Just to catch up a bit (catching up entirely is simply not possible) I’ve been shooting and digging in the past 2 weeks or so. I submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure Ontario asking for all documents between that Ministry and SNC Lavelin from Jan 2007 until the present. We’ll see what happens with that!  I have made contact with a Ryerson Journalism student who is covering this story and wants to show up at the Metrolinx office with a camera a la Michael Moore. I am up for that but want to contact Metrolinx first. This student can’t get anyone from Metrolinx to talk to him – hence the ambush. As far as my log of political contacts go here is what I have encountered:

Tony Ruprecht, Liberal MPP: agreed to talk on camera then bailed at the last minute without explanation.

Mario Silva, Liberal MP: agreed to talk on camera then bailed at the last minute without explanation.

George Smitherman, Liberal MPP and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure: ignored my requests for an interview.

Mayor David Miller: would not commit to speaking with me on camera.

Laura Albanese: would not commit to speaking with me on camera.

Adam Giambrone, local Councillor: Spoke with me on camera.

Gord Perks. local Councillor: Spoke with me on camera.

Cheri DiNovo, NDP MPP: Spoke with me on camera.

I am still waiting to hear from others, and some of the higher ups I have yet to contact. Will update this again soon.

 

Nov 24 Update:

Since the last post I have contacted the following people:

Robert Prichard, CEO of Metrolinx

John Gerretsen, Minister of the Environment

John Bradley, Minister of Transportation

Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

So far no one has gotten back to me (though it’s only been a few days) except for Pritchards PR person, Jackie. Will keep you posted.

On another note I expect the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to get back to me this week (they have 30 days to respond to my Freedom of Information request). I just found out this morning that another FOI request was submitted by an NDP researcher in September and it was refused by the Ministry. I didn’t know they could do that! I have the letter of refusal. This reasearcher was after the same document that I want to see so I expect my request will also be refused.  Something really stinks here…

 

And this just realeased today. A junior version of the Clean Train Coalition.

Here is a sampling of news stories on the issue from mainstream and alternate media sources.

An article by Mike Sullivan, one of the founders of the Clean Train Coalition, Oct 15.  http://www.torontosun.com/comment/2009/10/15/11406536-sun.html

The Star. electrification study announced, Oct 21. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/713423–all-electric-go-train-system-studied

Star. Diesel dinosaur, Oct 12. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/transportation/article/708869–is-diesel-train-for-dinosaurs

Star comments on Minister Gerretsen’s decision, Oct 6. http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/707708

Star. McGuinty rushing things through, Oct 8. http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/707255

Star. Dirty transit is better than no transit. Oct 10. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/707721–welcome-rail-expansion

Globe. Slippery wordwork by Minister,  ‘clean’ diesel only affects 1/3 of trains, Oct 14. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/cleanup-wont-affect-all-go-trains-ministry-says/article1322715/

Globe. Conversion to Tier 4, Oct 21. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/go-trains-to-switch-to-clean-diesel-starting-in-2017/article1331754/

Globe. New big cost for Tier 4 Locomotives, Oct 6. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/expert-warns-of-high-cost-for-planned-diesel-trains/article1314629/

Globe. 2017 the date for diesel conversion to ‘clean’, Oct 21. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/go-trains-to-get-cl…

Globe. Congratulations Metrolinx, Oct 2.  http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/CNW.20091002.C3361/GIStory

Globe. Pritchard anointed, Oct 8.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/prichard-to-chair-metrolinx-sources/article1317661/

NOW article on Metrolinx spin, Oct 21.  http://www.nowtoronto.com/news/story.cfm?content=171890

EYE weekly. Strachan underpass. April 19, 2009. http://www.eyeweekly.com/details/article/59044

Tor Star. Early hopes for Metrolinx, Sept 23 2008.  http://www.thestar.com/GTA/Columnist/article/504051

Globe. Miller, TTC and Metrolinx, Sept 4 2008.  http://www.torontoenvironment.org/newsroom/reports/transit/20080904

The Torontoist, June 15, 2009.  http://torontoist.com/2009/06/metrolinx_prepares_to_lay_track_1.php

