlands.  Ray welcomes local NDP supporters to become  a new member in the riding of Carleton-Mississippi Mills.   Sign up to become a member of his Canadidate Nomination Comittee.

No other major city in the world includes a vigorous old growth forest with endangered species.    The closest is perhaps Vancouver’s Stanley Park which is 1/3 the size, contains ½ the variety of vascular plants, and no species-at-risk as compared to the SMH which is refuge for 20 documented species-at-risk of extinction within a small area of only 3 km by 4 km in size. LINK

Special to The Canadian

Norm Sterling, who is currently the MPP for Carleton-Mississippi Mills, stated his support for the City of Ottawa’s efforts to purchase the portion of the South March Highlands known as the Beaver Pond.

 “I have heard from numerous constituents who hike, run and walk their dogs in this area and even people who choose to live in Kanata because they love this natural landscape,” said Mr. Sterling.  “And I’ve met with local Councillor Marianne Wilkinson about this issue.” 

Norm Sterling became the MPP for the area long before the “new right” take over under Tim Hudak and Stephen Harper.

However, Sterling was recently forced into retirement by the ascent of the new right under John MacLaren.

Maclaren has a completely different vision of government that Sterling.

Maclaren apparently supports the ability of corporations to do ‘whatever they want’, irrespective of the environmental damage they cause.

Mr. Sterling  had explained to his fellow members of the Legislature the environmental importance of the 895 hectare South March Highlands located along the north edge of Kanata which is more than a billion years old and is home to more than 654 species including 18 that are at risk of going extinct.

With the decline of the Ontario Liberals, both Liberals and Ontario PC supporters of Norm Sterling may wish to consider supporting the Ontario New Democrats in the riding.  The Ontario NDP pledges to continue the work of Norn Sterling on seeking to defend the South March Higlands from senseless destruction motivated by greed and egoism.

There are three candidates who are seeking the NDP nomination in Carleton-Mississippi Mills.   You can check out the Ray Campaign.  The NDP is seeking to boost membership support toward a common front in favour of protecting the South March Higlands.

Special to The Canadian

Jack MacLaren’s victory against Norm Sterling in Carleton-Mississippi Mills signifies a sharp turn to the right for the Ontario PC Party.

MacLaren has been referred to as a Libertarian.  But he is arguably more precisely a “social Darwinist” who favours a “survival of the fittest society”, in which the role of government is limited to military action against “foreign enemies”.

MacLaren  won the nomination after a raucous meeting that drew so many voters — over 1,000 — it had to moved from a Stittsville high school auditorium to a venue at Scotiabank Place.

Sterling, is a centrist who held nine cabinet posts over his 34-year career in the provincial legislature.

MacLaren was pleased with a campaign that echoed the success of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.

The NDP is seeking to provide a socially progressive alternative to the ultra right in Carleton-Mississippi Mills.  The NDP has three candidates who are currently seeking the nomination. Support the Ray Campaign

by Joe Hueglin

Canada is participating in the ending of an international modus vivendi that has been accepted practice for over three hundred years. In international affairs since 1648 “The Treaty of Westphalia guaranteed that the internal affairs of a sovereign country were none of the international community’s business, so long as it did not violate any treaties or threaten another nation-state.” Libya has done neither yet other states including Canada are bent upon determining the direction of its internal affairs.

The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, in a statement made yesterday wrote: ” the time has come to open a new chapter in Libya’s history, with a strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.”

Fantino’s “new chapter” is to come about through achieving Canada’s aim: ““to rid Libya of the Qadhafi regime”.  Regime change in Libya is to come about not through internal actions by  Libyans but by military might of NATO forces being justified by a United Nations Resolution authorizing implementation of a “no fly zone”.

This action is ending the pattern established by the Treaty of Westphalia and replacing it with the precedent based on applying this new norm: “The RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (“RtoP” or “R2P”) is a new international security and human rights norm to address the international community’s failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”

Is the Government of Canada aware or unaware of the sea change in international relations it is engaged in bringing about? Is it prepared to argue this new norm be applied even handedly to all regimes applying military force to unarmed civilians?

Before Parliament approves continuing Canadian involvement until the Qadhafi regime is replaced this ought to occur: “the prime minister needs to conduct a focused foreign policy review for the post-Westphalia era.”establishing “the principles and criteria for military intervention in the affairs of other nations. And it should also address how and when Canada should disengage from such missions.”

Will action be taken to establish the nature of Canada’s involvement before continuing our air attacks? “NO”, will undoubtedly be the universal response, with unknown repercussions into the future as the justification for the Libyan involvement is extended wider and wider in international relations.

