Promotion of sustainable local business and farms good for the economy: Schreiner

By Bill Samuel
For the second time in a week a leader of an Ontario opposition party has chosen the County as a stop on their summer barbecue circuit.
The first full-time leader of the Ontario Green Party, Mike Schreiner, arrived in the County via his bicycle late Monday afternoon. He was a participant in the Friends for Life bike rally supporting the Toronto AIDS Foundation. Monday evening was spent at the home of the local party association president, Treat Hull to meet and greet Green Party supporters. Tuesday he will be at the Waring House to discuss the government’s recent changes to the solar microFIT program.
The solar microFIT program was designed to promote green energy options in Ontario. A critical part of the program guaranteed a set price for the duration of the long-term contract. On the July long-weekend the government of Ontario announced a lowering of the rate being paid. There are more than 11,000 applicants waiting to be processed.
“It is not the fault of the applicants that the system is backlogged,” said Mike Schreiner. “We don’t think it’s fair to cut the rates that were advertised.”
This program is an excellent opportunity to help support the Ontario farmer. It will give them a cash flow that isn’t dependent on crops, said Mike Schreiner. It will help diversify our electric system and create jobs in our rural communities.
Speaking at some length to the needs of rural Ontario, the Green Party leader said that the Ontario government needs to set an example by committing its ministries and agencies to buying locally from the agricultural sector as well as the industrial sector. To encourage business and private individuals to participate the party proposes to introduce tax incentives for those that purchase locally.
“I don’t think its right for the public sector to force the private sector to do something,” said Schreiner. “If we create the right kind of incentives it will make economic sense for business’ to expand their offerings of local food.”
Being green and in business are not opposites, he said. “Promotion of sustainable local businesses and farms is good for the economy. Our current economic environment has been disconnected from our communities.
“I am a firm believer that when somebody invests and works where they live and play they are going to take care of it more,” he said. “They are going to cherish it more, they are more connected to it.”
Nuclear energy is not a viable option, said Schreiner. Ontario rate-payers are still paying for the provinces nuclear plants. “The industry has never been able to build  nuclear plant at cost, on time and they are not insurable. The added risk of nuclear waste, environmentally and the potential of falling into terrorist hands makes its use unacceptable. Ontario should continue investing in hydro-electric and alternative energy sources.”
Officially registering as a political party in 1983, the Green Party of Ontario has continued to grow. They currently receive about nine per cent of the popular vote, and Schreiner says they are confident that with some hard work that number will increase.