Daily Archives: February 6, 2021

opinion

Is this America, the home of the brave and the land of the free?

I have an analogy: a tale versus recent events. Imagine a government official is undergoing a show trial in a banana republic. Uniformed soldiers line the streets. Hundreds of witnesses swear they saw him commit the crime. He provides no proof of innocence but takes the stand and demands the witnesses recant and apologize. He accuses them of racism and demands they be censured, silenced, resign and painted with ScarletLetters (If you are ignorant of the story, look it up). He gets off Scotfree and proudly states: Justice has been served. The courts dutifully acquiesce.The media cheer! Trumpets blare!

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Democrats have been accused of cheating in the election and stealing it. Hundreds of whistleblowers testify under oath they saw cheating with their own eyes. Democrats who lied in the past about collusion with Russia feign innocence but wont debate the evidence. Instead, they label the whistleblowers as racists and cultists. There are demands that certain Republican senators and representatives recant, apologize, resign or be recalled because they question the honesty of the election and suggest a commission be appointed to study it. Vindictive Democrats compile a list of Republicans to be blacklisted and banned from getting a job. Representative A.O.C. suggests children of Republicans be sent to re-education camps.Katie Couric suggests deprogramming them. Twitter and Facebook ban certain Republicans. Simon & Schuster refuse to publish Sen. JoshHawleys book (outright censorship). Freedom of speech is dead for Republicans but the media and Big Tech back the Democrats so they can say anything they want.

Democrats control the presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives and have bluffed the judiciary into submission (the Supreme Court cowers in fear of being expanded and packed with liberal, activist judges who will re-write the constitution). Democrats have threatened to give statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, DC so they will control the Senate forever.

Uniformed soldiers and police line the streets during the presidential inauguration. Joe Biden has the gall to state: Democracy has prevailed. The media fawn dutifully! Trumpets blare!

Is this America, the home of the brave and the land of the free? Or has it become Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, North Korea, or a banana republic? Are we going to meekly acquiesce or are we going to vote the rascals out in the next election? Will there ever be another fair election in America? Sigh!

Don Decker, Halstead

What happened to truth?

Whatever happened to elected officials actually having the guts to have truth in advertising their intentions?

I read news reports saying that Gov. Laura Kelly wants to use medical marijuana revenues to pay for the costs of Medicaid patients. I'm not opposed to Kelly finding revenue to pay for Medicaid but she should have the guts to say she wants straight general taxation to fully fund that worthwhile program.

I'm supportive of Medicaid to worthy/needy persons.I am a bit leery of Kelly claiming Medical Marijuana taxes are a "tool" to use as a revenue generator.I truly feel that the so-called 'medical marijuana" is fake. If it does help,then let the patient be confined (like Otis the town drunkin the old "Andy Griffith Show") until the buzz wears off.Many people tout marijuana's safety, yet various governors (including Nebraska Gov.Pete Ricketts ) believe that "pot"causes more harm than good. I concur. I know, in the off chance that it works, those people shouldn't mind being temporarily in custody (I hesitate to use the word incarcerated), but studies show that car drivers are impaired after using marijuana and "pot"can even cause birth defects in male sperm.I know I wouldn't want a person using so-called "medical marijuana" driving 75 mphin the lane next to me on any interstate highway.

I think Kelly is "robbing Peter to pay Paul."Or in this case, she is paying Judas with such a kooky plan.She'll entice more people on dope. If she wants to fully fund Medicaid,fine. Let her impose taxes that tell taxpayers purpose and intent. Let's have truthful accounting, instead of"accounting acrobatics"by our governor,

James A Marles, Esbon

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Letters to the editor - Newton Kansan

A 61% majority of voters across Colorado and seven other western states are more worried than hopeful about nature, pointing to climate change impacts, and 57% plan to get outdoors more often when the COVID-19 pandemic abates, a new opinion poll has found.

Uncontrollable wildfires, loss of pollinators, and low water in rivers ranked among top concerns, according to results unveiled Thursday from the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project poll.

The poll also found strong support for protecting nature 85% favor restoring Clean Water Act coverage for smaller streams and wetlands and 93% support requiring oil and gas companies to pay all costs of cleanup and land restoration. The results show 84% of respondents want the government to create new national parks, monuments, wildlife refuges, tribal protected areas at historic sites and other recreation areas.

Were seeing strong voter concern for nature, which is translating into calls for bold action on public lands in the West, said State of the Rockies Project director Katrina Miller-Stevens, a Colorado College economics professor. If federal and state policy leaders are looking for direction on public lands, the view from the West is clear.

