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Custodians:

55 e-mails in April

April 30, 2009, 2 email.

From: Clean Train Coalition

Please forward to your Networks!

Join our mailing list at www.cleantrain.ca

Thank you for signing up to support the Clean Train Coalition! We know that you are as concerned as we are about the proposed plan. Working together we will make a difference and prove that Clean Transit is Possible!

CLEAN LETTER DAY IS ALMOST HERE!!

The letters are now available for download at www.cleantrain.ca. Remember – our plan is to overwhelm Premier McGuinty, our MPPs and eight key Ministers with a flood of letters. The idea is to have as many people as possible send these letters on Monday, May 4 so that they all arrive within a short window.

Instructions

Visit www.cleantrain.ca and click the link to access the letters. All the instructions are there! Basically, you are just going to download, print, sign and mail a letter to the Premier, your MPP, and as many of the 9 Key Ministers as possible. But think about the possibilities for outreach:

Go door to door!

Go to neighbourhood events!

Set up a booth!

Get your local business to support the movement!

3,500 Letters

Our mailing list is now at 350 people. If we each get 10 people to mail letters, we’re going to get 3,500 letters in the Premier’s inbox next Tuesday and Wednesday. Imagine the scene! Trust the network – if you do it, everyone else will too. We can make a difference!

April 29, 2009, 1 e-mail.

J. W. wrote:

Hi there,

it seems there are 4 groups involved in this currently

hook ave piledrivers west diamond leaders east of the tracks clean trains

is there a way we can bring all these four groups in for a rally or meeting of some kind, with media/ mp etc present?

as i understand the situation it looks like metrolinx is involved in making some pretty important decisions here, without due process, possibly without the knowledge of the government.

discussing and presenting the severe the impact of the construction, piledrivers etc. is important but it seems the key is that due process was not done

due process must be done to assess the environmental impact of this project.

April 28, 2009, 5 e-mails

S. R. wrote:

Thank you to all who were at Queens Park yesterday for Question Period.

Here is the Hansard of Cheri's question to Transportation Minister Jim Bradley.

Hansard April 27, 2009:
GO TRANSIT
Ms. Cheri DiNovo: My question is to the Minister of Transportation. Over the past two months, GO's west Toronto diamond piledriving has subjected residents to an unacceptable, ear-splitting noise. By all accounts, residents have suffered from vibrations equivalent to earthquakes of a three to four magnitude on the Richter scale. After the piledriving, Metrolinx plans on running over 400 dirty diesel trains per day, instead of the 40 running currently, along these same tracks.

April 27, 2009, 1 e-mail

From: Clean Train Coalition

Join our mailing list at http://www.cleantrain.ca

Thank you for signing up to support the Clean Train Coalition! We know that you are as concerned as we are about the proposed plan. Working together we will make a difference and prove that Clean Transit is Possible!

This is a brief but important email to update you on our first Campaign Action.

What’s the Plan?

We are going to overwhelm Premier McGuinty, our MPPs and eight key Ministers with a flood of letters. The idea is to have as many people as possible send a letter to the Premier, their MPP, and a couple of these Ministers on Monday, May 4 so that they all arrive in a short 48 hour window. We’re going to prepare the letters this week so you just need to print, sign and post the letters. Stay tuned – you’ll hear from us later this week once the letters are online. (those who can’t post can fax or email)

April 24, 2009, 2 e-mails

B. K. wrote:

All please write to Dalton and all thr liberals along the track as posted in the attached.Just have to write one letter and c.c all the rest..

