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Thursday March 9, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 9, 2017

DRESCHEL: Skelly places free city hall lunches on council’s plate

Free lunches are back on the political menu at city hall.

March 10, 2011

The hot button issue has been back-burnered since 2011 when The Spectator revealed the city spends about $33,000 a year on free sandwiches, pizza, cookies, and coffee and tea for councillors and senior staffers who meet over the lunch hour.

But this week Coun. Donna Skelly applied fresh grease to the question of whether the freebies are appropriate by asking if there’s a financial argument in favour of the practice.

Finance general manger Mike Zegarac responded that the free grub is provided to avoid interrupting committee meetings by breaking for lunch.

Skelly’s interest was triggered by a letter in The Spec which suggested that, given the city’s “budget crisis,” the lunch money should be directed to the Poverty Roundtable’s request for a $30,000 funding increase.

“I certainly wouldn’t want us to be accused to taking advantages of this when we’re talking about budget challenges,” Skelly said.

Coun. Brenda Johnson chimed in that councillors were previously told that free working lunches made sense because breaking for lunch leads to staff overtime costs.

“I’m all for let’s look at this again,” Johnson said, adding a review needs to include the impact on the tax levy if the freebies are stopped.

For his part, Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he’s willing to consider “reasonable alternatives” such as councillors offering to contribute money to offset the cost of the feed bags.

But Eisenberger says in the big picture it’s “really kind of nickel and diming.” People need sustenance to get through long, uninterrupted meetings, he says. (Continued: Hamilton Spectator) 

 

Wednesday June 10, 2015

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday June 10, 2015 Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to G7 'decarbonization' by 2100 Prime Minister Stephen Harper has agreed to a G7 commitment to deep cuts in carbon emissions by 2050 Ñ with an eventual stop in the use of fossil fuels by the end of the century. The call for a low-carbon footprint will "require a transformation in our energy sectors," Harper said Monday at a news conference in Germany, following the two-day G7 summit. "Nobody's going to start to shut down their industries or turn off the lights," he said. "We've simply got to find a way to create lower-carbon emitting sources of energy Ñ and that work is ongoing." Canada and Japan blocked attempts at a stronger statement on binding greenhouse gas reduction targets, according to The Canadian Press sources who saw a working draft of the G7 communiquŽ, which was released today as the summit wrapped up. "We emphasize that deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required with a decarbonization of the global economy over the course of this century," the G7 leaders said in their final communiquŽ. "We commit to doing our part to achieve a low-carbon global economy in the long-term including developing and deploying innovative technologies striving for a transformation of the energy sectors by 2050 and invite all countries to join us in this endeavour." German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been pushing the G7 to endorse a pledge to reach zero carbon emissions. "Canada and Japan are the most concerned about this one," said one source who was privy to discussions but would only speak on the condition of anonymity. "The two of those countries have been the most difficult on every issue on climate." During question period on Monday, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said the government's role in "toning down" the communiquŽ leaves "Canada with an environmental black eye on the world stage." (Source: CBC News) http://www.cbc.ca/news/poli

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 10, 2015

Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to G7 ‘decarbonization’ by 2100

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has agreed to a G7 commitment to deep cuts in carbon emissions by 2050 — with an eventual stop in the use of fossil fuels by the end of the century.

The call for a low-carbon footprint will “require a transformation in our energy sectors,” Harper said Monday at a news conference in Germany, following the two-day G7 summit.

Editorial cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Saturday May 16, 2015 CanadaÕs new emissions target far from ambitious, critics say Canada has set a new greenhouse gas emission reduction target as it prepares for international talks later this year, but critics say the goal is the weakest among G7 countries. Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Friday that Canada proposes to cut emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 Ñ a target she called Òfair and ambitious.Ó Speaking in Winnipeg, Aglukkaq promised to introduce new regulations on methane emissions produced by the oil and gas industry. There will also be new rules for natural gas-fired power generation and for the chemical and nitrogen fertilizer industries. ÒThis target is . . . an ambitious commitment based on our national circumstances, which include a growing population, a diversified, growing economy and CanadaÕs position as a world leader in clean electricity generation.Ó The target is slightly weaker than that of the United States, which has pledged to cut its greenhouse emissions by up to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2025. Canada, the U.S. and other countries are taking their targets to a United Nations conference later this year in Paris, where a new international emissions regime is to be negotiated. Environmental groups said CanadaÕs target is anything but ambitious. ÒThe European Union, already with per-capita emissions well below CanadaÕs, has a 40 per cent reduction target for 2030 Ñ more than five times greater than CanadaÕs,Ó the group Environmental Defence said in a statement. ÒTo keep our people, communities and economy safe requires that Canada join the global community in making deep cuts to carbon pollution by shifting away from burning coal, oil and gas,Ó read a statement from the Climate Action Network. (Source: Hamilton Spectator) http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015/05/15/canada-sets-new-target-to-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html Canada, Climate

“Nobody’s going to start to shut down their industries or turn off the lights,” he said. “We’ve simply got to find a way to create lower-carbon emitting sources of energy — and that work is ongoing.”

Canada and Japan blocked attempts at a stronger statement on binding greenhouse gas reduction targets, according to The Canadian Press sources who saw a working draft of the G7 communiqué, which was released today as the summit wrapped up.

“We emphasize that deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required with a decarbonization of the global economy over the course of this century,” the G7 leaders said in their final communiqué.

“We commit to doing our part to achieve a low-carbon global economy in the long-term including developing and deploying innovative technologies striving for a transformation of the energy sectors by 2050 and invite all countries to join us in this endeavour.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been pushing the G7 to endorse a pledge to reach zero carbon emissions.

“Canada and Japan are the most concerned about this one,” said one source who was privy to discussions but would only speak on the condition of anonymity. “The two of those countries have been the most difficult on every issue on climate.”

During question period on Monday, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said the government’s role in “toning down” the communiqué leaves “Canada with an environmental black eye on the world stage.” (Source: CBC News)

 

Tuesday August 16, 2011

Tuesday August 16, 2011By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 16, 2011

Tories tussle with asbestos widow over ad campaign

The federal Conservative party has sent a threatening email to the widow of an asbestos victim in the latest chapter of Canada’s debate over the hazardous mineral.

A top Tory official is warning the woman to stop using the party logo in an online ad campaign against the controversial industry — a campaign she started after her husband died of an asbestos-related cancer.

Michaela Keyserlingk, whose husband Robert died in 2009 of mesothelioma, has been running an online banner since the spring that reads, “Canada is the only western country that still exports deadly asbestos!”

Conservative party executive director Dan Hilton warned Keyserlingk to stop using the Tory symbol immediately.

“Failure to do so may result in further action,” Hilton wrote in a July 29 email which carried the subject title, “Unauthorized use of trademark.” The email, which The Canadian Press obtained from Keyserlingk, went on to advise her: “Please govern yourself accordingly.”

The exchange comes as Canada faces intensifying international criticism over its asbestos exports and the Quebec government mulls whether to help revive one of the country’s last-remaining mines — a decision that could come as early as Monday.

Canada, which barely uses the hazardous material domestically, exports the bulk of its asbestos to poor countries.

Industry proponents insist the material is safe if properly handled — but its critics stress that the product is used mainly in developing countries where safety standards are haphazard. (Source: CTV News)