2019 – Planet Laurel

Elizabeth May: A Legacy of Leading the Green Party

Elizabeth May: A Legacy of Leading the Green Party:

I am very sad to see Ms May step down as the Green Party of Canada leader; I believe she would make a fabulous Prime Minister, but that was not to be. On the other hand, she’s certainly put the GPC on the map. And, for that matter, Greens. Despite the Defenders of the Status quo who’ve accused her of trying to hog the spotlight. Since becoming involved with the GPC, I can tell you nothing could have been further from the truth. Part of the reason there are 3 Green MLAs in BC, 1 MPP in Ontario, 3 MLAs in New Brunswick, and that the Official Opposition in PEI is due in part to the fact Ms May has always spared some of her prodigious energy working to help build the Green movement across Canada. The problem has not been with Ms May, but with defenders of the Status Quo number the MSM (Mainstream Media), which has generally worked hard to lock Greens out of politics. They know a strong enough Green influence will disrupt the status quo. Because Greens do politics differently. This is a great interview. Well worth a listen.

Bob Jonkman at the Paris Fair 2019I’m caught up in…

Bob Jonkman at the Paris Fair 2019

I’m caught up in politics… this is my husband, Bob Jonkman, the Green Party candidate for Brantford-Brant, Ontario, in the upcoming 2019 federal election.

I’m of the opinion that we really need to leave the world a better place than we found it, for our kids, and their kids, and their kids… but if we keep on as we’ve been, we’ll bequeath them a Mad Max dystopia. Fortunately, the Green Party has a plan:

MISSION POSSIBLE
https://www.greenparty.ca/en/mission-possible

Welcome WRGreens Candidates

WRGreens second nomination meeting has filled our slate of 2019 WRGreens candidates. Congratualations!

Cambridge GPC Candidate

Michele Braniff

Kitchener—Conestoga GPC Candidate

Stephanie Goertz

Kitchener South—Hespeler GPC Candidate

David Weber, Kitchener South—Hespeler Candidate makes his case

David Weber

Mingling

Music

Networking

Cambridge, Kitchener—Conestoga and Kitchener South—Hespeler Candidate Nominees — Candidate Nominees: *Cambridge*: **Michele Braniff**, *Kitchener—Conestoga*: **Stephanie Goertz**,
*Kitchener South—Hespeler*: **Ian Graham, Archie Henderson, David Weber**

With all our candidates chosen, our 2019 candidates first official outing was the following Saturday’s pancake flipping team at the 2019 Elmira Maple Syrup Festival.

In 2015 WRGreens only female candidate was Michele Braniff in Cambridge. In 2018 we got closer to gender balance when Stacey Danckert ran in Kitchener Centre provincially. But now, in 2019, we are especially pleased to note the WRGreens gender imbalance now swings the other way, with 3 of our 5 (60%) candidates being women.

THE FULL SLATE

Congratulations to all our 2019 candidates!

**David Weber Michele Braniff Stephanie Goertz Kirsten Wright Mike Morrice**
*Kitchener South—Hespeler • Cambridge • Kitchener—Conestoga • Waterloo • Kitchener Centre*

Bill 71, Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, 2019

Mike Schreiner: “It’s time we started taking seriously our sacred responsibility to leave a livable planet for our children and grandchildren.”

On Wednesday February 20th, 2019, Mike Schreiner made history again when he introduced his first Private Member’s Bill in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

You can read Bill 71, Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Act, 2019 online
(An Act to conserve the Paris Galt Moraine by providing for the Paris Galt Moraine Conservation Plan)

In the face of climate change, resource extraction and sprawl, Mike’s draft legislation seeks to protect the Paris Galt Moraine, an essential water ecologically sensitive recharge area in the Grand River Watershed which naturally purifies water for the citizens of Guelph and the surrounding area. Bill 71 would amend the province’s Planning Act and Development Charges Act to more strictly regulate development that could jeopardize the moraine’s integrity.

“This is about conserving what nature can do for free, so I cannot think of a more fiscally responsible solution. Failure to act could put the government on the hook for hundreds of millions in water infrastructure, like an expensive pipeline from the Great Lakes.”
—Mike Schreiner.

Mike wrote the draft legislation over a period of months where he consulted with water experts and Ontario stakeholders, including First Nations, municipalities, farmers and MPPs from all parties.

With this important legislation, Mike has demonstrated the Green Party’s core commitment to participatory democracy and consensus based governance by building all-party support, which resulted in the bill’s passage at Second Reading on March 7th, 2019. “I’m glad my colleagues unanimously showed their commitment to Ontario’s water today. Safeguarding water and food-growing farmland should not be partisan issues. Let this be a first step towards all-party collaboration to protect the places we love,” said Schreiner.

“I appealed to good progressive conservative thinking from the past. But it took four different bills over two years before the Oak Ridges Moraine was protected by legislation. With climate change on Ontario’s doorstep, and $1.2 billion in damage last year alone, we must act quicker. I look forward to working on this bill at committee, and this legislation returning to the House for a final vote.”
—Mike Schreiner, First Green legislation passes key vote with all-party support

Meet The Nominees #KitCen

Bob Jonkman, Candidate Nominee with his son Willem — Candidate Nominee Bob Jonkman poses with his son at the WRGreens PreNomination Social

Bob Jonkman has championed Proportional Representation since he
volunteered for Fair Vote Canada in the 2007 referendum. As an Executive
Member of the very active Fair Vote Waterloo Region Chapter, Bob came to
believe electoral reform could best be accomplished by entering
politics. He ran for office federally in 2015 and provincially in 2018
as the Green Party candidate in Kitchener—Conestoga.

