Ontario has more efficient options than nuclear

Atomic energy too costly, Ontario Clean Air Alliance argues

by John Spears, Toronto Star Business Reporter

Abandoning nuclear power in favour of imported electricity from Quebec and new, high-efficiency natural gas plants, would save Ontario billions, says the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

The money saved could be spent on health, education or other provincial programs, the alliance argues in a new report.


The Liberal government’s long term energy plan calls for the province to continue getting half its power from nuclear until 2030.

Plans call for two new reactors at Darlington. Massive overhauls of Darlington’s four existing reactors, and four reactors at the Bruce B station are also part of the plan. Nuclear spending would total $33 billion over 20 years.

That’s a mistake, the alliance argues in a report released Tuesday.

Under the best-case outlook, new nuclear units would produce power at 8 cents a kilowatt hour, it says

But given the history of cost over-runs on nuclear projects an actual cost of 19 cents or higher is more likely, it argues. (Moody’s, the credit rating service, projects costs of 15 cents or higher, it notes.)

What’s the alternative? The alliance says other sources are much cheaper.

Imported hydro power:

Quebec signed a deal to sell electricity to Vermont for 5.8 cents a kilowatt hour, the report notes.

“Pursuant to the National Energy Board Act, Hydro Quebec must give Ontario an opportunity to purchase electricity on terms and conditions as favorable as its export sale,” it says.

Ontario, which now gets only 1.8 per cent of its power from Quebec, could boost that to 17 per cent without expanding transmission links, the report says.

Conservation and efficiency:

Ontario also has plenty of room to reduce its consumption, it argues: Ontario uses 27 per cent more power per capita than neighbouring New York.

And boosting efficiency is cheap. It costs about less than 5 cents a kilowatt hour to save power, which is cheaper than any form of new generation.

Ontario’s local utilities could drive down consumption by financing energy-saving home retrofits and the purchase of high-efficiency air conditioners, alliance chairman Jack Gibbons said in an interview.

They could also place more devices that switch off home air conditioners for short periods when peak demand is straining the system. About 10 per cent of home now have them; 50 per cent would be a better goal.

Combined heat and power plants:

These plants – which generally use waste heat to produce steam for industrial use – can also be expanded, the report argues. That costs about 6 cents a kilowatt hour.

The cost of filling half of Ontario’s energy needs through imported power from Quebec, plus combined heat and power plants and efficiency would be $3.7 billion a year, the report calculates.

Meanwhile, the annual cost of the same amount of power from nuclear units, even at 8 cents a kwh, would be $5.4 billion.

Gibbons argues that a non-nuclear strategy is also lower risk. The risks of mega-projects like nuclear stations going over budget are well known.

Long-term, fixed price contracts for imported power are very low risk, he said: “Hydro Quebec is a very reliable supplier.”

Pursuing a multitude of smaller scale generation and efficiency projects is also lower risk than nuclear mega-projects he said.

Ontario has another quick source of money, the report argues, which is shutting down last units of the Nanticoke and Lambton coal stations immediately. They’re due to shut down in 2014.

Ontario Power Generation has kept some units running at a loss, because they were needed for technical reasons to balance the grid. But the report argues that equipment put in place by Hydro One has now eliminated that need.

That would save a subsidy of $367 million a year that OPG is now receiving to keep coal units available.

Facebook page for Green Democratic Party of Canada

New Facebook website for the future Green Democratic Party of Canada, to be formed through the merger of the New Democratic Party of Canada and the Green Party of Canada.

When the right wing in Canada was split into a Reform camp and a PC core, the Western upstarts split the reactionary vote and allowed Jean Chretien a majority government. Chretien got his majorities when the right was divided between PCs and Reform, and now Harper got his because the left (NDP) and center-left (Greens) are divided. The combining of the right and far right entities was the first st...See More

Our goal is to stay focused on political parties and how best to translate the votes of Canadians into real progress for families and individuals across the country. We believe in democracy, and think that if we are able to merge the Greens and the NDP into the Green Democratic Party, then we will return Canada to the path Trudeau and Broadbent were on.


United Greens and NDP would sweep Quebec, BC and the GTA

It will be much easier for the NDP to move from Opposition to Government by uniting with the Green Party to form the Green Democratic Party of Canada. A combined NDP / Green Party would be an amazing political breakthrough ... the merger will be a modern equivalent to the union of the CCF and the Labour Congress that formed the New Democratic Party... Canadians CAN handle two ideas, social justice AND ecology.

The 20-something NDP MPs in Parliament are mostly greener than your typical 50-ish Green Party supporter, as was Jack Layton... proving the two parties are not as far apart on policy as some claim.

