future

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)

 

Wednesday September 17, 2014

Wednesday September 17, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 17, 2014

There’s a pothole in Hamilton’s roads budget

The city has run out of money to repair local roads.

Friday, August 15, 2014The annual capital roads budget for Hamilton is close to $70 million, but most of that cash is used to fix highways, arterial roads, bus routes and bridges.

The city relied for several years on $25 million left over from a provincial grant to deal with neighbourhood streets — but that money has been used up.

That means local roads will not be rebuilt unless they’re dug up for sewer work or already identified on a four-year-old council priority list, said engineering director Gary Moore.

Residents in Wards 1 through 8 can also lobby councillors to use area rating cash. Each of those wards has a $1.6-million annual budget, but fewer than a dozen repaving projects have used that discretionary money so far.

Moore said relying on “ad hoc, unplanned” spending for residential streets won’t work.

“We will have (local) roads go down to gravel before we get to them unless we come up with a predictable funding source,” he said after a public works meeting Monday.

He told worried councillors at the meeting there is still a budget for minor repairs like filling potholes, and “emergency failures” like sinkholes are immediately fixed — but that money is pulled out of other planned projects.

“So we have no local roads program budgeted, no maintenance program, and you’re telling me we jut sit here and let them deteriorate?” asked Councillor Scott Duvall.

Public works head Gerry Davis said ideally, the city should spend an extra $90 million a year to properly maintain all roads and bridges. He also noted council has repeatedly asked staff for near-zero budget increases in an effort to keep taxes low.

“I could move money around, but that means the main roads will suffer, and that is a concern for liability,” he said. “We know what we have to do, we just can’t do it.”

Moore told councillors he will come back with options to create a sustainable tax-supported pot of cash for local streets in time for the 2015 budget debate. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

LETTER to the EDITOR

Well done, Graeme MacKay. Hamilton now has beautiful bike lanes but no money to repair our dangerous and deplorable roads for our licensed vehicles to travel on.

Big question? What are city employees doing if there is no money to fix anything? It appears that everyone is getting well paid to work but cannot do the work because of lack of funds. If there is no money to do the work, what are the employees doing? Apparently 80 per cent of the budget is going to salaries. How does a city operate on 20 per cent funding?

Yes, we have a big problem and why are councillors spending money on things like statues and LRT issues when the city is plain broke and mismanaged? I guess the next step is filing for bankruptcy protection. It now appears to be the biggest game in town.

When is a sink hole not a sink hole? When it hasn’t sunk in yet. A big election is coming up and I sincerely hope we have the biggest turnout ever as all the good things happening in Hamilton can fall through if you cannot get to them because of burst water mains and roads with sinkholes.

Joan Campbell, Hamilton

 

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Thursday, December 12, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday, December 12, 2013

Canada Post to phase out urban home mail delivery

Canada Post is phasing out door-to-door delivery of regular mail to urban residents and increasing the cost of stamps in a major move to try to reduce significant, regular losses.

The Crown corporation announced its plans Wednesday, saying urban home delivery will be phased out over the next five years.

Starting March 31, the cost of a stamp will increase to 85 cents each if bought in a pack, up from 63 cents. Individual stamps will cost a dollar.
Canada Post said that over the next five years, it will eliminate 6,000 to 8,000 positions, but it expects 15,000 workers will leave the company or retire within that period.

“With the increasing use of digital communication and the historic decline of letter mail volumes, Canada Post has begun to post significant financial losses,” the corporation said in a news release.
“If left unchecked, continued losses would soon jeopardize its financial self-sufficiency and become a significant burden on taxpayers and customers.”

The first communities that will switch to community mailboxes will be announced in the second half of 2014, according to the release.

Transport Minister Lisa Raitt said in September the idea of cutting door-to-door delivery in urban areas was worth considering in the face of $104 million in losses in the second quarter.

Ottawa Citizen - December 18Her office issued a news release Wednesday saying she looks forward to seeing progress because of this plan.

“The Government of Canada supports Canada Post in its efforts to fulfil its mandate of operating on a self-sustaining financial basis in order to protect taxpayers, while modernizing its business and aligning postal services with the choices of Canadians,” she said in the release.
Raitt’s office added that mail volumes have dropped almost 25 per cent per household in the last five years.

NDP MP Peter Julian accused the Conservative government of being disrespectful by making the announcement the day after Parliament took its annual Christmas break. (Source: CBC News)

Wednesday May 29, 2013

Wednesday May 29, 2013By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 29, 2013

Metrolinx report recommends Transit Revenue Tools

For SaleHamilton’s proposed light rail transit line would be 100 per cent funded by new taxes and fees proposed by regional transit authority Metrolinx.

With that promise comes a stipulation: there is no opportunity to “opt out” of the GTHA’s Big Move transit vision or the funding tools designed to pay for it.

That message came loud and clear at a board meeting Monday during which the Metrolinx board unanimously approved a new transit funding strategy for the next 20 years.

LRT in Hamilton

The LRT Waiting Game Gallery

It’s now in Premier Kathleen Wynne’s hands to win support at Queen’s Park for the plan to pay for $34 billion in transit projects. It could be a tough battle, given the Liberals’ minority status and the fact it’s estimated the average Ontario household will have to pay $477 more per year in fees and taxes.

But Wynne has been clear that she feels transit in the GTHA is facing a crisis and that she’s willing to stake her political future on fixing it.

“To the 30 municipalities and the province of Ontario impacted by this plan, I call on them to accept the challenge and embrace our recommendations,” said Metrolinx chair Rob Prichard. “It will take a great deal of courage on their parts.”

The average commute in the GTHA is 82 minutes a day round trip, among the longest in North America.

Without action, it will grow to 109 minutes in 25 years, according to Metrolinx. Implementing the Big Move brings it back down to 77 minutes. (Source: Metro News)

Friday December 14, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Friday December 14, 2012

Watch out: Police have an eye in the sky

It almost looks like a toy. But in the hands of trained Halton Regional police officers it’s an increasingly useful tool.

The four arms of the mini helicopter buzz like a really big house fly as they spin and the Aeryon Scout takes off outside police headquarters in Oakville. Soon it is high above the parking lot, “watching” Detective Dave Banks and Constable Andy Olesen, two of the four Halton officers trained to operate it from a tablet on the ground.

The unmanned aerial vehicle, commonly called a drone, has been a tool for Halton police on more than 30 missions ranging from photographing crime scenes to using a thermal imaging camera to search for missing persons.

It was used in September to seize 744 marijuana plants growing in a farmer’s field in northeast Milton. It was also used to photograph Burlington’s deadly Via derailment and the fatal Oakville police shooting of Kyle Newman, a short time after he stabbed his estranged wife.

Police are starting use the vehicle to photograph serious crash scenes, including an ongoing research project to see if they can take measurements from the sky to speed up investigations. They also want to begin using the drone in “tactical” situations, for instance if a suspect is on roof or balcony.

In August, Ontario’s privacy commissioner Ann Cavoukian issued a 27-page paper on privacy and drones in which she warned that without careful consideration they “may be extremely invasive.” (Source: Hamilton Spectator)