Metrolinx - Contact List of MPPs

MPP

RIDING

Phone

Email

Tony Ruprecht

Davenport

416-325-7777 QP 416-535-3158 CO

truprecht.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Cheri DiNovo

Parkdale–High Park

416-325-0244 QP 416-763-5630 CO

dinovoc-qp@ndp.on.ca

Laura Albanese

York SouthWeston

416-325-1800 QP 416-243-7984 CO

lalbanese.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Shafiq Qaadri

Etobicoke North

416-325-6679 QP 416-745-2859 CO

sqaadri.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Donna H. Cansfield

Etobicoke Centre

416-314-2301 QP 416-234-2800 CO

dcansfield.mpp@liberal.ola.org

George Smitherman

Toronto Centre

416-327-6758 QP 416-972-7683 CO

gsmitherman.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Rosario Marchese

Trinity Spadina

416-325-9092 QP 416-603-9664 CO

rmarchese-co@ndp.on.ca

MonteKwinter

York Centre

416-325-0036 QP 416-630-0080 CO

mkwinter.mpp@liberal.ola.org

Dalton McGuinty

Ottawa South

416-325-1941 QP 613-736-9573 CO

dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org

April 23, 2009, 1 e-mail

W. K. wrote:

It was a great piece this morning. Noise watch info can be had from http://www.oen.ca/dir/detail.php?id=1253

S. R. wrote:

An excellent radio broadcast this morning on Metro Morning (CBC) began with "our" piledrivers and included an interview with an expert, Arlene Bronzaft*, who talked about the damage noise can do. She made the point that noise is not mere annoyance.

April 22, 2009, 8 e-mails

T. A. wrote:

Question to audience: This email chain/distribution list was started by someone. Besides municipal leaders, do we have a chair of representatives acting on behalf of the Hook Ave Community? Have they been named? ((I may have joined to late to see this list of folks))

L.: In my earlier communication, after our own house suffered some serious vertical and horizontal cracking in the drywall a few months ago when the pile driving was closer to our home and your own, we paid $350 for a structural engineer to tell us that it would be difficult to establish ‘fault’ as a correlation to the pile-driving. However, multiply that complaint by 1000 homeowners and we might have a case. That’s yet to be determined.

April 21, 2009, 7 e-mails

M. D. wrote:

Will Sh. confirm to the group the question she will be asking?

S. wrote:

I'm sure Ch. will ask an appropriate question -- she's committed to the cause and has been a terrific representative for the community on this issue!

S. R. wrote:

Hello

Ch. will do her best to incorporate your concerns in the question to Minister Bradley but she will only have the opportunity to ask one question as well as present the petition (which has been sent to Ciara to distribute).

Ch. will acknowledge those in the gallery as well.

April 20, 2009, 1 e-mail

S. R. wrote:

Community Meeting

GO Transit West Diamond

Diesel Pile Driving

Impact on the Local Community

April 20 7 p.m.
Indian Road Crescent Public School
285 Indian Road Crescent
Toronto ON
M6P 2G8

Participants will include members of the community, G. K., MP; Ch. D., MPP, and G. P., City Councillor

April 19, 2009, 1 e-mail

P. F. wrote:

I agree with R.'s comments on the nature of the Metrolinx Open Houses; the format they have followed ensures that there are no public presentations which can become targets for media and activists. I've gone to several and it is a frustrating process if you want real answers.

That said, it is critically important that WE ALL GO TO EVER SINGLE ONE OF THEM regardless of how futile this may seem. At this point, getting information is not the reason to go; making Metrolinx know that there is a huge groundswell of opinion against their diesel-powered plan is.

See you at the next local Metrolinx Open House on Tuesday, April 21 at Lithuania House, 1573 Bloor Street West. We're trying to get as many folks out as possible between 5:30 and 8 pm. Come and meet the folks from the Clean Train Coalition and join in the fight to make this project reflect our needs.

For other open houses check the Metrolinx website at http://www.metrolinx.com/gsse/community/open_house.aspx

Cheers,

April 18, 2009, 2 e-mails

R. wrote:

Metrolinx Open Houses are scams. I went to one of the many they had in February. Lots of fancy signage and Metrolinx representatives smiling. The onus is on the people attending to approach the reps and voice their concerns...it's a study in divide and conquer. There have been many Open Houses and I have heard of no changes or demands being met. And I would say that our demands are pretty consistent. These Open Houses are snow-jobs.