We are proposing creating a sustainable, socially-just society, via the elimination of oil, coal and uranium as fuel sources. This has to begin in Canada, as we are the richest on Earth (resources per capita), and all of Earth looks to us for peaceful, humanitarian solutions.


New Facebook webpage for Green Democratic Party of Canada, to be formed through a merger of Green Party and NDP in Canada

Harper's swing to far right means NDP and Greens should UNITE

New legislation the work of paid lobbyists

As Canadians are clearly about 85% to 90% against the PCs new anti-pot and and anti-privacy bills, these must have been created by influential lobbyists representing the interests of mega corporations.

If ever there were a time for Canada's environmental movement (eg Green Party) and social justice block (NDP) to UNITE into one party for progressive Canadians, THIS is it!!!!!!!

If the New Democratic Party and the Green Party were to merge into the Green Democratic Party of Canada, it is suggested that the new entity would sweep Quebec, BC and the GTA, and likely earn a majority government. Discuss among yourselves, and in the Comments section below.

Canadian PM likes muzzling dissent, limiting free speech

Stephen Harper MUZZLING CABINET MINISTERS, MPs, JUDGES, ETC.

How Harper controls the spin:

Zeal to manage message sees journalists shunned, bureaucrats, cabinet ministers routinely muzzled. Public appearances by cabinet ministers – whether it's a speech or an interview – are carefully staged, starting with a "message event proposal" vetted by the Privy Council Office, the bureaucratic wing of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429906

PM slaps muzzle on military brass
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/National/2006/04/15/1535119-sun.html

Hillier, Sr.Officials Muzzled by PMO
http://forums.army.ca/forums/index.php/topic,42247.0.html

Mum’s the word: Harper tells MPs to keep mouths shut
http://www.carleton.ca/ctown/archiv/mar3106/Insite2.htm

Tories tighten muzzle on PS [Public Service] for campaign
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=93e98b5c-593a-4eac-b835-a4359e80babd

Former chief justice of Canada accuses PM of trying to "muzzle" the judiciary
http://www.anticorruption.ca/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4792&sid=44cad6d7756e9bd7010d182cb62e00da

'Muzzle' Placed On Federal Scientists
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=47bf0fba-b98f-43fb-89fb-58b6464a7b24&k=65248

Tories muzzle environmental scientist
http://www.hour.ca/news/news.aspx?iIDArticle=8942

Minister stops book talk by Environment Canada scientist
http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/04/13/ambrose-climate.html

Mum's the word till message vetted
No federal cabinet minister speaks to a journalist, gives a speech or makes a policy announcement until a "message event proposal" has been vetted by a wing of the Prime Minister's Office.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/429903

Harper lawsuit smacks of authoritarian state: prof
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/08/07/harper-lawsuit.html

Holland shocked by Conservative comments on media
http://www.markholland.ca/news/2006/060331harpermedia.htm

Harper government whips Tories into line with secret handbook
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/columnists/story.html?id=b8122d51-95e8-4b29-b99b-34217406425d

Information Commissioner Robert Marleau told The Hill Times recently that the Harper government has been quietly drafting about 25 government policies that impact on the rights of officers of Parliament, and that it has been happening without their knowledge or input.
http://www.thehilltimes.ca/members/login.php?fail=2&destination=/html/cover_index.php?display=story&full_path=/2008/may/12/spindoctors/

Conservative headquarters scripting calls to radio shows
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080325.wtorytalk0325/BNStory/National/home

Feds keep lid on Atomic Energy Canada sale report
http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Feds+keep+Atomic+Energy+Canada+sale+report/2121029/story.html

Huge loss expected in any AECL sale, MPs concede
http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Huge+loss+expected+AECL+sale+concede/2129653/story.html

Is he sitting on it?
Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan still has not tabled the 2008 report from the Commissioner of Firearms. Knowing the report will likely be favourable to the existing gun registry, many have questioned whether Van Loan is suppressing the report until after tonight's vote on scrapping the long gun registry.
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2009/11/is-he-sitting-on-it.html

Canada slips in 'press freedom' rankings
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/712978--canada-slips-in-press-freedom-rankings

Torture probe delayed; Tories deny gagging witness
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/704155

Lawyers seek to gag witnesses in Afghan prisoner inquiry
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090929/taliban_prisoners_090929/20090929?hub=Canada

Has Canada entered a 'Bush-like vortex'?
Richard Colvin's torture allegations suggest civil servants aren't writing down what the government doesn't want recorded
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/has-canada-entered-a-bush-like-vortex/article1404311/

