TEAM HOLLAND REPORT

Ajax-Pickering Federal Liberal Riding Association

Volume 1, Issue 4                                                               September, 2009

MARK’S VIEWS

At our summer caucus in Sudbury last week, Michael Ignatieff made it clear we that cannot support the Conservative government any further. Stephen Harper’s unilateral approach to governing and his refusal to accept working with a minority parliament makes our choice clear.
After four years that have lead to the worst unemployment record in two decades; the worst deficit in our history and the worst performing economy in the G7 in the last quarter – enough is enough. We can and must do better.
It takes three parties to bring down the government but it is the responsibility of the government itself to make parliament work. In this, Harper has failed. If an election does happen, I’ll need your help to ensure we have a progressive and responsive government – a Liberal government.
Your support as a Team Holland member means we are ready to fight an election. With your help, we can ensure Canada has a government that is ready for the challenges of a changing world and economy. If you are interested in volunteering in the campaign or would like to make a donation, please let us know.

Thanks again for support I hope you can make it out to our Garden Party on the 13th of September,
Sincerely,
Mark

APFLA MEETING

Thursday, September 10

1701 Finch Ave (at Brock),

Unit 76

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
 

All members are most welcome to join Mark and the association at our monthly General Meeting. This is your opportunity to be heard, have input, and become more informed. Meetings are friendly and informal. Please join us.

Mark's Community Garden Party

Sunday, September 13

2:00-4:00 p.m.

Kinsmen Heritage Centre

Roberson Drive, Ajax

You are cordially invited to join Mark, his family, and staff at his annual Community Garden Party. Share in refreshments, entertainment and children’s activities. We look forward to seeing you there.

Passionate about politics???

Sunday, October 4, 2009
Safari Restaurant
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free Refreshments

With the possibility of an election on the horizon in the not too distant future, members are invited to attend an informational fair to learn more about the APFLA and the issues facing our community. Guest panellists will provide insights into economic concerns, local environmental issues and the present political scene.
You are asked to bring a friend who is not yet a member of our association in order to introduce them to our organization. By encouraging new memberships we can strengthen our support for Mark and the Party.

Congratulations to the
happy couple

President’s Report

The quiet summer that I trust you all had a chance to enjoy with your families has rapidly become what I anticipate will be a very politically active fall. At our last members meeting we established that a number of volunteer were interested in participating in one or more of the committees we’ve set up. The event committee has worked with membership in mind to create an October 4th event with speakers on various topics and discussion forums amongst the members and the speakers. This will become another of our annual series of events that the volunteers run for the Ajax Pickering Federal Liberal Association. Others continue their good work on fundraising, and others their efforts at community outreach and helping the local food bank. More information on the food bank will follow in future editions of the newsletter.

Foremost on many peoples mind is the recent announcement that the Liberal Party can no longer support the Conservative government. Because of this, our election readiness committee has kicked in to high gear in anticipation of a possible election later in the year. My past week has been one of visiting possible campaign offices and sorting out a number of details that go along with setting up the campaign. I am happy to report Justine Villeneuve will be returning as the campaign manager to RE-Elect Mark Holland. If you would like to be part of the re-election team please contact Justine by email at justineavilleneuve@yahoo.ca.

I have been quite fortunate to meet and learn more about many of you during the past five years that we have been together as friends and a riding association. It is because of the hard work that you do that we as a team will RE - Elect Mark Holland as our Member of Parliament.

I encourage you to tell me about your concerns, thoughts and suggestions regarding our association. Please never hesitate to contact me at president@apfla.ca or by phone at 416-821-5771.

Sincerely,
Dave Johnson
President – Ajax Pickering Federal Liberal Association

Protecting our green space
By Mary Delaney
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more politically aware and yet more cynical about politics than the residents of North Pickering. But increasingly these same people are becoming ‘Mark Holland liberals’ like me.

It began in 1972 when they were expropriated as part of the New Toronto International Airport Project. People or Planes was formed and the battle was on, briefly interrupted when the airport was put on hold and there was a victory of sorts. But the slow process of decay continued for the next three decades until one day in 2005 when a shockingly young liberal MP, Mark Holland, came on the scene.

Mark visited the heritage home of the Barclays, threatened for the third time with demolition. He witnessed the scandalous state of neglect in many homes, read documents detailing the mismanagement of the properties and threatened evictions, and toured the lands. But mostly he listened.

He recognized that there was no business case for an airport; he went to bat for the residents with Transport Canada, and worked with a newly-formed group, Land Over Landings. He made cancelling the airport a priority and was the first politician to embrace the concept of protecting these 18,600 acres of class A farmland forever as a land trust linked to the Rouge Park and the Oak Ridges Moraine.

The full story of the largest and longest protest movement in the history of Canada can be found in Peter Shatalow’s documentary ‘Last Stand’, and at www.landoverlandings.com. There you will find the passionate words of Mark Holland, who recognizes that what we have here is an incredible opportunity, an oasis on the edge of sprawl, unspoiled land just waiting – not for pavement and tarmac, but for people with a vision that is green.

Your opinion counts
With this issue we are introducing a new feature to allow our members to have their views expressed in the newsletter. Each month we will pose a timely question and ask for your response. This month’s topic is the possibility of a Fall election. The performance of the Harper government has made it impossible for our Party to continue to support their narrow, partisan approach.

What are your views on the need for a Fall election?
Comment at lynda.mccarthy1@rogers.com. A selection of responses will be printed in the next issue.