There is amazing work being done by people living along the rail corridor - organizing meetings and informing their neighbours about what is going on. This is a complex tangle of government and business policy that is hard for me to decipher, but I know that what is proposed will be detrimental to where and how we live.

There are important questions being raised and important things happening. I don't think this is happening at the Metrolinx Open Houses...but I'm very happy to say it's happening.

I'll see everyone at the meetings next week.

In the spirit of Susan Boyle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

April 17, 2009, 4 e-mails

Mike Sullivan wrote:

Metrolinx has commenced a second set of ‘open houses’ to ‘consult’ with the public. They have refused requests from councillors and MPPs to attend any public meetings they call.

Please make an effort to attend these open houses, or provide your comments via their website (www.metrolinx.com).

April 16, 2009, 4 e-mails

P. F. wrote:

As a followup to L.'s earlier email, please be sure to attend the Metrolinx open house on Tuesday April 21 at Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor Street West, near Dundas Street West. This is critically important to our neighbourhood which is so close to the rail line being developed.

A number of folks in the neighbourhood have come together under the name Clean Train Coalition, which involves community groups all up and down the line. One of our main issues is the rejection by Metrolinx of immediate electrification of the line, and the omission of this option in the scope of the Environmental Assessment currently underway.

We are trying to get a large number of people out to the open house from 5:30-7:30 so that Metrolinx can understand the scope of the opposition. Please try to come then if you can, or earlier in the day, and tell your neighbours, bring your kids, ask questions, be heard!

April 15, 2009, 3 e-mails

S. wrote:

Wouldn't you know it?

We move from our lovely Hook Avenue office to the Symington/Dupont area only to learn a grade separation project is planned for an area very close to our new location.

It is called Davenport Diamond and it's (supposedly) at the study stage.

There's an open house April 22 at St. Josephat School, 55 Pelham Street, Toronto, Ontario from 5:30 to 8:30.

I think it's a good opportunity for those east of the tracks with respect to the West Diamond project (Hook Avenue) to have another chance to intersect with GO Transit on the whole subject of the grade separation. It's also relevant, I would guess, to those interested in the airport link as it's likely all part of the same process that will result in those 300 trains per day.....

The questions for the Davenport Diamond open house seem to me to be:

1. What is the nature of the "grade separation"? Is it the same as West Diamond? 2 Have they awarded a contract for the construction? 3. Will they be doing pile driving? 4. What technology will be employed? i.e., the same diesel-explosion method as West Diamond? 5. Are they taking into consideration the lessons learned from the West Diamond grade separation with respect to the impact on the neighbourhoods? 6. Are they cognizant of the fact that businesses and employees suffer as much as homeowners because they are on premises during construction hours? That is, industrial areas suffer just as much as residential areas from noise and vibration.

Please turn up. Please have your say.

Get on the mailing list for information about the project by writing to

Mark Armstrong
Project Manager
2800 Speakman Drive
Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2R7
mark.armstrong@hatchmott.com

Or call for more information 905 403 4423

The GO Transit contact is Greg Ashbee, 416.869.3600 x5211 greg.ashbee@gotransit.com

April 14, 2009, 2 e-mail

D. C. wrote:

The Toronto Cyclists Union urges you to read and take action on this message from Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone - received this morning.

Have your say at the Metrolinx Open House tomorrow - Wednesday, April 15, 2009 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Fort York, Blue Barracks - 100 Garrison Road

URGENT! Strachan Ave Super-Bridge

Dear neighbours,

MetroLinx is NOT listening!

At 8:30 this morning - one day before "MetroLinx's Open House" - I was informed that MetroLinx dropped the community's and City of Toronto's preferred option for the Strachan - At - Grade elimination; a call for the lowering of the tracks with Strachan passing over top. (See the City of Toronto Staff Report: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2008/te/bgrd/backgroundfile-16917.pdf).

