Environment
Green Party Ready to Pitch Platform
The Green Party, headed by outspoken leader Elizabeth May, is gearing up this week to take part in its first ever federal election debates tonight and Thursday.In previous posts, I've highlighted the environmental platforms of the Liberals and NDP parties. I guess just the Green Party is left (that's a dig at the Conservatives, who still haven't released their platform).
Obviously the Green Party continues to make environmental issues the backbone of their campaign. In fact, their environmental objectives are so comprehensive that it's hard to find a decent dissection in the mainstream media. So let's break it down here:
Environment
NDP Senses Changing Environment in the Polls
*Note: Post was edited Monday morning in light of details released in written platform.As NDP leader Jack Layton is set to officially unveil his party's program here in Toronto today, what better time to take a look at the environmental platform?
It appears that Dion is worried about growing NDP support in Toronto and will be heading to Toronto as well to compete for support in this important battleground. Last week I took a look at the Liberal Green Shift and this week we'll see how the NDP plan stacks up.
Environment
Green Shifting Doesn't Have to Make Your Head Spin
Since Liberal leader Stephane Dion was apparently downplaying his party's Green Shift plan by not mentioning it when speaking recently in Toronto, and then avoiding it again when visiting Western farmers, I figured a highlighting of said plan is in order.When asked about the centrality of the Green Shift to the Liberal platform, he was quoted as saying "You have said it was, but never me." That's a bit confusing, but perhaps an understandable statement given in the context of announcing big handouts to farmers (who are worried about being hit financially from the plan).
City
TTC: Give Us A Route Planner
Okay... I've agreed with too many people lately on this point: it is ridiculous that the TTC does not offer some sort of route planner tool on their website. You know... go to a website, punch in where you are, where you want to go, and tell me how to get there.They have just approved $9.9 million to be spent on a satellite system to give travelers an accurate update on for arrival times. GPS data will be relayed to bus and subway stations to let you know precisely when to expect your ride.
That's great. But someone please give me a good reason for not making a trip planner a priority. Although they have recently unveiled their new website, a trip planner is still M.I.A.
How many times have you had to download the huge PDF version of the system map, zooming in with your fingers crossed that your computer doesn't hang up, so that you can try to plot out a decent route to get somewhere? An automated trip or route planner seems like such an easy way to drastically improve service.
There is the TTC phone hotline but believe me, you won't get much help there. Call expecting someone to tell you how to get from point A to point B - they're about as helpful as a candy store is to a diabetic.
Environment
Metrolinx Transit Plan Unveiled
Details of a massive plan for the future of public transit in the GTA have finally been unveiled to the media. A report surfaced today pegging the required budget at $55 billion. Now that is if all the recommendations in the plan were to actually go ahead (unlikely). Expect this to blow up into a huge issue around who should be responsible for funding it. Timely, given the talk about an impending federal election.Back in July we reported that Metrolinx had again delayed this same plan after it was originally scheduled to come out in the spring. This is the organization otherwise known as the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, and this highly anticipated "master plan" is the culmination of a lot of hoopla over the benefits of making transit plans for the whole region rather than each municipality acting independently.
Eat & Drink
'Tis the Season for Grass-Fed Beef
Unbeknownst to most, the next few weeks present the best time of year to get your hands on grass-fed beef. That is, meat from animals fed a proper, natural diet.
The arrival of fall means that pasture-raised animals have had all summer to fill up on grassy goodness and are prime for keeping us well-fed over the winter months. You won't find the stuff at your average grocery store or butcher though. In fact, asking for grass-fed beef in these locations tends to illicit blank stares. But a little research reveals some great sources in the Toronto area.
If grass-fed isn't on your meat buying radar, read on and it just might change the way you think about premium meat. And if your butcher hasn't heard of grass-fed meats, well, send him here too (and/or find a new one).
Okay... back up. What are cows usually fed? Well, with the advent of factory farming in North America, we've switched them on to a diet of grain because it's cheap and it fattens them up quickly. So practically any meat you buy in the area, unless otherwise stated, is "grain-fed". It's the cheapest thing you could possibly feed an animal and brings them up to slaughter weight abnormally fast. Farmers don't have to let the animals graze on grassland pastures; they can just pile them into stalls where they have nothing to do but stuff their faces with grain feed.
