"Buy Canadian?" How about "SUPPORT Canadian?"

Unions call for 'Buy Canadian' policy

Note that it's the Canadian Auto Workers pushing for this policy. How exactly are we to support their industry? As far as I know, their bread and butter is American car companies. Shall we support their industry by buying American and Japanese cars built in Canada? Are they serious?

Let's not kid ourselves. These aren't "Canadian car companies," they are American companies whose actions are dictated by American interests, and Japanese companies dictated by Japanese interests. They will use us as long as they need us and then bam, out on our collective ear. One need only look at the impending closure of the Oshawa GM plant to see that this is true. There was much pleading and protesting about it, to no avail. And GM has already exported huge chunks of its manufacturing labour to Mexico. Mexico recently surpassed Canada in auto manufacturing. Coincidence? No. It's all about financial advantage. GM is not a Canadian company, it's not based in Canada, and it couldn't care less about Canadian jobs. The sooner we get that through our heads, the better.

I know of two Canadian car companies - Zenn and Dynasty... and neither of them ever got proper support from any level of government.

Compounding this tragedy is the environmental impact of such governmental mismanagement. Both of these are 100% electric cars. They are classified as LSV (Low Speed Vehicles) and are ideal for the type of short distances typical for city dwellers for getting to work, the grocery store, and miscellaneous errands. Since, at last count in 2006, 80% of all Canadians lived in an area classified as urban, a whole lot of people could be using these. Alas, the federal government dragged its heels on making provisions for putting these cars on our roads. Once it finally did, it fell to the provinces, and all but two - BC and Québec - have dragged their heels as well. So, where are these cars getting sold? In the 47 U.S. states that allow them, amongst other places. I've said it before - it's a travesty.

And now that the U.S. economy is tanking fast, and with it their rate of new vehicle purchases, how do you suppose these Canadian car companies are faring? Did the government offer to bail them out or help them along? No! Millions in bailout dollars are instead going to GM and Chrysler, with a line of credit extended to Ford... all American companies.

If the government was really serious about Canadian jobs, the Canadian economy, and the environment, they would give proper support to Canadian-based companies. Why are we giving billions of dollars - that's "billions" with a "b" - to GM, an American company that is already closing down at least one of their Canadian plants? What would happen if we took the money designated for American car companies and put it into Zenn and Dynasty and Canadian startups who want to make cars here? There would still be plenty left over to go into public transportation and infrastructure. Why would we insist on spending big bucks to (1) ensure that our businesses are at a disadvantage and (2) ensure that large segments of our economy and jobs remain at the mercy of foreign interests?

What a crock.

Paper clips, rubber bands and scotch tape for the economy

Despite warnings, PM touts fixes for short term

So typical of the Cons. Try to look busy, like you're actually doing something useful - while rushing into wasteful harebrained schemes, benefiting the rich and big business, and leaving the poor twisting in the wind. Oh, and ignoring the environment while missing the opportunity to create green jobs and develop alternative energy. And do it all against all better judgement.

You know, the exact opposite of all the stuff Obama is going to be doing.

Please, Canadians, get rid of Harper and his ilk. They're an embarrassment and liability to this country.

Who impeded the electric car?

Grand plan for electric cars takes shape in Ontario

Well this is good news all right, but why does it take an American company to get things into gear in this province? Why aren't we looking first to a Canadian company for this role? And along the same line, where is the support for the Canadian-made Zenn car? Shouldn't we be encouraging Canadian businesses first?

Quick background: The Zenn car is considered a low-speed vehicle, also known as a neighbourhood electric vehicle (NEV). Such cars are especially suited for urban dwellers since they don't have lengthy commutes.

It's a fact that despite the Zenn car being made in Canada, and the company having been around since 2000, it's still not road-legal anywhere in Canada except B.C. and Québec. Know where it's being sold? The States. Know where we first saw them? Portland, Oregon. Why? Because almost all of the continental U.S.' state governments have passed legislation allowing NEVs on local public roads, and almost all of the Canadian provincial governments have not. It's a travesty that foot-dragging provincial governments are simultaneously keeping an environmentally friendly option out of our hands while impeding a Canadian business' success. We should be using a Canadian company to set up the infrastructure to support electric cars, and offering incentives for people to buy Canadian electric cars in particular.

Cycling Vision Ottawa

While surfing I ran across a group called Cycling Vision Ottawa that is trying to get the City to allocate proper funds to increasing the network of cycling lanes here. I'm not affiliated with them or anything, I just thought this is a progressive issue close to home so maybe it would be of interest. Their website isn't much I'm afraid but it's here.