The State of the Rockies poll, conducted annually since 2010, gives a look at western positions on environment and climate warming issues. Lawmakers, legislative lobbyists and advocacy groups watch it closely.

The State of the Rockies Project commissions the poll, which this year was based on a random sample of 3,842 voters, who were interviewed using English and Spanish between Jan. 2 and Jan.13 in eight states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) with at least 400 polled in each state. The margin of error was 2.2% overall and 4.8% for individual states.

The polling was done by a bipartisan team of Lori Weigel and her firm New Bridge Strategy, rooted in Republican politics, and Dave Metz of FM3 Research, which works mostly with Democrats.

Voters surveyed reflect a diverse population, with 38% identifying themselves as politically conservative, 22% as liberal and the rest as moderate. Poll data show 45% of respondents voted for Joe Biden and 42% for Donald Trump.

What stands out in this poll is the agreement on big issues that often get painted as controversial, said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Denver-based Center for Western Priorities.

President Joe Biden has emphasized addressing climate change as a national priority. Westerners responses to 53 questions revealed voter priorities on specific environmental problems. For example, 63% of respondents ranked loss of pollinators such as bees and butterflies as extremely or very serious.

And 71% said wildfire is more of a problem now than 10 years ago, blaming climate change and drought. To address wildfire risks, 94% favored removing overgrown brush and selected or dead trees and 86% favored updating zoning and building codes for new development near forests to keep houses out of burn zones.

Over the past decade, the polling has shown rising climate concerns, Weigel said. Theres a growing sense in the Rocky Mountain West that this is an issue that affects people directly.

Biden officials looking at the West can see a growing consensus for action, Metz said. It is a solid majority, not just among Democrats and Independents but among Republicans. There was a sense before that maybe this was a partisan issue. That has changed.

Among other findings:

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Majority of voters in the West worry about the future of nature, poll finds - The Denver Post

The Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors Association is not opposed to the creation of small ecological reserves in terms of protecting rare plants, fossil localities or rare birds.

But at the present time, president Norm Mercer, said there are significant parts of the island that are excluded from prospecting and explorations activities and that includes national parks, wilderness areas and ecological reserves.

For the prospecting industry that means there are a lot of areas that could have potential for mineral exploration and development that are off-limits.

And the association is concerned that even more areas will be excluded if the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Councils (WERAC) plan to classify 32 areas on the island portion of the province as protected ecological reserves proceeds.

"We have world-class geology, we have world-class mineral endowment and each time you remove areas for those types of activities youre removing a portion of that potential and what comes from that activity with regards to meaningful high paying jobs, economic development opportunities, revenue streams, and much of that would impact rural parts of the province and smaller urban areas of the province.

In 2019 the province released a new mineral strategy to grow the industry and Mercer said that growth has been occurring.

Removing areas that could be accessed for exploration flies in the face of that strategy.

We have world-class geology, we have world-class mineral endowment and each time you remove areas for those types of activities youre removing a portion of that potential." Norm Mercer

Instead, his group supports multiple use policies.

Mercer said prospecting and mineral exploration are non-intrusive activities. Its only a temporary use of the land. A prospector going through an area, hiking through the country knocking off a grab sample or taking a soil (sample) is no different than berry picking, hunting or fishing, he said.

If a mine were found, Mercer said the provincial and federal governments have strict regulatory regimes and environmental assessments that would have to be followed.

In the end, these activities provide well-paying jobs, support communities and create revenue streams.

Mercer said the demand for minerals is growing for use in things like electric batteries, solar panels and wind turbines as countries shift to lower carbon economies.

This is one of our great treasures and great assets. At a time when were in a situation where we have record debt, a deep recession and significant numbers of our smaller communities that are basically eroding away and with the amount of land thats already been removed, where does it stop and is there proper conversation happening by all parties involved as to the impacts.

He said the challenge the association has with WERAC is that the process is not inclusive and that the people selected for the WERAC committee are those with an interest and background in the protection of lands.

We feel that all stakeholders should be at the table, he said.

Its fine to say that were going to protect these areas and that theyll be there for communities, but if the communities are dying whos left to partake of nature.

Mercer said the plan has already been submitted to the government but the association wants whatever party that forms the next government to put it on hold as it believes that enough land has been removed and that the proper due diligence is not being done.

