Environmental issues

 We watched a couple of episodes of Spooks. I went to bed to read, Beastly Things, book #21 by Donna Leon in the Inspector Commissario series. It does make me feel better about Canadian government! As I read, I could hear a cat murping. Not Cinnamon, he doesn't murp but meows. I heard JB laughing in the living room. Of course I had to get up. So much for sleep hygiene! 

Here was Nutmeg, proudly celebrating the mouse she killed. She'd dropped it right in front of him on the carpet. She was quite happy to share her treasure. I suspect it was in the basement. I find that the adult mice know that there are cats in the house, but the young ones don't quite get this. Or don't run fast enough. We seldom see signs of them.

Outside it is a different tale. The lilies are growing like mad. The hostas... not so much. Our one regular doe has trimmed them. Grrrr! Actually, she's a thin one, and I don't mind. It happens every year.

These two are nicely trimmed. Normally deer begin at the outside hosta, then a day later move to the other. Maybe I just didn't notice!

The fence works for some of the flowers.

We've been a bit dry. I watered the Canna. It was happier and stood up tall.

My orchid is finally showing signs of blooming. I've put some of my indoor plants on the back deck. The orchid gets morning sunshine, the other plants are hidden by the BBQ. A perfect spot! I accidentally broke off the previous bud branch. 

Provincial Politics

And in provincial news, our re-elected premier is trying to build a new highway, #413. It is, many believe, unnecessary. We should simply open up the toll highway, #407, to ease traffic. It makes me so angry. Highway 413 route threatens 11 at-risk species, provincial government documents reveal — Toronto Star (@TorontoStar) June 29, 2022.

We are hoping that the feds are going to get involved: 

"the highway could harm three species at risk that were protected federally but not provincially: the western chorus frog, the red-headed woodpecker, and a rare dragonfly called a rapids clubtail."

You'll recall that I have participated in Western Chorus Frog surveys, as they are at risk, and the ministry is seeking to establish an idea of their population numbers.

What else did Doug Ford do? Ontario's new minister of natural resources faces environmental charges

Smith is charged with harming or harassing Blanding's turtles, designated by Ontario as a threatened species, and with damaging or endangering the habitat of the turtles. The Town of Bracebridge itself and two senior municipal officials also face identical charges.

Premier Ford announced his new cabinet ministers. There are a couple of surprises. There is a new Minister of Red Tape. (I kid you not!) You know what this means: someone dedicated to reducing oversight, ignoring the environmental issues, and giving free reign to developers.

He chose Graydon Smith to be his environmental minister. This is the former mayor of Bracebridge, who is charged with paving over the endangered Blandings Turtle habitat in Muskoka, despite environmentalists making presentations to inform his council of the egregiousness of this act. They went ahead anyway. 

I leave you with this:

One must remember there are good people in the world. I watched the Canadian Indspire Awards the other day. They gave an award to a First Nations entrepreneur who has created this ethical company. Cheekbone Beauty is amazing. They give back so much and inspire! Rich white men build an empire. First Nations women take care of themselves, one another, their community, and the earth. They believe in sustainability. 

Sunday, more kid play!

The driveway is covered in more snow, just a tad, but it is ice underneath. I bundled up on Sunday. (It was -20-ish!)

The kids were here Saturday/Sunday. This is Sunday!

We eased into the day, playing with cats. I did bacon and eggs.

Poor Papa, he was back in the office, doing his volunteer work on the phones. The sign says, Green Party, Do Not Disturb, conference in session!



Finally, he was free to go out and play in the sunshine. This time, he and Josee went out, as well as Isabelle.



Josee climbed the tree! (My mother climbed trees when she was young, in Toronto, in the 1930s.)



Both Isabelle, and JL, played the cat and snake game!




Later, we played about some more on the app Anvilcloud told us about, My Talking Pet.

Jos used her little Olaf character.



Isabelle used her sleep toy, B B.







