It is safe to say Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is under more pressure and is more vulnerable than he has been for the duration of his political career. Nominations for the 2014 municipal election open up in a few months and he would be wise to consider the implications that
Continue readingAuthor: John Laforet
John Laforet - Blog: Scandal Fatigue
Working in public relations and government relations requires a lot of reading, watching and listening to the news. Knowing what is being reported helps to shape the narratives we develop for our clients and the discussions we have on their behalf. I like being on top of the news and
Continue readingJohn Laforet - Personal Reflections: Reflections on Timothy Bosma
Since his disappearance earlier this month, virtually everyone in southern Ontario has come to know the name ‘Tim Bosma’. His name, face and images of the truck that brought the alleged suspects into his life have been plastered on TV screens, newspapers, websites, lamp posts and transit shelters. While his
Continue readingJohn Laforet: Spring is Springing in Toronto
I am amazed we are already in to April! It’s nice that the days are beginning to get longer, the sun is glowing stronger and signs of life are coming back. This morning I woke up just before 6am and for the first time this year I heard the songbirds
Continue readingJohn Laforet: My Thoughts On Kathleen Wynne Being Elected Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party
I wrote a blog entry for Huffington Post two days before the Ontario Liberal Party delegate election meetings titled ‘Kathleen Wynne for the Ontario Liberal Leadership Win?‘. I summarized the reasons I thought Kathleen Wynne was best positioned among the six remaining candidates to win the Liberal Leadership. This isn’t and
Continue readingJohn Laforet: Merry Christmas!
Another year is coming to an end, and in between time with family and friends I find myself reflecting on the year that was. Although 2012 was a gloomy year with all the news of economic woe, personally it has been a very positive one. On the business front, I
Continue readingJohn Laforet: John Laforet: A Grounding End To My Sailing Season
It hit me earlier this week that the fall is here, and winter is coming, and that means I need to begin making plans to put my sailboat away until next spring. The season has been short and full of challenges related to owning a forty-five year old boat, so
Continue readingJohn Laforet: From the Broadview Blog: Introducing Broadview Strategy Group’s ‘The Broadview Report’
I just finished writing a blog entry for the Broadview Strategy Group blog on a new initiative we’re undertaking to provide public opinion research each month on a wide range of topical issues of the day. The first ‘Broadview Report’ will address the public’s perception of private zoos and aquaria
Continue readingJohn Laforet: From The Broadview Blog: Turquoise #10 Envelopes Aren’t a Hot Item
I don’t have any burning topics I am waiting to write about today, so instead I thought I would post a link to a blog entry I wrote for Broadview Strategy Group earlier today on the trials and tribulations involved in seeking out a very specific colour of #10 business
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Perth-Wellington Has a Message for John Wilkinson – Sayonara!
I’m writing this from the front seat of our vehicle as the ‘Winds of Change Tour’ barrels down the highway from Stratford, en route to Searchmont for tomorrow’s rally with folks in Algoma-Manitoulin. It has been an amazing two days in Perth-Wellington! Seeing so many supporters of the local Wind Concerns Ontario groups come out […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Great Rally and March in Port Dover Today!
It was a blast to be back in Haldimand-Norfolk today as we held a BBQ, rally and march at Silver Lake with the help of the local Lions Club. Many thanks to the event organizers at Haldimand Wind Concerns, MPP Toby Barrett who came out, and the hundreds of people who joined us as well […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: “Wind Concerns Ontario’s Winds of Change Tour Launched in Owen Sound”
Wind Concerns Ontario has successfully launched the latest province-wide organizing effort of 2011, this time with a strong election focus. Over the next forty or so days, Wind Concerns Ontario members in sixty seven ridings will be mobilized to actively work to defeat Liberal incumbents, and candidates in their respective ridings. I look forward to […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Video: John Laforet’s Address to the Empire Club of Canada – Wind Generated Controversy
What an amazing moment for Wind Concerns Ontario and me personally. It was an honour to stand behind the podium at the Empire Club of Canada and deliver an address to this influential body. To watch a video webcast of my address click here ‘Wind Generated Controversy: the financial, legal and political concequences of Ontario’s Green Energy Act’ […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Thunder Bay Rally a Success!
As the Wind Concerns Ontario Truth about Turbines Tour kicked off in Thunder Bay last night, I began blogging at wcotour.ca It’s a site where myself and others will share their stories, photos, videos and audio from the province wide tour Wind Concerns Ontario is undertaking over the next six weeks. I encourage you to […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Coal and Racism as Political Weapons in Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario
Surprised to see coal and racism have anything to do with each other? Welcome to Dalton McGuinty’s Ontario. Disagree with him and you’re a coal loving, puppy kicking, candy stealing from a child, racist. You probably want to close hospitals and schools too. The wind industry and it’s political supporters (and donation recipients) at the […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: Wind Welfare Warriors Just Don’t Get It (But Thank God They’re Losing)
I would be lying if I said I was surprised the Ontario Liberals and their paid for lackeys at the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and Environmental Defense had conniption fits and went to the Twitter-verse to vent their spleens about how awful/ignorant/evil/cruel anyone who would dare get in the way of their access to our […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: On Dalton McGuinty’s Support for Killing, Harming, and Harassing Endangered Species
Welcome to Dalton McGuinty’s Industrial Green Ontario. That’s right. If you’re an industrial wind developer and want to ‘kill, harm or harass’ endangered species – all you have to do is ask the government nicely and give them some money. In exchange for $230,000 bucks, the Government of Ontario is prepared to lease Ministry of […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: The ‘Truth about Turbines Tour’ Begins Next Week in Thunder Bay
As always, I am looking forward to going back to Thunder Bay to stand with the folks who volunteer countless hours with the Nor’Wester Mountain Escarpment Protection Committee (NMEPC) as they oppose Horizon Wind’s plans to clear cut and blast watershed protection lands to install industrial wind turbines. These turbines would tower 1200 feet over the […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: It Has Been a While Since I’ve Blogged
It’s been over a month since I’ve updated my website. Sometimes I’ve entered a second week since posting something new, but never a full month. It hasn’t been from having a lack of things to say or share, in fact it is probably more the opposite. I’ve been to a number of communities, have been […]
Continue readingJohn Laforet - President - Wind Concerns Ontario: The Chronicle Journal: It’s Not Over Yet In Thunder Bay
Brandon Walker Tuesday, April 5, 2011 – 08:00 “Houses in South Neebing — going cheap,” Anna Marchese said Monday evening while leaving city hall moments after Thunder Bay council approved an agreement with Horizon Wind to avoid a $126-million lawsuit. Marchese was one of several people who confronted councillors after the meeting to express their […]
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