Working with local social justice organizations has helped foster Bob’s
commitment to achieving the goals of equity and inclusion. His community
service includes work with the WRNonviolence Day In The Park, KWPeace,
and as an active member of the Social Development Council of Waterloo
Region. Bob has volunteered with the PTA, worked to save Victoria Glen
Park from development, fought the placement of a biogas mega plant in
downtown Elmira, and served on the Elmira BioFuel Citizens’ Committee.
In his spare time Bob enjoys participating at CKMS-FM, the local
community radio station where he is on the Board of Directors.

Bob’s digital community service includes organizing and giving
presentations at computer user group meetings. As a long time member of
the Free Software community, Bob encourages the use of software that
respects computer users’ freedom. He’s a strong advocate for transparent
government and freely available Open Data in government and business,
balanced with protection of personal privacy through cryptography and
safe online practices.

Professionally, Bob is a small business owner providing computer
consulting, technical support and training to large and small Ontario
businesses.

Born in the Netherlands and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Bob and
Laurel chose to move to Elmira to raise their son twenty years ago.

Bob’s commitment to the Green Party is rooted in shared values that have
inspired his work to enact positive change for a stronger democracy and
a sustainable future.

More about Bob

Follow Bob:

email: bob.jonkman@greenparty.ca

wrawesome: TONIGHT at Fresh Ground in Kitchener! Find out whats…

wrawesome:

TONIGHT at Fresh Ground in Kitchener!

Find out whats up with the Green Party in 2019!

Meet the people vying to be Green Party Candidates in:

Cambridge

Kitchener Centre

Kitchener—Conestoga

Kitchener South—Hespeler

Waterloo

You don’t have to be a Green member, or even a Green supporter… everyone welcome! Like most Green doings, this is a family friendly event!
Register at Eventbright

WRGreens blog: Catch A Wave
Facebook event page

Fresh Ground
256 King Street East, Kitchener, ON

Catch a Green Wave

Excitement in the Green community is at an all time high: the Green movement is growing. You may already be part of it without even realizing it! Every conversation you have about our communities, economies, and environment builds the impetus toward change. We’re seeing an appetite for a green future beyond anything we’ve seen in past elections… and this one hasn’t even begun!

WTGreens are growing a people-powered movement in Waterloo Region to elect our first Green MPs!

You’re invited to our 2019 WRGreens Candidate preNomination Social
Thursday, January 31st
7:00 – 9:00pm
at Fresh Ground ~ 256 King St E, Kitchener

People from all parties and backgrounds are invited to come find out how we will make the community, economy, and environment our priority.

WRGreens believe our only credible path toward a healthy and robust future for our region and our country is decisive action: we need to start electing Green MPs. We have all the tools and solutions. All we need do is choose to act together. Be part of the solution by joining the first wave of this movement as we build toward the October election!

Come meet Waterloo Region’s Green Party candidate nominees

So far we have half a dozen declared candidate nominees for Kitchener Centre, and we may have contested nominations in all 5 ridings! This is your chance to find out what our potential Waterloo Region Greens candidates are working for, and why they’ve committed to running under the Green banner in 2019! If you are interested in throwing your hat in the ring (or know someone else who might be) for the riding of

contact WRGreens Nominations Chair Kris Braun at kris.braun@greenparty.ca

Our first combined nomination meeting will take place on March 6th, when GPC members of the Kitchener Centre and Waterloo EDAs will choose their candidates. Then In April, we’ll host the combined meeting for Kitchener South–Hespeler, Kitchener–Conestoga, and Cambridge candidates.

If you’re not a member yet, before you can vote for the next Green Party Candidate in your riding, you’ll need to join the party. You can purchase your $10 membership online before the preNomination Social, or you can wait and do it at the event.

Whether you’re a GPC member or a friend, this will be a great opportunity to grab a coffee, listen to music, and get to know each other. Families are welcome.

Facebook Event Page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/382995449117240/

RSVPs are appreciated so we can be sure to accommodate everyone who wishes to attend. Sign up for this free event on the
Eventbright Page: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/waterloo-region-greens-pre-nomination-kickoff-tickets-54805419485

coming soon:

Joint Nomination Meeting for the Kitchener Centre and Waterloo Electoral District Associations

What: WRGreens Regular Meeting and Joint Nomination Meeting
When: Wednesday, March 6th, 2019
Where: To Be Determined
- Cutoff for new memberships would be Monday, February 4th, 2019

Joint Nomination Meeting for Kitchener South–Hespeler, Kitchener–Conestoga, and Cambridge Electoral District Associations

What: WRGreens Regular Meeting and Joint Nomination Meeting
When: First week of April
Where: To Be Determined
- Cutoff for new memberships will be in the March, 30 days before the nomination contest.