Whitby This Week

Whitby This Week


Please click on the link to where you will find my answers submitted to the Whitby This Week.

The new Environmental School "Whitby Shores Public School"

I have just received my personal invitation to attend the grand opening of the new South West Whitby Environmental School, Whitby Shores Public School and I must say, Im excited to go. Since Im big into energy conservation, this type of school is right up my avenue. 

Whitby’s newest school is preparing to receive its first students on September 7, 2010. The school is located at 485 Whitby Shores Greenway near Lynde Marsh, Whitby Harbour and the shores of Lake Ontario. 

The school’s setting will provide students with excellent opportunities to learn how to make a difference and build a strong environmental ethic. The building design includes an east-west orientation to maximize the use of sunlight as well solar-thermal water heating, sun tunnels and a glass clerestory to allow natural light into the building. The school grounds incorporate landscaping to include three ‘outdoor classrooms.’

Staff will prepare a number of initiatives to help students learn about the environment. The staff will receive training at Nonquon Environmental Education Centre just north of Port Perry. In September, Grade 7 and 8 students will partner with Henry Street H.S. to participate in the Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up. The school’s motto is, “On the Trail to Learning, Caring and Action.”

A huge thank you should be given to Mr Education Trustee John Dolstra for his unwavering efforts to bring this state of the art facility to Whitby. 

durhamregion.com | Whitby plans to change how people park

This report does not take into account the size of many of the Town, Centre Ward and rural residential lots which can accommodate storage of a recreational, boat or snowmobile trailer.

Many Town of Whitby and Centre Ward properties and their owners have been storing boats and trailers for many years and now the Town of Whitby wants to stop you from storing these items in your rear yard.
The Town is proposing that if you have two cars parked in tandem in your driveway you can have a trailer no longer then 10m and there are limitation as to how long and seasonal. But if you have three cars in the driveway your out of luck and will have to seek storage for your trailer.

I will work hard to allow the Centre Ward property owners to be allowed to keep their trailers and recreational vehicles on their own lands.


Our parking issues in our Centre Ward need a common sense evaluation. The consultants report was and is not in line with the Town of Whitby’s view, and I will listen to the home owners and taxpayers and develop a parking plan that not only works, but a plan that takes into accounts our wonderful diverse community of properties throughout our entire Town

durhamregion.com | Whitby plans to change how people park

www.michaelemm.com

As a leader in our community, I will list for you my environmental thoughts and accomplishments so as you know where I stand.

Personal:

1. I cut my lawn with a hand reel mower in the spring and fall to reduce harmful emissions being emitted into the air. During summer months I do use the gas mower but I limit my use to act responsibly.
2. My wife, children and I continuously try to find ways to reduce our household garbage so as it reduces the burden on our environment.
3. Our family recycles extensively and my father Gerry Emm was instrumental in implementing Durham recycling.
4. I have just recently outfitted our entire home with energy star appliances to lessen the burden on our energy use.
5. My home surpasses R2000 standards and currently I have window glazing which surpasses an energy rating of R9.
6. I installed casement windows when I built my home to direct the air into the home and along with skylights on the top floor we rarely have to use the central air.
7. I have planted a globe maple tree in our front yard to give our home natural shade thus lessening the burden on central air conditioning when required.
8. My wife and I constantly use the delay features on our dishwasher, washing machine and dryer to lessen the burden and lower our hydro consumption.
9. When rebuilding our kitchen I used natural granite stone counter tops so as to be ECO friendly and thus having a chemical free counter top.
10. Natural wood floors were used during the building of my home. Wood floors come from recurring forests and last forever unlike carpets and laminates which end up in our landfills.
11. I have planted Cedar trees on my property in areas to use as a fence instead of a board fence to lessen my impact on the environment.
12. I have great ideas on how to lessen the exhaust output of refuse trucks by implementing a very easy doubling up plan with your neighbour.
13. Myself and my family ride our bikes instead of taking the car when we have to take short trips in Whitby and we constantly ride our bikes along the lakefront trail.
14. I have only just swapped out the rental hot water heater and installed an ultra high energy efficient tank which will pay for itself within 17 months.
15. We use energy efficient bulbs throughout our home and teach our children the rules of wasting energy.
16. My wife and I do our best to organize our trips out so as we can lessen our fuel consumption in our vehicles and get more things done in one trip.
17. My wife always uses the 100% canvas shopping bags for grocery and pleasure shopping so as to lessen the burden of plastic bags going to landfill

Corporate:

1. I applaud the planting of trees and currently I'm watching the four corners of Whitby where trees were destroyed in order to pave way for a new flower bed. I trust these trees will be replaced.
2. I will lobby the province to implement the Havelock to Toronto train service so as it will reduce the amount of traffic on our roads and lesson our vehicle emissions. The completion of the 407 to the 35/115 is a must to reduce the traffic congestion for Whitby and its pending Intensification.
3. I will research ways to have government buildings reduce their energy levels by upgrading glazing and implementing off hours lighting in buildings and parking areas.
4. I refuse to use pesticides for weed control and I personally was given a dandelion puller from my daughters for fathers day (I love this thing)
5. I encourage the idea to have more people who can, use public transit and carpooling. Vehicle idling is an area to be looked at here in Whitby and drive-through establishments would have to be looked at very closely for idling and traffic volume concerns
6. I will work closely with developers to ensure that their contractors work towards a more waste efficient work sites as well to keep building construction debris out of our landfills. Local contractors need to be further educated also to reduce their waste.
7. In my campaign I will be using many of my father's recycled election signage, some of these signs have been through eight or nine elections. (You can't get better than that).

In closing I consider myself a man who wants the best air, the best water, and the best community for my children to grow up in. I believe I can make a difference on Whitby council and make Whitby a greener community for all to enjoy.

Sincerely

Michael G. Emm

Whitby Centre Ward 3 Candidate