If abolishing planning controls, cutting public services, privatizing public assets, deregulating banks, unleashing unfettered exploitation of people, the environment & natural resources is any government’s solution to boosting economic growth (benefiting the already rich), they are wrong. The trickle down economy and GDP have not worked. For nature and populations to thrive, be healthy & have equal opportunities we need to be more socially just, aiming investments to achieve prosperity for all, rather than prosperity for only a few. Read about ecological economics.

The appalling flaws of this Bill have been pointed out by affordable housing & civil rights advocates, conservation authorities, municipalities, farmers, planners, ecologists & many others concerned with the impact of Bill 23 on the pressing issues we noew face: the climate crisis, food security, natural heritage and watershed protection. Read YREA's submission. Ontario's complicit MPPs are all well aware of the massive rebellion against Bill 23, its amendments, the opposition to proposed fragmentation of the Greenbelt & revoking the protection of Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve. Bill 23 will reap no benefits but instead will abolish sound regional planning, destroy environmental safeguards & suppress democracy. A real travesty.

Fireworks bring bursts of air pollution, discharging heavy metal atoms that remain as aerosols, contaminating our air, water & earth with impacts on human health. The chemical reactions release GHGE such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide & sulphur dioxide. Explosive blasts disturb wildlife & household pets, causing extreme stress. Brampton recently banned the personal use of fireworks because of noise complaints but it has far greater impacts. Isn't it time for cities to question age old practices, rethink this waste of money and allocate it where it would be of more benefit?

The Feds have a huge task ahead modernizing the Canadian Environmental Protection Act which will include our right to a clean & healthy environment, recently declared a human right at the UN. Stringent labelling of ingredients in food & products has long been requested yet industry continues to lobby against this & we are often notified too late, as in the recall of hand sanitizers & hair products due to noxious substances. Most of us would like to know if the canola oil in our mayo is genetical modified & what really is in kids' cereals. Unless all harmful ingredients are removed & GM foods clearly labelled, labelling might as well just read EAT / USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

YES, there are pesticide residues in conventional Canadian wheat & Italy doesn't want it. The problem is caused by the spraying of glyphosate as a desiccant right before harvest. In 2016 Italy set MRL (maximum residue levels) at 10 parts per billion while Canada continues to allow 5 parts per million even as it considers raising those levels upon industry request. People who have so called 'gluten intolerance' & suffer from irritable bowel syndrome have no problem digesting pasta & bread in Italy. It's not the gluten in wheat, it's the PESTICIDES. Buy organic pasta and bread to avoid IBS and other ailments. We have only until Jan.13th to sign this important petition to ban glyphosate.