Last week the association sent a letter to the Liberal, PC, NDP and NL Alliance asking for their positions on the WERAC plan. As of Monday, it had not received a response from either party. And only the Liberals responded to a request from The SaltWire Network for comment prior to publication of this article.

Our Liberal government recognizes how important it is for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to have access to natural resources and to outdoor activities they enjoy - and want to maintain it. The Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Advisory Council (WERAC) released its draft plan and the independent body is now in its public consultation process. No decisions connected to WERACs recommendations to government have been made. Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador

Mercer said members are being encouraged to talk with candidates to get a sense of how they see the economy growing and balancing prospecting and mineral exploration and access to land.

WERAC chair Graham Wood said the committee has met with the association and understands where it is coming from.

Its explained that the areas outlined right now have all been vetted with Industry, Energy and Technology and areas with major staking were set up as transitional reserves. That means mineral and oil exploration would still be allowed in those reserves and the industry would have 10 years to try to find something.

In terms of the land that is already protected and the land outlined in the WERAC plan, Wood said it takes in 12.5 per cent of the land in the province. Thats a lot less than the 85.7 per cent of land in the province that is available for exploration.

Its also less than 17 per cent goal that the federal government had set for 2020 as outlined in the UN conference on biodiversity. That 17 per cent goal has now been moved to 25 per cent by 2025 and 30 per cent by 2030.

Because WERAC is an advisory board appointed by the provincial government, Wood is not able to make any major statements during the election.

He said the committee has been meeting weekly are is in the process of finalizing documents and reports that will be presented to the minister, including a What we Heard document and recommendations that includes information and data collected during public engagement in Phase 1. Hes hopeful the committee will move into Phase 2 of the consultation process after the election.

[emailprotected] @WS_DianeCrocker

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Put WERAC process on hold: Newfoundland and Labrador Prospectors association - The Telegram

ST. JOHN'S, N.L.

The fishing industry is worth over $1 billion annually to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, according to the provinces 2019 Seafood Industry Year in Review report.

Yet until last Friday, Jan. 29, none of the parties seeking election on Feb. 13 had offered any details on their ideas on the fishing industry.

The Progressive Conservative Party was the first to unveil their platform.

In a press release on Jan. 29, PC leader Ches Crosbie said, We will help fish harvesters and coastal communities rejuvenate their economies by working directly with those in the industrynot government bureaucratsto develop policies that work for them."

Yet some of the ideas put forward by the PC party would depend on agreement by Ottawa to change federal regulations.

The Conservatives have been pushing joint management. Its an idea thats been floated for decades by premiers and governments of the past, both Liberal and Conservative, and it always failed to get traction.

That doesnt stop the Tories from hoping.

Crosbie says a PC government would work to convince Ottawa to agree to a joint management regime for the fishery, similar to the Atlantic Accord that governs the oil and gas industry.

The party also said it would seek options to curtail the waste of unintended by-catch, fish that are accidentally caught in pursuit of other species. Federal regulations under the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) require those by-catches to be dumped.

The Conservatives also say they favour fish over seals, If a cull is required to reduce predation to save fish stocks, we will find a way to make that happen.

Again, the management of seals, including decisions on seal hunting quotas, is decided by the DFO.

Once seals are harvested, however, the provinces processing and business regulations come into play.

Crosbie said the PCs would work to ensure full use of the seal and to help in the development of markets, from oil to leather to protein.

Within provincial legislation, the party says it will empower the Fish Processing Licencing Board to review foreign ownership and influence in processing operations and make recommendations.

(January 29, 2021) PC Leader Ches Crosbie says joint management of fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador is essential...

The party also said there is potential for an expanded aquaculture industry to boost the rural Newfoundland and Labrador economy.

According to the 2019 Seafood Industry Review, aquaculture represented 12 percent of the $1.9 billion value of the fishery that year.

The PC party says it will champion an environmentally-sustainable industry that is not working to the detriment of our existing wild stocks, and one that leverages science and innovation to provide long-term opportunities.

The party also said it will work to streamline the existing regulatory framework while increasing transparency in reporting and monitoring of our aquaculture industry.

Aquaculture also involves Ottawa and the DFO is in the midst of a public consultation process to develop Canadas first-ever Aquaculture Act.

That consultation process concludes Feb. 12.

The Liberal party, meanwhile, focuses solely on aquaculture in its fishery platform, unveiled Feb. 2.

Our government will strategically invest in the provinces aquaculture industry so that it will have the competitive advantages it needs to succeed internationally, said Premier Andrew Furey in a press release, noting there is growing global demand for farmed fish and this province is well positioned to capitalize on that market.

