Sign Our Petition – Rethink Asphalt for the Grantham Rail Trail
St. Catharines City Council, at its meeting of February 28th, 2022, voted to approve the construction of a 3 metre (10 foot) wide asphalt track through the Grantham Rail Trail at a cost of $1.56 million. There was no discussion regarding this matter at that meeting. Further, there has been no formal consultation with residents whose properties are directly affected by this project. The St. Catharines Environmental Alliance requested this decision be deferred until adequate time was given for the public to be made aware of the proposal and for discussion to take place before it was finalized. This did not happen.
Facts:
- This project is not environmentally or neighbourhood friendly. It includes paving over green space with large quantities of stone and asphalt. Asphalt is a significant source of air and water pollution. As the world heats up it should be avoided in favour of natural materials whenever and wherever possible.
- It will cause more drainage issues since the swath of hard surface will lead to greater stormwater runoff and there will be less open ground and vegetation to absorb water the way it does now.
- This project has gone substantially over budget and as a result pulls funding for improvements on higher priority recreational needs causing them to be delayed. A stone dust trail can be constructed for a fraction of the $1,565,000 cost of this asphalt trail.
- One of the stated purposes of this expenditure is to improve accessibility by changing this passive recreational trail into an active transportation route. However, through much of its length this former rail line is bordered by privately owned residential properties resulting in few public connections linking to it other than main roads. This makes it impossible for it to ever be accessible.
- At a time when the effects of climate change are being felt, paving over more green space is simply not justifiable.
- The use of this trail can be improved without going to costly extremes both for the local taxpayer and the natural environment. The simple addition of fine gravel or stonedust that has been utilized in similar situations with continuing success can achieve a reasonable and practical solution.
Candidate Q & A 2021 Federal Election
St. Catharines Riding
Chris Bittle Liberal Party of Canada
The following are the responses to questions submitted by the St. Catharines Environmental Alliance from the successful candidate Chris Bittle.
How important is climate change to you personally, and where would you rank it in importance with respect to other issues?
Climate change is an existential threat facing humanity, and an absolute priority for me and the Liberal government. When I look at my children, I think about the planet and the environment they will inherit. I know that we need to act now to fight the climate crisis and create a clean environment for future generations. As we rebuild from the COVID-19 pandemic, we know we need to do so in a green and sustainable way. It not only makes environmental sense, but being a leader in climate change makes economic sense too.
What actions do you and your party plan on implementing to protect our local environment, and what are the timelines for implementing these actions?
Since being elected, our government has invested more than $100 billion to fight climate change and ensure a green recovery for Canada from the COVID-19 pandemic and because of our policies, it is no longer free to pollute in Canada.
We were the first government in Canadian history that will meet and exceed our climate goals. We have also implemented landmark climate accountability legislation to hold future governments to account on taking action toward a carbon neutral economy by 2050.
In August, our government pledged to invest more than $1 billion over the next decade to protect and restore Canada’s big lakes and river systems. This commitment includes establishing a new Canada Water Agency to coordinate freshwater initiatives.
When it comes to land and ocean conservation, we are well on track to meeting our goal of protecting 30% of Canada’s lands and oceans by 2030.
Whether it be investments in clean jobs, or projects to protect local green space and wildlife, our government will build a cleaner future for everyone.
The World Health Organization, United Nations, Federal and Provincial Governments and the City of St. Catharines have declared a Climate Change Emergency. Given the significance of this situation, how do you plan on disseminating climate change information to the citizens of St. Catharines?
We know there is a lot of disinformation out there on climate change and I will continue to use my public platforms and position as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change to ensure residents of St. Catharines are informed and aware of how our government is responding to this crisis. It is crucial that our government is transparent about our targets and timelines. We are on track to exceed our Paris climate targets, and to meet our goal of net zero by 2050. Canadians expect their government to step up, and that is exactly what we have done and we will continue to do so.
Canada’s Conservatives will also create a powerful incentive for agriculture and forestry sectors to protect the environment and sequester carbon by allowing for greater creation of land-based offset credits.
We will invest an additional $3 billion between now and 2030 in natural climate solutions focused on management of forest, crop and grazing lands and restoration of grasslands, wetlands, and forests.
These solutions can have multiple benefits: not only will they help sequester carbon, but they can also provide protection for communities and additional benefits for wildlife.
Conservatives will increase the ability of the agricultural and forestry sectors to create land-based offset credits by improving the carbon sequestration of agricultural lands and managed forests, and incenting environmental protection in those sectors. This will generate emissions reductions at lower cost, and protect Canadian jobs
The World Health Organization, United Nations, Federal and ProvincialGovernments and the City of St. Catharines have declared a Climate ChangeEmergency. Given the significance of this situation, how do you plan on disseminating climate change information to the citizens of St. Catharines?
I think communication between MPs and their constituents is essential for a MP to do their job effectively.
As the MP, you are the voice of your constituents in Ottawa, so that necessitates a constant and effective dialog.
I will always be accessible to our community – over phone, email, social media accounts etc. But I will also engage stakeholder and community interest groups directly and on a set schedule, so there’s no daylight between the voice of our community and what is being shared back at Parliament Hill.
Will you support legislation that transitions the economy away from fossil fuels, and how do you propose to support workers in the energy, transportation,food and housing sectors?
We will introduce a tax credit to rapidly accelerate the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage technology in the energy sector and in important industries that have few alternatives to burning fossil fuels, like fertilizer and chemical production.
The Liberals believe that we can only reduce our emissions by “phasing out” entire industries and the jobs that provide a secure living for hundreds of thousands of Canadian families.
Conservatives appreciate that we can’t build a greener future if Canadians don’t have jobs.
We will also invest in Direct Air Capture, a promising technology that captures carbon dioxide from the air. Canada is a technology leader in this area.
By partnering with Canadian innovators to secure Canadian leadership in this important area, we will reduce emissions in Canada and advance technology that Canada could soon be exporting to the world.
We would also contribute to projects that reduce urban sprawl, promote neighbourhood based shopping and direct farm-to-table food consumption, and increase funding to emergency and humanitarian efforts, BEFORE we end up in a food crisis.
“Let’s build more buildings and subsidize more fuel companies” is absolutely not the correct response to a global food, energy, and humanitarian crisis.
The World Health Organization, United Nations, Federal and Provincial Governments and the City of St. Catharines have declared a Climate Change Emergency. Given the significance of this situation, how do you plan on disseminating climate change information to the citizens of St. Catharines?
If elected I will launch a climate change campaign, utilizing sign posts and media spaces that are well viewed by residents. I will push for and support companies and individuals starting and sustaining green businesses. I will push for funding to re-vamp downtown and the farmers market, making them more appealing to St Catharines residents. I will stand for our green spaces and against the development of oversized buildings that only serve the rich and do nothing to reduce homelessness.
Will you support legislation that transitions the economy away from fossil fuels, and how do you propose to support workers in the energy, transportation, food and housing sectors?
There is a false assumption that if we switch to clean energy, people will lose their jobs. Skills and workers are easily transferable. We cannot continue to use job loss as an excuse for refusing to transition from bailing out American companies like Ford, to building our own clean energy grid and welcoming green businesses into our country. We have seen how quickly American companies close up shop and leave Canada the second they find cheaper workers, land, or a better deal. The old, stuck in our heads ideal of supporting and continuing to support US based companies rather than building our own industries is out dated and a bit ridiculous, given the current economy.
St. Catharines Environmental Alliance 