Dear friends of democracy and climate action,
Our court victory as of this morning is being stolen from us - unless MPPs who will have a free vote on Wednesday - refuse to follow Ford's hard line determination to thwart the judge's ruling granting us a 47 ward election on Oct 22nd. They might think twice about it if enough people point out to them:
1) the tremendous cost of continuing to focus on Toronto's election. The cost of calling back the Legislature alone runs completely contrary to reducing the cost of government.
2) For Conservative members outside of Toronto, the concern that this government is fixating on Toronto rather than dealing with the issues that matter in their local ridings -- NAFTA for those near the US border and rural areas, forest fires for Northern ridings, etc.
3) Stats Can announced that Ontario lost 80,000 jobs in August. This should be the government's top concern regardless of which riding the MPP represents.
These points are all in addition to the argument that this move is extremely anti-democratic and is threatening to the powers and autonomy of all the municipalities in Ontario. If Ford can do this to Toronto what's to stop him from doing it to other communities? It is also a threat to all groups and people protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as he has said he is prepared to use this clause again.
Can you take the time to make 5 phone calls? Leave a message tonight or call tomorrow morning. Here's the link to MPPs contacts: https://www.ola.org/en/members/parliament-42
Please pass on to your friends, especially if you have family or friends in conservative-held ridings. If 1000 of us make 5 calls that's 5000 calls - they will notice for sure.
Eglinton-Lawrence MPP Robin Martin was elected on a very small margin. 416-212-5008 . Attorney General Caroline Mulroney ought to hear from us too: 905-895-0337 caroline.mulroney@pc.ola.org.
Please join us Wednesday night 6:30 pm at Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave (near St.George and Bloor) for climate action strategy meeting followed by the Duke of York Pub, 39 Prince Arthur, at 9:30 pm to commiserate – or celebrate!
Lyn Adamson, ClimateFast
Let's act on climate, fast!