Like the PCs, the Liberals offer no details or costing, just general statements on their vision for aquaculture.

They say a Furey government will:

(We) will work with industry to identify opportunities for secondary or further processing of our existing exports, as well as supporting the research and development of new processing activity for materials we currently consider to be waste or low-value by-products, the Liberals said in their platform release.

The New Democratic Party revealed their ideas for the fishery in its election platform released Wednesday, Feb. 3.

The party says it will bring fisheries into the 21st century."

One of their promises is to enact laws to prohibit processing companies from having controlling agreements in the inshore fishery, with strict penalties and fines for companies violating those rules. However, the issue of controlling agreements is already covered under federal law, through the amended Fisheries Act which becomes law on April 1.

The party also says it will ensure fairer fish price negotiations for harvesters. Fish pricing is regulated by the province through the Fish Price Setting Panel.

According to the NDP, when fish harvesters are negotiating prices for their catches, only one side the processors have all the information available.

The NL NDP believes transparency in fish price negotiations is essential for fair labour relations. The right thing to do is commit to collecting production information and pricing from processors on all products processed in Newfoundland and Labrador and make this information available to all parties in collective bargaining.

The NDP also say its time to amend the Fishing Industry Collective Bargaining Act to allow the Fish Price Setting Panel to consider a second price recommendation during negotiations.

The party said it also supports aquaculture, but the industry has to be developed in the right way.

The NL NDP favours a transition from open pen aquaculture to land-based, they state in their platform.

The party also says it will require any new aquaculture enterprise to ensure the marine environment is fully protected and locally-farmed fish is processed locally.

The party also said there should be more help for young people and new entrants to become fishing enterprise owners.

The NDP said one way to do this would be to remove barriers to the loan guarantee program.

The Newfoundland and Labrador fishery is a billion-dollar a year renewable industry. Yet it is often treated as an afterthought in policy, as government chases the latest bright shiny idea rather than reinvigorating the industry that sustained us for centuries," the party states.

The NL NDP wants our fisheries to thrive and grow, continuing to provide employment, and supporting our coastal communities for years to come.

Read the NDP's full platform.

In a Zoom call with reporters on Tuesday morning, the provincial fisheries minister Elvis Loveless answered questions about joint management and corporate control.

On the question of possibly pursing joint fisheries management with Ottawa, Loveless said, It needs to be a very important discussion. We should be more into the management of our fisheries and in control of it. Joint management has been talked about for years but we need to act.

On the matter of corporate control and foreign ownership in the provinces fish processing industry, Loveless said he believes the Fish Processing Licencing Board process is a good one. He added the Liberals would be open to ideas around adjusting the mandate of that board.

The province's approval of Royal Greenland's application to buy out Quinlan Brothers operations earlier this year drew criticism from the Fish Food and Allied Workers (FFAW) and fish harvesters.

They expressed concern over corporate concentration, foreign ownership and the potential for reduced bargaining power by fish harvesters.

According to Loveless he had asked the Fish Processing Licencing Board to review the issue of corporate concentration, and the board was in the process of putting together a (public) consultation process.

Whether or not that process will continue now be determined after the election.

The provincial election certainly wont be determined, wholly and solely, on fisheries issues.

However, according to the provinces 2019 Seafood Industry report, 16,000 people in 400 communities, many of them in rural political districts, depend on the industry for their livelihood.

And the specific fishery ideas outlined by each party could be the deciding factor when they cast their vote on Feb. 13.

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UPDATE: Liberals, PCs pitch fishery platforms hoping to net Newfoundland and Labrador voters - TheChronicleHerald.ca

The steelworks on Rover Way, Cardiff. Photo Alex Seabrook

Alex Seabrook, local democracy reporter

A small plot of land tucked away between Rover Way, Cardiff, and the Severn Estuary has a dirty history.

The land behind the Celsa steelworks in Splott is also set to have a dirty future environmental campaigners and local politicians have warned harmful air pollution and carbon dioxide will be emitted from a planned power plant.

Developers Parc Calon Gwyrdd recently received renewed planning permission to build a biomass plant on the 16.5-hectare site, potentially burning 75,000 tonnes of virgin timber shipped from Latvia each year, and generating 9.5 megawatts of energy.

But before that can be built, the developers need to carry out an extensive clean up job, removing 1,000,000 tonnes of rubble and old car parts stripped of steel. The work is needed to prevent toxic chemicals from the landfill leaking into the estuary.

