Allyson Beauregard
Colin Griffiths believes continuous growth is detrimental to our planet. “One of the things Greens stand for is
slowing down growth. Continuous growth implies continuous
Allyson Beauregard
Colin Griffiths believes continuous growth is detrimental to our planet. “One of the things Greens stand for is
slowing down growth. Continuous growth implies continuous
consumption of the resources we are running out of,” he explained, indicating that a move towards increased recycling and reusing to create a more sustainable society is needed. “We cannot keep going the way we are because we will end up with a disastrous climate and economy,” he added, noting it’s possible to
have growth without
continuous consumption.
“We have proposed a Green Ventures Fund to help small entrepreneurs start renewable, less
consumptive businesses. Through entrepreneurial help, we can encourage and stimulate small
businesses, and, in turn, jobs.”
Although the Green Party is against new pipe lines for the oil and gas industry, they believe the Canadian economy can
be stimulated by better
measures, such as “universal, guaranteed, liveable incomes” for every
adult and investments
in infrastructure. “These measures will put cash in the economy to enable
a continuous turnover
of money and goods. Infrastructure investments will create jobs and stimulate more economic activity,” he said, adding the Green Party’s proposed home retrofit program will also create jobs, as well as helping home-owners and conserving heating fuels.
Griffiths stressed that the Greens support a coalition government and proportional representation. “Proportional representation would ensure the views of the country are better represented in Parliament,” he told the Journal. FairVote Canada is pushing to make this election the last with
the current un-democratic method of first-past-
the-post.
Better internet access in the Pontiac is one of Griffiths’ priorities, as is withdrawing the entire police spy bill, C-51.
“C-51 is unnecessary,
seriously restricts our freedoms, and turns us towards a police state,”
he said, noting some
provisions in the bill may be retained. “We would reintroduce provisions that favour communication between CSIS and
the RCMP and which make the oversight of CSIS more public,” he
continued.
Griffiths wants to improve and expand the PPJ Trail to make it more attractive to visitors, as one way to better market the Pontiac. “We need to brand the Pontiac region”, he said, to improve tourism promotion and to give Pontiac products
better visibility in the
marketplace.
Griffiths also supports supply management and stresses the importance of agriculture in the Pontiac. The Greens do not
support the secret TPP trade deal, which would end supply management. “Farming is one of the more productive, more stable sectors of the Pontiac’s economy.” He said he would assist farmers to look at new crops and productions to fill profitable market niches.
Griffiths said he is determined to see an Ottawa River watershed management agency formed. “There is no
single agency with
conservation or management authority for the entire Ottawa River watershed, which is one
of the biggest in the
country,” he concluded, starting with better cooperation between Quebec and Ontario to protecting migratory species.
