Local Green Candidate featured in National Debate

Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Candidate Rebecca Harrison will be representing the Green Party of Canada at the next installment of In Conversation with Maclean’s entitled “Election 2011: What does Canada Want Now?” This will be a live debate broadcast Nationally on CPAC next Wednesday April 20 from 7-9pm.

With Elizabeth May Leader of the Green Party not permitted to participate in the National Leader's Debates this will be one of the only live televised debates the Green Party will be featured in.

“I am incredibly excited to be able to bring a fresh perspective to the table in this debate,” said Harrison. “Many issues were sorely missed from the Leader’s Debates this past week, issues I know members of our community care about.”

Harrison is the Green Party of Canada's Shadow Cabinet Critic for Poverty Elimination and Status of Women. Outside of Politics Harrison speaks to youth in our community and across the country on issues like human rights, domestic violence and social justice.

“I am committed to bringing the concerns of youth to the table next week,” said Harrison. “Politicians need to see that youth are more than a block of voters, they have the knowledge and passion to make policy to run as candidates and to change their communities for the better.” At 27 years old, Harrison will be the youngest panelist at the debate. “The decisions we make in parliament today will affect future generations, so why shouldn't they be involved in the conversation?”

The show airs next Wednesday on CPAC. Complimentary tickets to attend the debate are available by visiting: http://www2.macleans.ca/in-conversation-with-macleans

The Campaign to Elect Rebecca Harrison will be organizing car pools to the event. There will also be a party at the campaign office at 103 Brock Street South for anyone who wishing to cheer Rebecca on from here in Whitby.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Rebecca Harrison Campaign at 905-231-0450 or www.rebeccaharrison.ca.

Elizabeth May to make whistle stop visit in Oshawa

On Friday, April 8, 2011, at 7:25 am, Elizabeth May, fresh from her rally in Toronto, will be making a whistle stop visit at the Oshawa Via/GO Station. Rebecca Harrison (Whitby-Oshawa), Gail Bates (Oshawa) and Stephen Leahy (Durham) invite all their supports and friends of the Green Party to come out at 7:15 am on Friday, April 8, 2011 to welcome Elizabeth.

Friday morning the Oshawa Liberal Campaign Team is scheduled to be on site campaigning. In the interest of inclusion and to show that even in a campaign opposing parties can find common ground, the Liberal Team will also join the crowd welcoming Elizabeth to the riding. "When we found out that Elizabeth would be coming through the station on Friday we were thrilled," said Stuart Smith, campaign manager for James Morton Liberal candidate in Oshawa. "Though we may not agree on all issues we wanted to welcome Elizabeth to our community."

"We are inviting all residents regardless of their party affiliation to join us on Friday as we welcome Elizabeth," said Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Candidate Rebecca Harrison. "If the public could see politicians working together more often perhaps they would be more likely to engage in politics."

Rebecca Harrison will be joining Elizabeth May for part of her journey towards Montreal. Rebecca will detrain in Cobourg where Farley Mowat will board to speak with Elizabeth.

Video from the Event: http://www.youtube.com

Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Candidate Launches Campaign

Based on her age one might assume this is Rebecca Harrison’s first time in an election but the 27-year-old Green Party candidate will be celebrating her 20th year being actively involved in politics. “I was 8 year’s old when I did my first canvass,” said Harrison. “It was for my Dad’s campaign for councillor in Norwich Township.”

Since that time she has been involved in various campaigns as well as working with all parties on non-partisan policy development. “My parents always taught me that your community is what you make it. They taught me that politics is a form of public service, where you are serving the most important people in your life, your neighbours, friends and family,” said Harrison from her campaign office at 103 Brock Street South in Whitby.

The campaign office opens tomorrow at 10:00am with a special presentation beginning at 2:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and encouraged to bring their family. “I wanted my campaign office to reflect the way I see politics. We picked a location that was welcoming, where everyone could feel comfortable,” said Harrison. “I used to be the only child in sterile campaign offices throughout campaigns and I always vowed that one day I would have a campaign office that everyone could enjoy.” Harrison said this reflects her views on how politics should be.

“The recent political climate has begun to turn people off politics, especially people my age. Political parties need to learn to work together creating a political system that serves Canadians and their communities and that is exactly what I am here to do.”

Outside of her political life Harrison is best known for her advocacy work with youth on issues like violence against women and poverty elimination. She has been a keynote speaker at Oshawa’s Take Back the Night, The White Ribbon Campaign and MTV News Impact.

Green Party candidate Rebecca Harrison calls for common ground on high speed rail

The Green Party of Canada has released its second policy proposal in its challenge to all parties to go positive and find common ground in an effort to keep voters engaged.  Local Green candidate Rebecca Harrison echoed the message with a  call to local candidates to come together on this issue.

“We are calling on all parties to agree that Canada will benefit environmentally, socially and economically from investing in high-speed rail on major corridors across the country.” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

“Being epileptic I do not have a driver’s license. Public transit, especially train service has allowed me to retain my independence.” said Whitby-Oshawa Green Party Candidate Rebecca Harrison. “I see transit as an investment in our communities. Without adequate public transportation such as Durham Region Transit, GO Transit and Via service I would not be able to travel around our community or our country for my job and advocacy work.”

The Green Party is proposing a national project to establish separate high-speed rail lines on the Windsor-Quebec and Calgary-Edmonton corridors, as well on the Halifax-Sydney and Regina-Saskatoon routes. These lines will as much as halve the travel time between major centres. With downtown-to-downtown service and no airport security delays, it will make taking the train faster and easier than flying.
  
“I believe we can all agree the benefits of high speed rail links would be significant for both regional and national economies,” said May.  “Building the necessary infrastructure will create jobs. Separating freight from passenger rail traffic will allow both to move faster and cheaper, enhancing Canada’s economic competitiveness. And better rail service will take cars off the roads and reduce air travel between major cities, reducing our national greenhouse gas emissions and congestion on our highways.”

With the proposed plan a high speed rail stop along the Windsor-Quebec corridor, would most likely be in Oshawa. Harrison says that in addition to the high speed rail she would advocate for Federal Investments earmarked specifically for the development and maintenance of local and regional transit systems, like The Durham Region Transit system, to help increase the access from all local communities to the Oshawa Train station.

 “There are funds currently available from the Federal Gas Tax fund earmarked for various sustainable projects, unfortunately in many communities transit is not the only project that needs funding and therefore doesn’t receive the financial support it requires.” Said Harrison.

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimates that the deficit to backlogged maintenance and repairs to municipal infrastructure is currently $123 Billion.

"Long term predictable funding is what municipalities need to not only expand but maintain their fleet," added Harrison. "and frequent, accessible and affordable transit is what our communities need to be inclusive to all citizens."

When you go to the polls on May 2nd remember those in our community that can't vote. The decisions we make today will affect Canadians for generations to come. It's time for a political party that plans generations ahead. It's time. Vote Green. Thank you to the children of Whitby for participating in this video, and to the Irish Greens for your inspiration.