The dirty history of the site was revealed in documents filed as part of the original planning application in 2017. An environmental statement, written by planning agents Geraint John Planning on behalf of the developer, details how the site was used as a dumping ground.

The site was reclaimed from the estuary in the 1970s, according to the environmental statement, with eight metres of blast furnace slag from the neighbouring steelworks. Old cars stripped of their scrap metal by the steelworks were dumped on the land for decades.

Cocktail

But the cocktail of hazardous chemicals from the old car parts created two risks: pockets of gas underground exploding, and water seeping through the landfill, running off and polluting the estuary.

At the turn of the century, work was done on the site to make it safe. This included a passive gas venting system to stop pockets of gas building up, and a site-wide MDPE membrane to prevent the water running off to the foreshore.

But a few years later, rubble from the construction of the St Davids 2 shopping centre was also dumped on the site, blocking off the gas vents and potentially rupturing the protective plastic membrane.

The design statement, submitted in the original planning application for the power plant, explained the problem: A large amount of uncertified fill from sites such as St Davids 2 was deposited on the site, rendering a substantive amount of the remediation ineffective.

Around this time Cardiff council which owns the land built a motocross track on the site. The Foreshore Motocross Club works with troubled teenagers, to prevent illegal off-road motorbiking, and helps them stay in education and get into work.

Cardiff council did not respond to questions about whether an alternative site would be found for the club, now that developers want to build a power plant there.

Documents from the Land Registry show Cardiff council entered into a lease agreement with the biomass developers Parc Calon Gwyrdd in 2019. However, the council said the decision to lease the land was first taken in 2014.

Carbon

The decision to lease the land for a wood-burning power plant has been questioned by opposition councillors, given the councils commitment to reducing carbon emissions and air pollution. Campaigners claim burning wood emits more carbon than burning coal.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Emma Sandrey said: We would urge the council not to lease the land for this. Your actions have to align with your words. But they say one thing and do another. Its going to be feeding demand for trees to be cut down in other parts of the world.

Conservative Cllr John Lancaster said: Cutting down forest in Latvia to burn over here isnt quite so environmentally friendly. The fact the council owns the land makes it a more of a political question rather than a planning decision.

If they wanted to use it for something else, they clearly could do. They could put solar panels there, or small industrial units for start up businesses. If they wanted to take that position, they could do it.

Controversial

There was nothing in the One Planet strategy about this idea. They dont mention it, which suggests to me that they realised how controversial it would be, so they kept it out of the consultation.

Cardiff councils One Planet strategy sets out how the city can get to carbon neutral by 2030, including plans to plant thousands of trees which absorb carbon dioxide and air pollution.

While burning wood for energy legally counts as renewable energy, doubts are mounting about how green woody biomass is. Several recent investigations link rising demand for woody biomass, subsidised by the UK government, with deforestation in eastern Europe.

Gareth Ludkin, of Friends of the Earth, said: The woody biomass which is to be shipped in from Latvia and burned in this plant is not a clean or green form of energy. We should be protecting forests and planting more trees rather than cutting them down.

The Drax power plant in Yorkshire already burns more wood than the UK produces in a year and this plant will only fan the flames of greater deforestation in Europe and beyond without regulation.

Crazy

Science already tells us that burning wood produces more CO2 than burning coal, and at a time when we are supposed to be phasing out coal alongside plans to restrict or ban the use of wood burners and open fires at home, its absolutely crazy that government policy continues to allow the burning of wood for profit under the guise of green energy.

A Cardiff council spokesman said the decision to sell the lease on the land was made in 2014, prior to the election of the current administration. This is documented through an officer decision report at that time.

The spokesman said: The council is scheduled to meet with the developer, Parc Calon, in the near future to discuss the developers detailed proposals going forward.

However, it is important to point out that any renewable energy plant, whatever the technology proposed, is strictly regulated both through the planning process and by the regulator, Natural Resources Wales.

Parc Calon Gwyrdd has no online presence and no contact details could be found for the company. Emails sent to architects and planning agents involved in the plans, asking for contact details of Parc Calon Gwyrdd, were not answered.