Using the instructions there, I sent them the following to forward to my city councillor. Feel free to use/adapt any or all of it for your own letter.

Dear {name},

Especially in light of the bus strike, and the potential for similar events in the future given the fact that public transportation has not been designated an essential service, I find it quite disturbing that the City would place such a low priority on cycling lanes. For many people, especially in circumstances such as these, cycling is their only means of getting to work, school, the doctor's office, or even the food bank. There are also countless others who would cycle more often if only they felt safe cycling along the routes they must take. If people can't take the bus, and can't afford a car, yet feel endangered on their bicycles, what are they to do?

The strike notwithstanding, it behooves us all to make our city as bike-friendly as possible, for a number of reasons. First, while mass transit remains better than having the equivalent number of cars on the road, buses still contribute to pollution and therefore impact the health of all. Second, obesity is becoming a more widespread problem. It is a well-known fact that both air pollution and obesity are important contributors to a wide array of health problems. By encouraging people to cycle, we will be improving the overall health of everyone here. Over time, this translates into lower health care costs, shorter wait times, and less demand on public assistance, among other things.

Portland, Oregon, is the city to watch in North America in terms of being bicycle-friendly. They have quadrupled their cycling lanes since the 1990's and bicycle use has quadrupled accordingly in the same timespan, with no increase in crashes. This is only one of many excellent examples of the direct correlation between cycling lanes and the number of bike commuters. I lived in Portland for a time, until two years ago, and can attest from personal experience that the number of cyclists on the road there is truly astounding. Our good city could follow suit and reap the numerous advantages of such an arrangement.

I strongly support the development of an effective network of cycling lanes, including segregated lanes, and pathways, to make cycling in Ottawa more inclusive of those who prefer or need a degree of separation from motorized traffic. As a fellow cyclist, I imagine you are likely of the same mind and I am preaching to the choir. I ask City Council to allocate sufficient funds to the Ottawa Cycling Plan for this purpose.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Best regards,

{name}

List of carpooling/ride sharing websites

People have started leaving notes posted in our apartment lobby begging for carpool partners, rides to classes, etc. due to the bus strike here in Ottawa. I feel so bad for them and wish I could help them all. Being winter and the Christmas season, it's a hard time of year for the elderly, sick, poor and disadvantaged to be stuck walking, biking, or stuck with extra expenses for taxi cabs. I have taken to printing out the following and leaving copies in the lobby for people to take. I checked out all the links and they do work. I figure at least I can do something. Maybe this will help someone online too.

As a side note, freecycle.org is an excellent place to exchange free stuff in your local area. Their goal is for people to save money by exchanging free items and reduce waste by keeping things out of the landfill - win-win. I haven't taken anything yet, so I haven't tried that end of it yet, but I've offered various things and it's worked out quite well as people come and pick them up. They're grateful to have them and I'm grateful to get rid of them with a minimum of effort and know they'll be put to good use.

LIST OF CARPOOLING AND RIDE SHARING WEBSITES

HELLO ALL, I FOUND THIS ONLINE AND THERE ARE COMPUTERS YOU CAN USE FOR FREE AT THE LIBRARY AND SERVICE CANADA,AND PROBABLY EMPLOYMENT ONTARIO IF YOU EXPLAIN YOU NEED TO FIND A WAY TO GET TO WORK. HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE!


Subject: [OttawaON-Freecycle] ADMIN: sites for carpooling and ride sharing
From: "Sharon Stewart"
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2008 17:59:39 -0500
To: "Ottawa Freecycle Group"

[NOTE: I compiled this list in February 2008, but I do not have time today
to check whether the links still work]

Here are some local boards for posting ads about carpooling and ride sharing:
http://ottawa.craigslist.ca/rid/

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/f-community-rideshare-W0QQCatIdZ5
or http://tinyurl.com/2o9uqx

http://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?city=Ottawa

http://www.carpoolconnect.com/search/do_search?home_code=Ottawa,%20Ontario,%20Canada
or http://tinyurl.com/2vjlzx

http://www.punkottawa.com/board/viewforum.php?f=10

http://www.autotaxi.com/autotaxi.htm

http://welcome.pickuppal.com/alpha.php?camp=people&group=Car%20Pool%20Ottawa&root=Car%20Pool&place=%20in%20Ottawa
or http://tinyurl.com/2mub9h

This one is run by the City of Ottawa:
https://www.ottawaridematch.com/Public/UserSignIn.aspx

These ones are broader geographically:
http://www.carpoolworld.com/

http://www3.sympatico.ca/dataorb/

Sharon Stewart
Moderator
Ottawa Freecycle