Nat Post article, Metrolinx merger w GO, March 30, 2009.  http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2009/03/30/metrolinx-swallows-go-transit-what-next.aspx

Some independent and activist voices below:

Weston Community Coalition website – lots of info.  http://westoncommunitycoalition.ca/

Local resident Elisabeth Littlejohn’s blog.  http://railroadedbymetrolinx.blogspot.com/

Independent transit expert, Steve Munro, who is highly respected and who’s site is a great source of clear, concise distillation of the overwhelming amount of information.  http://stevemunro.ca/?cat=21

As expected Minister Gerretsen’s decision endorsed Metrolinx’s plan. Diesel will be used on the expanded rail corridor. There were restrictions placed upon the Metrolinx plan but they didn’t include electrification. No surprise. It looks more and more like the government made up its mind on day one, now they are simply pushing it through. This means the so-called consultation process was/is a sham and a waste of taxpayer money. The Clean Train Coalition is now taking the matter to Ontario’s Ombudsman charging that Metrolinx used tax dollars to misinform the public about the health risks involved – as a Crown agency they should not be in the business of creating propaganda. The struggle continues…

A big decision coming tomorrow from the Minister of the Environment about the Metrolinx plan. My prediction is that he will give the green light for the project with some changes – but those changes won’t include electrification.

Here is a press release that Metrolinx sent out a few weeks ago regarding the Toronto Medical Officer of Health’s report. In his report Dr. McKeown took Lukemia off the table as being one of potential hazards of diesel fumes. Metrolinx regarded this as a victory for diesel even though McKoewn did not take other cancers off the table, nor repiratory illness. He continued to stand by his report that said there was a real risk of these illnesses increasing and he still recommended electricfication as the only alternative. Yet if you read Metrolinx’s release it makes it sound like diesel is harmless and the doctor approves. I’ll post the documents here, if possible, when I figure out how.

This is the entity (not sure if I should call it a company but it certainly behaves like one) that was formed when the Province of Ontario merged GO transit with Metrolinx (formerly the GTTA – Greater Toronto Transit Authoity).

Their homepage is here.
Their history page is fairly vague and useless. The FAQ page has more detail. Overall this is quite a dense site and to be fair – full of spin and propaganda. I will add more on Metrolinx in the coming weeks.

The other side of the coin is the CTC (Clean Train Coalition), made up of residents who will be affected by the trains and are fighting for electrification. I admire their tenacity and their excellent research. I don’t know how they decipher some of the documents they receive.
They can be found here.

The basic concerns are best expressed on their website:
“Metrolinx and the Province of Ontario plan to run over 400 diesel trains a day through neighbourhoods from Pearson Airport to Union Station. Diesel exhaust is a known threat to human health, especially the health of children and seniors, and is linked to cancer and respiratory diseases. Diesel trains will spew fumes, create noise and divide our neighbourhoods. This plan will seriously impact our quality of life.
Metrolinx has indicated a vague plan to electrify this corridor in 15 years, but there is no commitment in place to do so. In order to protect our health, save our neighbourhoods, and advance Ontario’s green economy, we need to electrify now.”

The conflict arises because Metrolinx – and the Province – are trying to push Diesel down everyone’s throat, literally. They have provided every indication that their decision has already been made and now they are irresponsibly defending it.
I live perhaps 30-50 meters from the rail corridor in question. My 5 year old daughter could very well get sick from this regressive plan. I’m making this documentary to try to protect her from my own government. The same government that is using our tax dollars to poison people along the rail corridor.

This is my first entry on a brand new blog. I think the first thing I’ll do is start adding content then I’ll organize it and make it pretty, slowly  -  as I figure out how to do those kinds of things.

The song attached, is here because I kept hearing about ‘diesel’ and ‘dirty diesel’ and then ‘Dalton’s dirty diesels’ and I thought of ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ by AC/DC and I started listening to the song (after 20 years!) and thinking that Dirty Diesels Done Dirt Cheap might be a good title. Then I thought of using the song itself (asking AC/DC to re-write and re-record was a bit much) so I’ve phoned Sony a couple times about rights. So far they haven’t returned my calls.