As the kids get older, and technology reinvents itself, they kids use their creativity. There are practical uses, though. Saturday morning, the were on their way here. Isabelle used Momma's phone to post a Glympse map showing where they were and when they would arrive.

Provincial Teacher's Strike

The good news is, the kids are coming back Thursday, Friday, Saturday morning. It's going to be a hostage exchange on Thursday morning in Carleton Place (halfway between us), since it is a provincial strike day Thursday, and Friday is a PD day.

Basically, Druggie Ford, our PM Trump baby twin, decimated the province's education system. He cut autism funding, which meant no treatment options. Next, he cut teachers and support staff.  He got rid of the progressive, modern health curriculum. Parents, grandparents, teachers and retired teachers are really upset.

This is what the major issue is. And it’s not a “what if” scenario. It’s already happening. My daughter is currently taking a course she never selected because the new ratios have made it so her timetable offers none of the electives she chose. All other courses are full. https://t.co/XsQ0rIlrNB

— Mr. Restoule General (@mrrgteacher) February 12, 2020

A friend posted this today. 26 courses affected, many of which are compulsory grade 11 and 12 university level credits. Thanks, @fordnation Keep people uneducated and full of buck-a-beer so you can control them! #cutshurtkids #onpoli #LyingLecce @osstf @OSSTFD20TEACHER pic.twitter.com/KbnRZcoN4L

— Melissa Orlando (@MsOrlandoHDSB) February 7, 2020

CBC.ca/news

The labour tensions were presaged by major changes to the education system introduced by the Ford government last year, which included new math and sex ed curricula, larger class sizes, introducing mandatory online learning, and a plan to cut as many as 3,000 full-time teaching positions.

Swift River Bala Falls Hydro Dam

Bala Falls Hydro Update #34 <= yes, I've done 34 posts. This links to the list, which begins Sept. 9, 2008, when we lived in Bala.
Seriously, it's taken this long.

Doug Ford, running for the leadership of the Ontario Conservatives (the Liberals are in power), traveled to Bala Falls for a photo-op and a chance for publicity. Politics interests me. Amazing, the ethics of milking this issue for political opportunity. 

You must know Doug Ford. His late brother, Rob Ford, was the infamous mayor of Toronto. Doug is still in politics, his family of millionaires aren't busy enough! A month ago he thought he'd run for mayor of Toronto. With the #MeToo movement sinking the previous leader of the party, Ford decided to abandon that ship and run. 

It's a dangerous place to swim.
We cottaged in Bala from 1960 - 2010.

Swift River, MNRF respond to Doug Fords' Bala 'farce and scam' speech

27, Conservative leadership hopeful Doug Ford said the Bala falls hydro electric project is a farce and a scam by the provincial Liberal government. Ford went on ... The Ministry of Natural Resources gave Swift River control of Crown land known as Margaret Burgess Park to build the plant. The ministry ...

This project is on its way. It's been going for 12 years! Ford claimed he was going to stop the project. This is the latest from Swift River. 

The project is expected to:

• Improve water level and spring/fall flood control
• Have low environmental impact due to synergy with existing structures
• Annually offset 20,000 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to 3,888 cars and light trucks off the road
• Create over 80 new jobs during construction

Swift River Energy Limited is a 100% Canadian owned company established in 2004 with a mission to develop the North Bala Falls Small Hydro Project, small, low-impact, run-of-the-river hydroelectric generating facility. The team is composed of individuals with decades of experience building and operating a wide array of facilities in complex and challenging environments.

Mar. 1, 2018

  It looks lovely! This is a plan for development to reharness the power of the river, which includes an observation deck. I've been a supporter from the beginning. This is progress.

Our January newsletter will be emailed, mailed this week. It's also available on our website. https://t.co/MsbFmxSABt pic.twitter.com/IiBdiJfeTJ

— SwiftRiverEnergyLtd (@BalaFallsHydro) January 25, 2018