October 16th, 2018 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Short-term solutions haunt future (October 2018)
Florida’s red tide a harbinger of what not to do
By Terri Chu
Premier Doug Ford has scrapped cap and trade, embarking on a path of environmental destruction that’s fuelled by subsidies to polluters. The shamelessness is galling and we’re likely to see more of it over the next four years. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Life
September 11th, 2018 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Urban under-representation (Aug./Sept. 2018)
Giving the suburbs a leg up at the expense of progress
Premier Ford wants to do Toronto a favour by slashing the size of council, and only Toronto seems to be targeted. Our ward of University-Rosedale, population 98,600, is now represented by a single councillor. To put this into perspective, Grey County, population 93,000, has 19 representatives to make decisions about roads, sewers, zoning, and all the other services that are vital to day-to-day living. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns · Life
July 18th, 2018 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Results beg for electoral reform (July 2018)
Environment would benefit from a system that’s not a winner takes all
Big congratulations to Jessica Bell who is now representing us in University-Rosedale at Queen’s Park. Read more
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Tags: Annex · General · Life · Opinion
Assessing the parties through an environmental lens
At the risk of sounding like a single-issue voter, it will be no surprise to anyone who has read any of my columns that the environment ranks high. There are lots of other issues, such as healthcare, debt, economic growth, but all that is moot as we stare mass extinction in the face. If you think I’m being hyperbolic, you aren’t paying attention. Before his death, Stephen Hawking gave humanity another two centuries before we’re toast. To me, the long-term survival of our species trumps any short-term issue we are facing at the moment, no matter how pressing it might seem. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns
Toronto is busy planning for yesteryear
Mayor John Tory doesn’t think much of me. He doesn’t even acknowledge my existence. In fact, he said there are incredibly few of me.
The “me” in this case is a parent without a car. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns
March 22nd, 2018 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: The science of board games (March 2018)
The danger of equating pop culture with the periodic table
This neighbourhood is known for great people and I’m lucky enough to call many of them neighbours. I had the pleasure of joining some friends for dinner recently. After dinner, the gracious host pulled out a game and continued their after-dinner tradition of playing the latest trivia game they received for Christmas. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Life · Opinion
January 29th, 2018 · Comments Off on GREENINGS: Driving fuelled by unseen subsidies (Jan. 2018)
Invest in transit and public works, not roads and parking
If all goes according to plan — and with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) it never does — Torontonians should enjoy time-based transfers starting in August. It’s great news for transit users but critics — who claim it’s an unfair subsidy — are livid. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Life · Opinion
August 1st, 2017 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (JULY 2017): Taking tolls to the Gardiner and Don Valley Parkway
Toronto shouldn’t have to pay for roads used by non-Torontonians
I love a good history lesson. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Life · Opinion
June 30th, 2017 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (JUNE 2017): Lessons from Madrid

PHOTO BY TERRI CHU/GLEANER NEWS: Cars rule the road in Madrid (above), a city whose culinary delights and historic sights are marred by the population’s refusal to use public transit.
Time to end the car era
By Terri Chu Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns · Life · Opinion
May 26th, 2017 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (MAY 2017): Thoughts on hitting the 400 benchmark
Governments need to change behaviour through policy
By Terri Chu Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns · Life
March 22nd, 2017 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (MARCH 2017): Kellie Leitch was right
It’s hard to borrow a cup of sugar…but the problem isn’t Toronto
Kellie Leitch is reportedly getting packets upon packets of sugar in the mail as a response to her comments that in Toronto, you can’t walk next door and borrow a cup of sugar. She’s right, to an extent…just not in Toronto. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns · Life
January 23rd, 2017 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (JANUARY 2017): Feeling the carbon tax crunch?
Embrace the green and lower your footprint
Christmas came a little late for me this year. I woke up on New Year’s Day and looked out of the window at the gas station sign. The ever slightly higher gas price was a pleasant reminder of the new carbon tax that Ontarians are now paying and I couldn’t be happier. Natural gas will be increased by about 7 cents a cubic metre, and gasoline about 4 cents a litre. This is truly a great day for our children. It’s a small but important step in the right direction. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Columns
December 20th, 2016 · Comments Off on GREENINGS (DECEMBER 2016): A green, meaningful Christmas
Five alternatives to store-bought gifts
By Terri Chu
When I was a child, Christmas was a magical time. But as I grew older and became more environmentally aware, the holiday quickly became one of my least favourite times of year. Now I can’t even step into a mall during the holidays: just the mere sight of so many useless gifts meant as a token, ultimately destined for the landfill, makes me grieve for the planet. Read more
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Tags: Annex · Life