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The dirty past and future of new power plant site - Nation.Cymru

David Colburn

David Colburn

Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, its always something if its not one thing, its another.Oldsters like me may well recall that classic catchphrase of original Saturday Night Live cast member Gilda Radner in her Weekend Update alter-ego of Roseanne Roseannadanna.She, Roseanne Roseannadanna, would open each skit by reading a thoughtful letter from Richard Feder of Fort Lee, New Jersey, to which she, Roseanne Roseannadanna, would respond. And within perhaps two sentences or less, she, Roseanne Roseannadanna, departed from the topic at hand and went off in strange directions that usually included odd comments about encounters with celebrities and mildly unsettling revelations involving hair, toenails, and other body parts and functions. When Jane Curtin asked her what her rambling rants had to do with Mr. Feders letter, thats when she, Roseanne Roseannadanna, would spring her catch phrase.As a quick aside, note that the repetitious she, Roseanne Roseannadanna is my own little bit of homage to the characters own equally silly habit of saying I, Roseanne Roseannadanna numerous times. The incredibly astute among you may have picked up on that. Having now paid said homage, Im sure youll be relieved to know that to save on space and typing, Ill henceforth refer to her as RR.I believe RR was a character well ahead of her time, because I think she wouldve been a veritable rock star in the world of social media, a world where a simple fact can turn into a full-blown QAnon conspiracy faster than you can say She, Roseanne Roseannadanna. And yes, it just became glaringly obvious that Im quite willing to abandon any prior promise about RR to glibly capitalize on the moment. Go ahead and sue me all I ask is that you use Rudy Giuliani or another 2020 election fraud lawyer so that I have at least a 70-in-one chance of winning my case.Ah, but as youve no doubt become accustomed to by now, I digress. Much like RR, actually. Back on topic.In the vein of if its not one thing, its another, I discovered in a recent scan of my Facebook news feed that there are some conservatives in our neck of the woods in Minnesota who appear concerned about a proposed law in Oregon that would set the stage for governors in all states to have emergency powers beyond all reason. The comments that ensued took the conversation well into the realm of RR, seeing this as a harbinger of long-feared one world government conspiracy theorists. It just goes to show you, its always something if its not one thing, its another.Im quite selective these days about what debunking I try to tackle, but this one seemed pretty straightforward.Rather than breaking dangerous new ground, Oregon is Johnny-come-lately with this particular clarification of its emergency response law. Liberal Oregon meet conservative Texas, which has given its governor essentially the same emergency power since 1975. The particular aspect of a governor commandeering private property during an emergency in return for just compensation has been widely recognized in emergency law for years and draws its support from no less than the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.Armed with research, I plunged into a lengthy comment sharing my view that fears about this sparking a revolution among governors wanting to grab land and power were quite misplaced.I invested the time and research because while the original poster and I are generally on opposite ends of the political spectrum, hes never been one to indulge in name-calling and usually seems to have given some thought to what he posts, even if in my view it seems extreme.A few hours later, sure enough, he replied. He acknowledged my comments, then countered with more detail about the parts of the proposed law that gave him great concern. One part was already part of Oregon law. The other was a proposed change, and after reading his explanation, I found myself agreeing with him to a certain extent. As written, the language was problematic, and I could see how it could be interpreted as allowing for an overreach in the governors authority.Two old guys from Minnesota posting online arent going to change anything in Oregon. And nothings going to change in Oregon either, because after a huge COVID-driven backlash from those railing against that governors emergency pandemic powers, that piece of legislation has been withdrawn. It would be wise to work on language revisions in line with other states before reintroducing it, in my opinion.I relate this story because I am discouraged with how readily people on social media demean and dismiss anyone associated with something thats on the far opposite side of their political beliefs. Certainly, outlandish conspiracy theories deserve to be met with another Roseanne Roseannadanna catch phrase -- What are ya tryin to do, make me sick?! But not all far-right conservatives are Trump zombie deplorables, and not every far-left liberal is a socialist libtard.Here I saw the possibility for exchange about the issue of a governors emergency powers. I did not call the poster a deplorable and he did not call me a libtard. I did not call him a Trump zombie, and he did not call me a George Soros puppet. We laid out our positions respectfully and came to a greater understanding. Its a good start for text-based social media. Its always something if its not one thing, its another. A phrase for todays caustic political social media world thats well suited for RR. Mr. Feder puts up a post, and RR talks back at him, not with him, going off on whatever tangent she feels like. The amount of worthless junk in that arena is indeed enough to make one sick.But if more people would look for opportunities where some thoughtful exchange is possible, perhaps we could have more conversation-like exchanges of substance. Compromises cant happen unless one is willing to make the attempt to understand an opposing viewpoint, something Congress demonstrates its inability to do almost daily.The noise is so loud online that countless numbers of people have just stopped listening. Social media is jammed with Roseanne Roseannadannas, liberal and conservative alike, spouting off whatever they want. Extremism runs rampant and opportunities may be few, but I believe its more important now than ever to look for and take advantage of those moments when at least some possibility of a meaningful exchange exists. We need conversations. RR deserves to be a fond relic of a distant past and not a constant destructive presence in the present.

