JILL DUNLOP SEARCH PARTY/RALLY FOR LOCAL DEMOCRACY – Sat. May 28th, 11am

GREEN ORILLIA PROVINCIAL ELECTION 2022 NEWSLETTER

We have prepared a special provincial election newsletter including links to recordings of the debates and all candidates meetings, voter information, and we have noted which candidates have reached out to us to offer their support for our initiatives and campaigns, and which have been so far unresponsive. Decisions made by the provincial government have an outsized impact on our local environment and quality of life here in Orillia and Simcoe North. We are not endorsing any specific party, but rather encourage you to research all party platforms of the candidates in our riding and to vote for that candidate you most believe in. We have included here an invitation to attend a rally for local democracy and a search party for our missing MPP – an event happening this Saturday, May 28th, 11am, detailed below.

JILL DUNLOP SEARCH PARTY/RALLY FOR LOCAL DEMOCRACY – Sat. May 28th, 11am

In light of repeated and unexplained absences from all but one (of 6) public debates and all candidates meetings during this election cycle, local residents have organized a Search Party for PC candidate Jill Dunlop and rally for local democracy this Saturday, May 28th at 11am outside her Constituency Office at 14 Coldwater Road in Orillia. Incumbents boycotting public forums organized by diverse organizations representing varied interests within our community sets a bad precedent for future elections. This behaviour from politicians who we pay to represent us can not be tolerated. Such disdain for democracy encourages the perception that politicians are unaccountable and unavailable to their constituents.

Jill’s excuse for not attending debates has been that door knocking is more important. Attending a handful of public debates won’t detract from her ability to speak to and hear from constituents, in fact quite the opposite. Unlike her door knocking, these events that are recorded and broadcast to all constituents are the only way most of us will have a chance to hear from Jill. The questions asked at the debates are typically pooled from submissions of constituents to address the most popular issues we are experiencing. Many key issues concerning the health of our environment in Orillia and Simcoe North were raised at these meetings, including JustRecoverySimcoe.

In the absence of effective and accountable representation for the majority of us in Simcoe North, it’s our responsibility to organize and represent ourselves. The issues facing our environment and community are urgent and severe and we need cooperation from all members of society and all levels of government. We need a representative who respects their constituents and democracy enough to show up. In the meantime, we hope you will! RSVP on the Facebook event: https://fb.me/e/1IRRkrdnE

WATCH SIMCOE NORTH DEBATES

• Southern Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce All-Candidates Meeting – Watch Recording or Read Simcoe.com article
• JustRecoverySimcoe Debate – Watch Recording
• Creative Nomad Studios “Let’s Get Real” About Small Business Debate – Watch Recording or Read OrilliaMatters article
• Orillia District Chamber of Commerce All-Candidates Meeting – Watch Recording (to be posted soon on Rogers TV Youtube Channel) or Read OrilliaMatters article
• Lakehead University All-Candidates Panel Discussion – Watch Recording or Read OrilliaMatters article

YOUR SIMCOE NORTH CANDIDATES THAT SUPPORT STOP SPRAWL ORILLIA

NDP: Elizabeth Van Houtte

Liberal Party: Aaron Cayden-Hiltz

Green Party: Krystal Brooks

WHERE THE PARTIES STAND ON THE ENVIRONMENT

There are several groups that have questioned each party and how their platform would  benefit and protect nature. Here are some of the top ones we think are worth diving into:

• Green Prosperity has sent out a survey to all of the major parties.  You can read the results of that survey here.
• Lake Simcoe Watch has also surveyed candidates on key measures needed to protect Lake Simcoe here.
• Ontario Climate Emergency Coalition has outlined how well parties will commit to their climate action plan, which has been endorsed by over 125 environmental & climate action groups here.
• CBC also has provided highlights of party platforms, as well as access to their full platform. You can read that here.

VOTER INFORMATION

Even if you didn’t get a voter registration card you are still eligible to vote! Elections Ontario has put together resources like how to find your advanced polling station, voting day location, your riding and other frequently asked questions. Find it here.

OP-EDS / LOCAL VOICES

• LETTER: PC candidates showing ‘extreme contempt for the public’
• ​​GUEST COLUMN: Top farmland is disappearing under concrete
• On June 2, vote with climate change in mind: Sustainable Orillia
• LETTER: PCs making a ‘mockery’ of environmental rights
• Couple devastated after property expropriated for bypass
• LETTER: Debate carefully before voting, reader urges
• LETTER: Candidate absences should be ‘punished at polls’
• LETTER: Skipping debates shows fear of accountability
• LETTER: Democracy ‘weakened’ when candidates skip debates
• LETTER: Skipping debates sets ‘a worrisome precedent’