August 2010, 3 e-mails

August 23, 2010

M. S. wrote:

Update on the Clean Train Pledge Campaign

Congratulations on a job well done! Our Clean Train Pledge campaign was highly successful! To date, 97% of elected officials and mayoral candidates that we asked to support us in this pledge have done so! (See www.cleantrain.ca for the full list.)

As a reminder, the text of the pledge was:

I will, by Simcoe Day, August 2, 2010, publicly call on Premier Dalton McGuinty to direct Metrolinx to electrify the Georgetown Corridor, prior to the expansion of passenger rail service including both GO Transit and the Air Rail Link.

This is a clear mandate, through our elected representatives, from the 300,000 people living along the rail corridor, that our communities demand clean, modern electric train service that does not endanger our health and environment through noise and air pollution.

The successful pledge campaign has consolidated our support along the rail corridor. We are on solid ground for meeting with the Minister of Transportation and focusing pressure on the the Premier.

Upcoming Events

The Clean Train Coalition has been invited to speak at a couple of upcoming information sessions. Keith Brooks will be our spokesperson at these events.

It would be great if you could come out to show your support for electric trains at one of these meetings

Monday, Aug 23, 7-9 p.m. at St. Christopher House on King Street (1033 King St.) Organized by MP Olivia Chow, this meeting is on transportation options in the Liberty Village area. Speakers will include our own Keith Brooks, as well as Adam Giambrone, TTC chair, and Gary McNeil of GO Transit. Q&A to follow

· Tuesday, Aug 24, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Harbourfront Community Centre, in the Medium Assembly Room (627 Queen's Quay West, @ Bathurst) Organized by the Condo Owners Association (COA), this meeting is called "The Air We Breathe" and is about the proposed diesel plan for the Air-Rail Link. Speakers will include Keith Brooks of the CTC, as well as Linda Pinizzotto, President of the COA, Avrum Regenstreif of Transport 2000 Ontario, MP Olivia Chow and MPP Rosario Marchese. http://www.coatoronto.com/air-rail-link

UPCOMING EVENT: Stay tuned for details of another big Clean Train event

Help wanted!

We are entering a critical phase of our campaign, and we could use your help. If you can donate any time to the campaign, please let us know. We need help getting the word out in your neighbourhood, but we also badly need help keeping the Coalition organized and on track. Can you: Coordinate volunteers? Reach out to other organizations? Keep track of upcoming events the CTC should attend? Help us organize or get the word out about our upcoming big event?

If there is any way you would like to help further the campaign for clean trains, please let us know by sending an email to info@cleantrain.ca .

S.W. wrote:

Just a quick note, from someone who has NOT been able to get heavily involved in this important issue, to say a very big THANK YOU to those of you who have led the charge. I am certain there are many, many, many people who appreciate all of your efforts and hard work. Again, a very sincere and heartfelt thanks!

August 27, 2010

M. S. wrote:

Pressure mounts on Premier McGuinty to GO ELECTRIC!!

You are cordially invited to attend the Clean Train Coalition’s GO ELECTRIC music event on Sunday, September 26th in Sorauren Park, from 1:00pm – 5:00pm. Local musicians will perform throughout the afternoon, with keynote speakers taking the stage at 3:00pm.

Join the growing number of Torontonians who understand that electrified transit on the Georgetown Corridor is the only sustainable option we have.

Let’s build it once. Let’s build it right.

(Charity BBQ. Kids games. Bring your own chair. Rain or shine.)