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If it's not one thing, it's another - Tower Timberjay News

Re. Labors EV tax set for a rough road (Sunday Age, 31/1). To go to an extreme, if all road-using vehicles were electric, how would public roads be funded? Currently the level of revenue derived from the fuel excise tax is dropping as vehicles become more fuel efficient, so the burden of revenue-raising disproportionately falls to those on lower incomes. Often they live in outer areas with limited public transport and cannot afford the new, more fuel-efficient models or, heaven forbid, an EV. Maybe governments should be looking at scrapping the petrol-diesel excise and using a congestion-style tax that does not unduly penalise those who can least afford it.Josephine Bant, Collingwood

I wonder whether Craig Kelly is auditioning for a role in Clive Palmers next political party Kelly tried to influence experts (The Age, 6/2). Didnt Palmer buy 30 million doses of hydroxychloroquine? This might have been a useful inducement to some voters if Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly had not said last month there was no evidence to show it or ivermectin should be rolled out to Australians. Now Kelly can promote it along with that other resource of diminishing value, coal.Gill Riley, Doncaster East

I am about to buy some new furniture and wonder whether former export manager and now backbencher Craig Kelly could offer me some advice. In return, I can share my ideas about treatments for COVID-19 with him.John Weston, Melton

Up to 30,000 fans each day, in close proximity, at the Australian Open watching sweaty, yelling, grunting players? What could possibly go wrong?Erica Grebler, Caulfield North

Melbourne has a number of large, Crown-land sites that are partially leased to private clubs for horse racing Flemington, Sandown, Caulfield and Moonee Valley which could be turned into quarantine facilities. These sites are near transport hubs, hospitals and accommodation for the health workers who may staff them for possibly years.

Temporary and airy quarantine quarters could be built on the capacious inner paddocks and outer parking paddocks. Racing could continue on the racing track, or not it earns a great deal for the state. But COVID-19s evolving variants will cost us more. The greater issue is how the publics greater good can be served best at the least cost now.Ian Lang, Flemington

The story of Mostafa Azimitabar (Sunday Age, 31/1) should be required reading for all those who have closed their ears to the plight of refugees. Moz is one of the lucky ones, able now to enjoy the simple pleasures we take for granted, like a walk outdoors and time with friends. However, I still fear for his future, and the many who are locked up in hotels and detention centres, when both sides of the political spectrum refuse to acknowledge the rights of refugees under international laws.Helen Scheller, Benalla

Jon Faines analysis of the honours system (Sunday Age, 31/1) is spot on. Over two decades I have nominated or been a referee for eight people, all very worthy of recognition. All the nominations were successful but the level of order given was in inverse proportion to the degree to which their contribution was done in a voluntary rather than salaried capacity.

Social status is the root of the problem. Wealthy philanthropists should be recognised for giving money to good causes, but why an AC (Companion of the Order of Australia) or AO (Officer of the Order of Australia) when people such as foster carers, who give of themselves to abused and neglected children in a more profound way, never receive more than an OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia), and most are not recognised?

Get rid of the caste system have one honours level for everyone based on service, not status.Dorothy Scott, Macclesfield

So the Liberal Party has replaced an older, white, Catholic conservative male with a younger, white, Catholic conservative male in the seat of Menzies (The Age, 6/2). This in an electorate with a burgeoning multicultural population. Big deal.Dick Davies, North Warrandyte

Jacqueline Maleys assertion that the last federal Labor government delivered nothing real on climate change action (Sunday Age, 31/1) is false. Our government introduced a suite of climate change policies including a carbon price, which abated up to 17 millions of CO2 over two years, the insulation of 1.2 million homes, and 73,000 rebates for solar home hot water systems.

Our most enduring achievement was the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target which legislated a five-fold increase in the share of renewable generation to 20per cent by 2020 a target that was met and exceeded. Through policy and legislation, we created a renewable energy industry with enough critical mass to keep pushing forward with the clean energy transition.

These policies were bitterly opposed by the Liberal Party, first in opposition and subsequently in government. But they resulted in a drop of Australias emissions by about 10per cent in real terms.Kevin Rudd, Brisbane

The Age's editor, Gay Alcorn, writes an exclusive newsletter for subscribers on the week's most important stories and issues. Sign up here to receive it every Friday.

