Yesterday Dalton McGuinty shuffled cabinet in a hope to improve operations of Ontario Governments. Although, that’s also what he said in January when he had again shuffled cabinet. Instead of efficient, reliable government Ontarian’s were sidled with an eco-fee debacle, a raid on ministries and a strengthened sense that our government is no longer serving the needs of the province.

The shuffle also saw the split of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MEI). Both with sizable mandates, they warrant having two ministers. Infrastructure is responsible for the implementation of sound infrastructure strategies for the province; given that the population of the province is exploding and our current infrastructure is aging and failing, this is no small feat to accomplish. Energy is responsible for developing the energy policy framework that is central to the building of a strong and prosperous economy for Ontario; green energy, smart-metering, conservation, etc … again more work than one minister should be responsible for. To be fair to Ontarian’s and to move this province in the right direction MEI needed a split, let’s just hope it wasn’t too late.

Now that the Ministry of the Environment has a new leader, will it be enough to undue the mistakes made with an Eco-fee?

An eco-tax was inevitable. To move from cradle-to-grave to cradle-to-cradle (i.e. eliminating and minimizing our waste) a fee was needed to encourage consumers to buy more eco-friendly products and to choose products with less packaging. My favourite criticism of the new tax (because it’s not a fee, it is a tax) is

“Taxpayers on the hook as eco fees scrapped.”

And who else was going to pay for it? I must have missed something but I believe that most people paying the eco-tax also pay their provincial taxes. Granted how the tax payments are distributed may not be as equal as if we all had bought our own products. But don’t blame Queens Park for that the media spun the eco-tax as evil. Why don’t we sidle them with the millions of dollars that will be generated from the eco-tax? But then again what’s the point?

Until there is transparency as to where our eco-tax is spent and who get’s what proportion of it, no one should be footing the bill.

Maybe the money generated from the eco-tax should be donated to those suffering from the flooding in Pakistan, Kashmir, China and all the other places we never hear about. After all at least we would know where are money was going.

A Green MBA

As the world becomes more educated it is becoming more common place for individuals to pursue a post-graduate degree. As we all try to ‘out-do’ one and other more people are opting to pursue and MBA degree. Although having a masters this day may be seen as ‘a-dime-a-dozen’ I was always raised to believe that learning is of utmost importance and continuous and that if it something one wants to do than they should do it!

In keeping pace with the changing job economy I was impressed to see that schools are now offering ‘green’ MBAs’. Here are some of the options:

• University of Pennsylvania – Dual Green MBA at the Wharton School and School of Arts and Sciences
• University of North Carolina – Sustainable Management Program
• Antioch University of New England – MBA in Organizational and Environmentally Sustainability
• Griffith University – MBA of Sustainability Specialization and Triple Bottom Line Accounting

The list isn’t bottomless, but there are quite a few options. A short list of others can be found here. In an attempt to keeping up with the changing curriculum many schools are adding ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ courses all the time.

Preparing for Other designations

Some North American colleges and universities are now offering courses that prepare students to write their LEEDs (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is ever evolving, and will soon have 6 Rating Systems: Commercial Interiors, Core & Shell, New Construction, School & Health Care, Existing Building Operations & Maintenance, and soon to be Neighbourhood Development.

The accreditation’s and programs are adapting to meet the needs of our more sustainable future. As I continue on my quest to write the LEED AP exam this summer I’m continuously dreaming up things I would like to do to my home!

By Merging GO Transit and Metrolinx Ontario should be able to create more jobs in our fragile economy

The merger will be lead by Robert Prichard and he will be advised by several others including current Metrolinx Chair Rob MacIsaac and GO Transit Chair Peter Smith. By merging Metrolinx with GO Transit this will not only allow Metrolinx to fulfill the original intent of Metrolinx, but also to take advantage of the Federal budget announcements and get shovel ready projects in the ground.

This merger also means that Ontario tax payers will own selected new regional transit infrastructure. But municipalities will also have to consult with Metrolinx on any changes to their existing transit system. With this merger it should hopefully mean the end of municipalities acting as silos and transit being more consistent across Southern Ontario.