PMO issued instructions on denying abuse in '07
Former NATO official says response to reports was 'scripted' in Ottawa
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/729157--pmo-issued-instructions-on-denying-abuse-in-07

Tories attack credibility of diplomat who blew whistle on torture
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tories-attack-credibility-of-diplomat-who-blew-whistle-on-torture/article1369993/

Attack on senior diplomat signals demise of independent public service: experts
"If we don’t have a public service that speaks truth to power we might as well have everything run out of the Prime Minister’s Office.”
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Attack+Colvin+signals+demise+independent+public+service/2283460/story.html

Diplomats told to keep quiet on torture allegations, sources say
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/diplomats-told-to-keep-quiet-on-torture-allegations-sources-say/article1367390/

Former ambassadors condemn Ottawa's attack on diplomat
Response to Colvin's detainee testimony discourages honest reports, letter says
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/former-ambassadors-condemn-ottawas-attack-on-diplomat/article1392248/

Public service in crisis over Colvin
The Harper government's attack on a senior diplomat could be the final blow in the unravelling of Canada's once-sacred tradition of an independent, non-partisan public service, warn experts
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Public+service+crisis+over+Colvin/2285239/story.html

Afghan detainee watchdog warns of Tory ‘chilling effect'
Departing military commission chief's [BECAUSE HE WAS REFUSED REAPPOINTMENT BY THE TORIES] comments come as Harper government digs in its heels in face of parliamentary order to turn over confidential files
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/afghan-detainee-watchdog-warns-of-tory-chilling-effect/article1397570/

Detainee watchdog post remains unfilled
Military police commission set to meet in March, but Ottawa's delays in appointing new chairman could prompt delay
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/detainee-watchdog-post-remains-unfilled/article1428874/

Feds refuse legal funding to whistleblower diplomat
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091027/whistleblower_legal_091027/20091027?hub=Canada
Ottawa's stance on whistleblower's legal costs called 'unethical'
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/716489--ottawa-s-stance-on-whistleblower-s-legal-costs-called-unethical

Feds tried to order nuclear regulator to bend rules
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071218/reactor_order_071218/20071218?hub=Politics

Ottawa fires nuclear safety commission head [nuclear regulator]
http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourview/2008/01/ottawa_fires_nuclear_safety_co.html

Ousted regulator just doing her job
http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/294886

Tories drop RCMP complaints commissioner
Paul Kennedy sparred with government over office's powers, budget
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/731775--tories-drop-rcmp-complaints-commissioner

Clement slams CMA doctors for supporting drug-injection site
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=732204

Scientific data backs Insite
http://www.straight.com/scientific-data-backs-insite

Budget officer [Kevin Page] questions projected federal surplus
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/Budget+officer+questions+projected+surplus/1054174/story.html

If the object of the exercise was “truth in budgeting”, that’s what Kevin’s office provided. But that realism, whether in regard to rosy but flawed government fiscal forecasts or the true cost of the war in Afghanistan, has been a bit too much truth for this government. Mr. [Kevin] Page’s office has had its budget cut by one million dollars.
http://informedvote.ca/2009/11/07/our-parliamentary-budget-officer-kevin-page-%E2%80%93-a-canadian-hero/

Conservatives stop funding for learning organization
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-stop-funding-for-learning-organization/article1423912/

Ottawa is cutting off public input into climate-change policy
http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/Ottawa+cutting+public+input+into+climate+change+policy/2126254/story.html

Tory candidate dumped for frank TV comments: Mused riding wouldn't get infrastructure cash because it's Liberal-held
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/702396

Tory candidates avoiding debates [Election Campaign, 2008]
Campaign official says 'there's no policy' forbidding participation in certain all-candidates' meetings
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/510147

Gov't program wants job applicants' views on Tory budget
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20091104/interns_federal_091104/20091104?hub=QPeriod

Insults, discourtesy and disrespect mark Harper team's behaviour: Targets have included AIDS activists, Nobel Prize winners and Road to Avonlea star
http://www.harperindex.ca/ViewArticle.cfm?Ref=00145


More Stephen Harper attacks on democracy

Canada's proposed Bill C-10 violates civil liberties

Canadian Civil Liberties Association has broad concerns over flawed legislation

Six main points where CCLA is most concerned about the impact of this Bill:

1. Broad and vague amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act:

Amendments give a very broad mandate to deny any foreign national a work permit and do not specify what factors would be used to target an individual as ‘at risk’ of being exploited. It is also poor public policy to punish foreign individuals who are vulnerable to abuse as opposed to addressing the Canadian employers who exploit these populations.

