This is very difficult for me to write. Like many Canadians – and indeed, like many around the world, I’ve watched in horror as Russian President Vladimir Putin commanded Russia’s armed forces to invade Ukraine. I’ve seen the response – from Canada, and from the world. Certainly, the nations and
Continue readingAuthor: Sudbury Steve
Sudbury Steve May: Killing the KED is the Low-Hanging Fruit for Fiscal and Environmental Sustainability in Greater Sudbury
I have been a part of several recent online discussions on the subject of the costs of urban sprawl to taxpayers. I’ve seen this come up in response to recent media about municipal tax increases (and what’s driving the need for higher taxes – see: “Keeping Sudbury’s tax hike to
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Annamie Paul is (Almost) Gone. Can the Green Party Survive What Comes Next?
Annamie Paul is in the process of resigning her leadership of the Green Party of Canada. Good. By any reasonable metric, Paul’s tenure as leader has been a mitigated disaster for the Party (“mitigated” only by the victory of Mike Morrice in Kitchener Centre in the recent federal election –
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: My Personal Expression of Anger Over an Intolerable Situation in the Green Party of Canada
Something truly unprecedented is happening right now in the Green Party of Canada, and it has made me angrier than I’ve ever been since I became engaged in politics. As truly unbelievable as this sounds, two of the Green Party’s three elected Members of Parliament, Jenica Atwin (Fredericton) and
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Green MPs and NDP Leader Engaged in Anti-Semitism, Says Senior Advisor to Green Party Leader
I was very rattled upon my discovery that a Green Party “spokesperson” for Party leader Annamie Paul has himself recently spoken out against anti-Semitism in the Green Party, and has made the extraordinary claim that “political actors” across Canada, including NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, former Green Party leadership contestant Dimitri
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: 350 Canada: Partisan Greenwashing
If there are still any Greens left out there who think that 350 Canada is a non-partisan organization that is striving for better climate outcomes in Canada (and for the planet), and not a mouthpiece of for the NDP, it’s time for a major rethink. 350 Canada has long endorsed
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: It’s Increasingly Looking Like the Green Party of Ontario Needs to Start Talking About New Leadership
Here are the latest polling results from Abacus regarding voter intentions in Ontario. As with other polls from earlier this week, it’s not a surprise to see PC support starting to slip – and I think it’s fair to say that we’ll continue to see slippage going into next week,
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Will Erin O’Toole Survive Impending Conservative Backlash to His Big Business-Friendly Carbon Scheme?
Re: “Conservatives’ climate plan would replace Liberal carbon tax with lower levy of their own,” CBC, April 15, 2021. I don’t agree with the characterization of this scheme as being a “carbon tax” – it seems to be a different form of Carbon Fee & Dividend to me (and the
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Elected Right-Wing Extremists Challenge Public Health Measures in Alberta
An interesting dynamic is at play in Alberta – one that I hope we don’t see here in Ontario (and don’t expect that we will). Despite the endless scandals and incredible mis-steps, until now Premier Jason Kenney has ruled over his United Conservative Party with an iron fist. But after
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: ONDP’s "Green New Democratic Deal" – Cap and Trade – A Bad Idea Made Worse
“Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again.” -From Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” There are a lot of good ideas in the Ontario NDP’s recently released “Green New Democratic Deal”. With a few exceptions, the NDP has checked just about every box that a political party
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Greens Need to be Realistic About Upcoming Federal Election – and Beyond
I realize CBC’s Eric Grenier is focused on the NDP in this piece – but behind the words we see some serious issues for the Green Party of Canada (see: “Singh’s NDP could gain a little — and lose a lot — in a spring election,” CBC, March 3 2021).
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Maybe it’s Time to Cancel Chris Hedges
I think maybe it’s time to “cancel” Chris Hedges. Not because of racism or bigotry – but because he clearly has nothing to contribute to on-going discussions about the shifting attitudes towards BIPOC – and the political realities confronted by people of colour in their daily lives. Buying into the
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Statement on the LPAT Decision to Dismiss the Appeals Related to Planning Act Decisions for the Kingsway Entertainment District
Obviously, I am very disappointed with the decision. I believe that the appellants raised serious and significant issues related to public policy as expressed by the unwavering direction that the City had appeared committed to with regards to putting a new arena in the downtown. As we know, after years
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Anti-Semitism and the Green Party of Canada’s Leadership Contest
“I have been subjected to months of antisemitic attacks. The moment it became known that I was Jewish, I was bombarded with questions about my positions on Israel, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign, and the proposed annexation of West Bank territories.” –Annamie Paul, Green Party of Canada Leadership Contestant,
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Paths to Glory: Green Party Leadership Contestants’ Paths to Ranked Ballot Victory
With 9 opitions on the Green Party of Canada’s leadership ballot, what’s it going to take for one of the 8 leadership contestants to emerge victorious on Saturday, October 3 2020? For some, there just is no path to victory. For just about everyone else, the Ranked Ballot is going
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Higgs the Big Winner in New Brunswick Leader’s Debate
Last night’s New Brunswick leader’s debate was rather interesting – for several reasons. First, Premier Higgs was under attack from all sides for calling an unnecessary election. Higgs nevertheless handled himself well, although his anger was quite apparent and a little unbecoming. People’s Alliance Party leader Kris Austin appeared to
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Here’s Why a Letter to the Editor from Ward 2 Councillor’s Adviser Published Today in the Sudbury Star is Misleading – and Unhelpful
I just read this letter to the Editor of the Sudbury Star from Tom Price, who is an adviser to Ward 2 Councillor Michael Vagnini. I have serious concerns about this letter due to a number of things in it that are simply not true. As some here know, I
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Quick Impressions of the TVO Green Party of Canada Leadership Contestant Debates
Two really great, if quick, leadership contestant debates were held today. Hosted by Steve Paikin of TVO’s The Agenda (who runs a pretty tight ship when it comes to debates), leadership contestants, in two groups, were put on the spot to discuss timely issues of the day, like defunding the
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: Quick Impressions of the Fair Vote Canada – Green Party of Canada Leadership Debate
I just wanted to take a moment to provide my first impressions of the Fair Vote Canada – Green Party of Canada Leadership Contestant “debate”. I can’t help but put the word “debate” in quotations, because really, it was anything but a debate. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t useful
Continue readingSudbury Steve May: The Disappearing Green Party
With massive disruptions taking place across Canada in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, it may seem a little trite for me to sit down and write a critique of the Green Party – a party that I’ve been a member of for over 12 years now. Surely there are better
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