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Save our precious birds - The Age

Written by Vonny Sweetland, community advocate and political news contributor.

Balancing Torontos rich cultured history with housing needs has been an unending game of seesaw. The perfect balance isnt just a desire its crucial to addressing the housing crisis.

When a demolition crew showed up at Torontos Foundry buildings on the first day of the latest lockdown, it brought out community advocates in droves. The historic industrial Toronto complex was set to become a cultural hub, but citing the need for housing, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, issued a Ministerial Zoning Order clearing the way for development to begin and bypassing the municipal planning regulations of the site.

The Ford governments move has been met with unending disapproval from community members and councillors alike, but its also a key step in resolving Torontos chaotic housing crisis.

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing issued three MZOs in Torontos West Don Lands on provincially-owned properties to accelerate the creation of nearly 1,000 new affordable units and 17,000 square feet of new community space. I have always said, We must build without erasing, but the truth is this: Toronto is badly in need of more housing and this move will help Toronto achieve its affordable housing targets at a time when it desperately needs it.

Minister Clarks spokesperson, Stephanie Bellotto, provided the following statement: In regards to the Foundry, the Province has been clear that this provincially-owned property which has been largely abandoned for over 40 years and requires demolition to allow for significant environmental remediation will be revitalized to allow for the construction of new affordable housing, market housing, and community space, while respecting heritage elements.

We remain disappointed that the City of Toronto is slowing down the construction of much-needed affordable housing and community space, and environmental remediation in the West Don Lands.

On Friday, an Ontario judge ruled that the province could no longer continue with the Foundry demolition pending a decision next month. This gives the City and Province time to work out its complicated situation.

In December 2019, the City released the HousingTO 2020-2030 Action Plan, a 10-year plan outlining goals for building more affordable housing units in Toronto. The goal is to build 40,000 new affordable housing units over a 10-year period, 18,000 of which are set to be supportive housing combining housing assistance and supports for physical and mental health.

At the time of the plans release, the City asked Ontario to provide over $6 billion in upfront capital and 300 million for on-going operational funding to help actualize the goal.

On one hand, the City wants the Province to pay up and be an active partner in achieving affordable housing in Toronto, but then impedes the process when it attempts to build. Like most things in life, you cant have your cake and eat it too. Protecting culture is extremely important, but its a false dichotomy to suggest this cant be done while building at the same time.

The fact is, the City loses affordable housing at a much faster rate than it creates it. This gridlock is not what we need right now. If the province can commit to doing more community consultation, providing hard numbers on the units they plan to build and working with the City as an equal partner, a result all sides will find satisfactory is more than possible.

Torontonians are out of work, fearful for their health, and emotionally spent due to the pandemic. Political infighting couldnt come at a worse time. Councillors must stop adding fuel to the fire with all of the fiery rhetoric, and try to work with their Provincial counterparts to deliver a mutually agreeable outcome.

Andrea Horwaths NDP has made its position clear after Fridays court order halting the project from becoming complete. Todays win is a direct result of phenomenal community organizing efforts, tweeted MPP Suze Morrison.

The Liberals have remained relatively quiet on the issue prompting one GTA resident to pen, Steven Del Duca, where are you? Its important to note that the new and current Ontario Liberal party leader has his own checkered past when it comes to building and land protections.

In 2019, Del Duca built a large swimming pool in the backyard of his Vaughan home without securing the proper permits. His backyard is pressed against the public parkland thats part of the Humber River watershed. Its considered environmentally sensitive land and is controlled by the TRCA. Del Duca built anyway and created a media storm once the information became public. The gaffe was costly and gave the now Liberal leader an elitist do as I say, and not as I do reputation in the minds of some.

Recent data suggests Premier Ford is still polling far ahead of both Del Duca and Horwath: 44% of polling respondents stated they either approved or mostly approved of the Doug Ford government, 27 % said they had a positive view of the NDP leader, while 38% either didnt know who Steven Del Duca was or didnt know enough about him to form an opinion.

The message is clear: If the election were held today, Ford would still be the Premier. With no signs of a new provincial leader coming any time soon, the Ford administration is one the City of Toronto is going to have to work with for quite some time.

Lets hope both orders of government are able to come together and deliver an outcome that is beneficial to all Torontonians.

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Opinion: Heritage & Housing, the balance we just can't seem to strike in the GTA | Urbanized - Daily Hive