Endnotes:
(1) Intervention in Libya erodes national sovereignty
     http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3147013

(2) Canada Attends Latest Meeting of Contact Group on Libya
     http://news.gc.ca/web/article-eng.do?mthd=tp&crtr.page=1&nid=605199&crtr.tp1D=1

(3) Full Text of UN Resolution 1973 Authorizing Libya No-Fly Zone
     http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/124599/20110319/un-resolution-1973-libya-no-fly-zone-authorization.htm

(4) INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (ICRtoP)
     http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/

by Joe Hueglin

Canada is participating in the ending of an international modus vivendi that has been accepted practice for over three hundred years. In 1648 “The Treaty of Westphalia guaranteed that the internal affairs of a sovereign country were none of the international community’s business, so long as it did not violate any treaties or threaten another nation-state.” Though Libya has done neither others are set upon determining the direction of its internal affairs.

The Honourable Julian Fantino, Associate Minister of National Defence, in a issued a statement wrote the following: ” the time has come to open a new chapter in Libya’s history, with a strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya.”

Fantino’s “new chapter” is to be initiated through achieving that which is now Canada’s aim: ““to rid Libya of the Qadhafi regime”.  Regime change in Libya is to come about not through the actions of Libyans but through application of external military might justified by a United Nations Resolution authorizing implementation of a “no fly zone”.

This action is in the process of ending the pattern established by the Treaty of Westphalia and replacing it with a precedent for this new norm: “The RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (“RtoP” or “R2P”) is a new international security and human rights norm to address the international community’s failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”

Is the Government of Canada aware of the sea change in international relations it is playing a proud role in bringing about? Is it prepared to act to ensure the new norm is applied even handedly to all regimes applying military force to unarmed civilians?

Before Parliament approves continued Canadian involvement until the Qadhafi regime is replaced this ought to occur: “the prime minister needs to conduct a focused foreign policy review for the post-Westphalia era.”establishing “the principles and criteria for military intervention in the affairs of other nations. And it should also address how and when Canada should disengage from such missions.”

Will action be taken to establish the nature of Canada’s involvement in the new norm? “NO”, will undoubtedly be the universal response, with unknown repercussions into the future.

Special to The Canadian

Nickel Belt MPP and NDP Health Promotion Critic France Gélinas says it’s time the government put warnings on cell phones following a World Health Organization (WHO) report on potential health risks of cell phone use.

“The WHO has now classified electromagnetic fields from cell phones as a possible carcinogen, will the government require cell phone companies to put warning labels on phones sold in Ontario?” Gélinas asked the Minister of Health Promotion during Question Period.

The Ray Campaign in Carleton–Mississippi Mills seeks to campaign on a platform on the need to redress studies on the apparent carcinogenic effects of cell phone use in defence of the public health interests on Ontarians.

Ray currently seeks support from new and current NDP members of the riding in his bid to become the candidate in the upcoming Ontario provincial election. Support the Ray Campaign

In November, Gélinas introduced her Private Member’s Bill 128, The Cell Phone Safety Act, that would require cell phone safety warnings that already appear in small print in the owner’s manual to be attached to the cell phone itself.

In February Gélinas wrote to the Minister asking what the government is doing to educate Ontarians about the health risks associated with cell phone use. The Minister replied: “Based on reviews of available scientific evidence by credible public health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the RF Energy from cell phones has not been demonstrated to be causally linked to adverse health effects including cancer.”

“Now that the WHO has stated there might be possible links of cell phone usage to cancer, the Minister should support the pragmatic measure of putting warning labels on cell phones and educate Ontarians about the potential health risks,” said Gélinas.

Special to The Canadian

The Ray Campaign in Carleton–Mississippi Mills seeks to campaign on a platform on the need to constitutionally enshrine universal public healthcare in Canada.

Ray currently seeks support from new and current NDP members of the riding in his bid to become the candidate in the upcoming Ontario provincial election. Support the Ray Campaign

“We broadly recognize universal public healthcare as a basic human right in Canada, thanks to Tommy Douglas who has been called ‘the father of medicare’ in Canada.  Why not enshrine it as a fundamental right of Canadian citizenship, as we have done with Official Bilingualism? ” 

Ray further adds that, “In so doing, we can thrwart a continuing privatization agenda against public healthcare in Canada.”

The NDP’s commitment to public health care will be front and centre in the party’s platform in the coming provincial election, the Andrea Horwath says. LINK

“We’ve seen emergency wards close in this province. We’ve seen people not being able to get the kind of home care they need, the kind of long-term care they need, and so there needs to be some real attention to that,” she said.