Today, MetroLinx offers one sole solution -- a bridge that will tear at the urban fabric of our community. Not only does MetroLinx's sole "solution " force the closure of Douro Street and Wellington Street at Strachan Avenue, but it entails the erection of an ugly super structure (think another Gardiner Expressway?) smack in the middle of some of Toronto's most vibrant, historic, and creative neighbourhoods (Niagara Neighbourhood, Liberty Village, Exhibition Place, Fort York and the Waterfront).

April 10, 2009, 1 e-mail

A. S. wrote:

We live at Osler and Cariboo and certain can feel the construction. We have noticed our the stone tiles in our kitchen have began cracking in many locations across the kitchen. They were installed in the summer of 2008 and were fine until 2 weeks ago. Is there anyone we can or should contact about this? I am worried because I am having a new kitchen counter installed soon and do not want it to crack as well.

April 7, 2009, 2 e-mail

From :Brendan Agnew-Iler Senior Advisor
Office of Mayor David Miller
To: Belinda Cole

Dear Belinda:

Thank you for your email regarding the Georgetown rail proposal. The Mayor appreciates the time you have taken to express your concerns.

As a City Councillor David Miller represented Toronto on the GO board, where he voted to have GO offer the airport service as part of its public regional rail network. The Federal Government determined that it would be privately built and operated and, with their private partner SNC-Lavalin, created the Blue-22 proposal using refurbished diesel cars and charging more than twenty dollars for a one-way trip.

At its January 2009 meeting Toronto City Council unanimously adopted a motion from the Mayor opposing any road closures, supporting the addition of new stops, requesting electric vehicles be used and that public transit alternatives be a component of any service improvements.

The City of Toronto is not, however, directly involved in this project so you should contact Metrolinx, the Provincial transportation planning agency, directly for more information.

April 6, 2009, 2 letters

From: P. W.

To: Dalton McGuinty, Premier
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Dear Mr. McGuinty,

I have attended two recent meetings about the proposed train plans for the Georgetown Corridor in the city. Normally I would have loved this idea but when I found what kinds of trains, where they would be going, and the pollution they would be making, I changed my mind. I like the idea of having a train that goes to the airport but I think there should be stops all the way up so anyone, not only the businessmen can get on. But, a more important matter is not to use diesel trains - they should only be electric.

Yours truly,

P. W.

April 4, 2009, 2 letters

From: D. W.

To: Mario Silva,
Member of Parliament
Davenport
1674 St Clair Avenue West Toronto (ON) M6N 1H8

Dear Mr. Silva,

I am writing because I am concerned about the Metrolinks’ plan to build three rail lines with four hundred and fourteen trains going past every twenty-four hours. One of the main problems is our friends live right next to the train tracks and they have a baby. How will she sleep at night? Also, what harmful gases and toxins will she be inhaling? Normally, I would be okay with the trains but not with diesel trains. The trains need to be electric. And they don’t even stop in every one of the communities they pass by. The trains need to provide transportation to the communities they pass through.

I would very much appreciate if you took my requests into consideration.

Sincerely,

D. W.

April 3, 2009, 3 e-mails

M. S. wrote:

Open houses:

Wednesday, April 15, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Fort York, Blue Barracks Room, 100 Garrison Road, Toronto, ON

Thursday, April 16, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Courtyard by Marriott - Toronto Airport, Atlantic Room, 231 Carlingview Drive, Toronto, ON

Friday, April 17, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Terry Miller Recreation Centre, Room #2, 1295 Williams Pkwy, Brampton, ON

Monday, April 20, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Weston Park Baptist Church, 1871 Weston Road, Toronto, ON

Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

The Lithuanian House, Hall B, 1573 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON

Wednesday, April 22, 2009, 3:00pm – 8:00pm

Mount Dennis United Church, 71 Guestville Avenue, Toronto, ON


Content last modified on May 16, 2009, at 12:18 AM EST