2. Hollow expansion for the rights of victims:

Both torture and terrorism are serious crimes of international concern. Numerous Canadian victims of torture have been unable to access meaningful justice in Canadian courts– and yet the government has chosen only to make these amendments available to victims of terrorism. Even victims of terrorism would have to have their cases ‘pre-approved’ by the government, which has the ability to decide which governments can and cannot be sued. Canada should not play politics with victims of torture and terrorism.

3. Unconstitutional use of mandatory minimums:

The use of mandatory minimums for broad and vague underlying offences may result in the imposition of unjust, grossly disproportionate sentences. The drug provisions include low-level drug offences – producing as little as six marihuana plants – and extremely broad aggravating factors which would target all those who rent or live in a house they do not own.

The child pornography provisions criminalize, and would impose mandatory minimum jail sentences, for the consensual, legal sexual activities of youth and young adults. There is little evidence that mandatory minimums provide any deterrent impact, enhance community safety or lower crime rates. There is also little evidence to suggest that they will significantly impact sentences for the most serious offenders – who are already being sentenced to significant amounts of jail time by the judiciary. Rather they will handcuff the judiciary, preventing them from responding to unique facts and exceptional personal circumstances.



4. Prison conditions and disparate impact of amendments on aboriginal peoples and persons requiring mental health care:

The proposed will amendments greatly increase the prison population, and are likely to have a disproportionate and devastating impact on already-marginalized communities – particularly Aboriginal peoples and those with mental health needs. These populations are already greatly over-represented in correctional institutions, and existing programs and services are already ineffective and insufficient to keep up with general demand. The elimination of conditional sentences for a range of offences is particularly concerning, as these flexible sentencing tools are used by the judiciary to allow single mothers to continue working while serving their sentence and preventing the breakup of families, or to ensure that those with underlying mental health needs get the community treatment that best ensures their recovery and rehabilitation.



5. Unconstitutional amendments to the International Transfer of Offenders Act:

The amendments attempt to give the Minister an unconstitutional level of discretion over when Canadian citizens, incarcerated abroad, can return to Canada. From a policy perspective, facilitating such transfers enhances public safety as rehabilitation and reintegration is enhanced when individuals are close to their families and have access to high-quality, culturally-appropriate programs. When offenders serve a portion of their sentence in Canada, it also allows the government to create records of their crimes and monitor their rehabilitation. Absent such transfers, offenders would simply return to Canada at the end of their sentence without any records or legal restrictions on their activities.


6. Increasing transparency and accountability:

The CCLA welcomes the required 5-year review of the mandatory minimum provisions set out in s. 42 of the Bill and the requirement that the National Parole Board submit an annual report that includes the number of applications for record suspensions and the number of record suspensions ordered. Similar reviews and public reports to parliament should be undertaken with respect to the changes to the other acts.


What is CCLA doing, and what can you do?

We are doing our best to convince the government to make specific amendments that will hopefully mitigate the most devastating consequences of the Bill – for example by eliminating some of the broadest mandatory minimum sentences and introducing some sentencing flexibility for marginalized communities that are already overrepresented in, and underserved by, our penitentiaries. We are writing op-eds, speaking to media, and sent written submissions to the Parliamentary Committee that considered the Bill. We will continue to advocate for changes to be introduced by the Senate We also need you to lend your voice – call your MP, write to the Senate, make your opinion known!

Three specific changes you can ask for:

Eliminate the mandatory minimum sentences

Introduce flexibility in the conditional sentencing exclusions to make sure that already-marginalized communities are not needlessly harmed by excessive and unnecessary jail time

Call for a five-year, independent report to Parliament that will evaluate the impact of any changes that are enacted!


Canada's Bill C-10 and Canadian Civil Liberties Association research

Origin of "tree hugger" phrase

The first tree huggers were 294 men and 69 women belonging to the Bishnois branch of Hinduism, who, in 1730, died while trying to protect the trees in their village from being turned into the raw material for building a palace. They literally clung to the trees, while being slaughtered by the foresters. But their action led to a royal decree prohibiting the cutting of trees in any Bishnoi village. And now those villages are virtual wooded oases amidst an otherwise desert landscape. Not only that, the Bishnois inspired the Chipko movement (which means “to cling”) that started in the 1970s, when a group of peasant women in Northeast India threw their arms around trees designated to be cut down. Within a few years, this tactic, also known as tree satyagraha, had spread across India, ultimately forcing reforms in forestry and a moratorium on tree felling in Himalayan regions.

History of the phrase "tree huggers" explained