Other quick facts:

• there are more than 1.6 million transit trips a day in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area
• GO Transit carries 55 million passengers a year
• Congestion of the Greater Toronto Area costs $6 billion annually

For more information please see Metrolinx, particularly the two articles Ontario Merging GO Transit and Metrolinx and Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area Transit Implementation Act, 2009.

All of this has happened before and all of this will happen again.

These long range predictions are nothing new. Russion economist Nicolai Kondratieff wrote a book in 1925 summarizing his theory. The four stages, spring (growth), summer (recession), fall (plateau) and winter (depression) summarize what happen long term in our economy. Schiff believes we’re in the winter. When do things start blossoming for a new spring?

Those who invest in infrastructure weather the winter storm best.

So what does all of this have to do with transportation and sustainable infrastructure? Last night Schiff stated that the economic bailout package from the US government will only have a micro-stimulation. Much like the January thaw in Ontario things will return to their frozen, stagnant way again. Schiff predicts that the economy will start to grow again sometime around 2013-2014.

Likely after all of this China will emerge as the super power. Having invested in infrastructure, in its people and in the country’s future, China will be at the forefront of the economy. And likely China will have to bail out the US.

What’s more the $1million plus homes on the golf course won’t be selling anytime soon. Places like Florida, Arizona, and Nevada (mostly Las Vegas) have seen up to 60% declines in housing values. The boomers are downsizing and those following in their paths can’t afford to buy the homes. The next generation still cannot afford the massive suburban home; they want condos in the city centres and small starter homes. Unfortunately those in the basic suburban developments will be hurt the most.

It will be interesting to see if we change our living habits during the recession. Will more people move back to the city? As the price of gas and energy rises again people may be less willing to use the personal automobile as it becomes too expensive and heating and cooling a large home may no longer be feasible. On the positive side living in the city in smaller dwellings does have great environmental returns.

Here’s what he had to say:

“With respect to the field of buildings and energy-efficiency, the
federal budget was disappointing.
At a time when we face the twin problems of global warming and a future in
which energy supplies will wane
and prices will rise, Harper’s government gives money to household
renovations like new bathrooms
and kitchens.

To be strategically focused on sustaining our country, and ensuring
Canadians continue to have the
opportunity to heat their homes during the cold of winter, the government
should have put this money
toward Canadians who are renovating old homes, or building new homes more
responsibly. Taxpayers
shouldn’t be subsidizing the purchase of new carpets. We should be
building better homes now. Homes that
will be more affordable to operate, less burdensome on our environment -
homes that will make our
grandchildren proud.

The government had an excellent opportunity to accomplish forward-looking
goals with respect to houses in
Canada, and they missed this entirely. It is disappointing, that only one
week after President Obama
expressed his dedication to a planet that is threatened by our use of
energy, Prime Minister Harper failed
to deliver the same hope, the same passion and the same foresight.”

Professor Pressnail is available for comment. To arrange an interview
please contact:
K.D. Pressnail,
an Engineering Professor in Building Science and Civil
Engineering from the University of Toronto

Last night the debate about Walmart came up around my dinner table. I had gone there yesterday to purchase some kittie litter for the two new little kitties I welcomed into my house. I ended up getting a few other things there including a set of place-mats.

My family and friends around the table were shocked that I would go into a Walmart. And yes I try not to admit to going into Walmart. But last night they really got me thinking about it and in the future I will go to local and Canadian stores.

My father was adamantly opposed to Walmart and at first we thought it was because he was just ‘too good’ for Walmart. But that is not the case at all. He objects to going in because they ruin small towns, the lives of the people and the small town culture. My friend, Mel, grew up in small town Ontario on a gorgeous dairy farm. Her town has been slotted to get a Walmart and construction is underway. She worries about the devastation her town faces in the coming years and I don’t blame her. Alliston, Ontario has a very sweet and charming Main Street. What will happen to it when Walmart moves in? Will Main Street become Dead Street?

The arguments from my father and Mel really got me thinking. Walmart is not sustainable, far from regenerative, and shouldn’t have a place in our future. To stop Walmart from destroying more of Canada and the US we need to just stop shopping there.