On Monday, we’ll take a look at Energy needs in Ontario.  Ontario´s population is growing,so its energy needs are too. But no one wants a new gas-fired power plant if it’s going to be in their own backyard. In WSIC’s first event of 2012, U of T’s Dr. Kim Pressnail will tell us how Ontario can reduce its need for more power plants in local communities.  His solution is to decrease the burden on our energy grid by mandating better building requirements.

Do you agree? Disagree? …

Health Canada is charged with protecting the health and safety of Canadians, a job that covers everything from overseeing ingredients in cosmetics and bath toys to approving which drugs can be sold in Canada. Is this agency–responsible for so much at once–able to meet its full mandate?

MP Terence Young isn’t so sure. After losing a daughter to a prescription drug which has since been pulled from the market, Young began to explore how the drug industry operates and the conflicting role Health Canada plays in …

A restaurant and bar´s probably the best place for a talk on food. Better even than a farm, especially with the rain storm we had on Tuesday night

The latest edition of Why Should I Care? focused on food security-an issue with many, many, many facets to it, as the range of questions proved. Our guest speaker was Darcy Higgins, Executive Director of the Food Forward Advocacy Alliance a Toronto-based, registered non-profit organization advocating for a better food system.

Food Forward works with the public, politicians and …

PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION!!!!

Roughly half the Earth’s population now lives in cities, meaning fewer farmers are producing the food it takes to feed us. Here in Canada, though we are blessed with abundant land, a growing portion of our food is coming from abroad–as oil prices rise, our food cost will sure to follow. Food safety and security is often taken for granted.

Darcy Higgins, Executive Director of the Food Forward Advocacy Alliance, has some ideas on how to fix this. And he wants to share them …

In spite of the looming provincial election, 19 September marked another successful WSIC event, with about 30 interested citizens joining the WSIC team to hear about and discuss Ontario’s Green Energy Act.

John Stepheson kicked off the evening with a discussion on district heating. Space and water heating account for about 20% of our energy consumption, and we can’t live without the heat. Since marginal energy use comes from the grid – which is heavy on fossil fuels – improvements in secondary heating can generate significant …

Keeping to the provincial election theme, our next event will focus on the Green Energy Act since the election is shaping up to be a battle over Ontario’s energy future. Much has been heard in the media about wind turbines and solar panels but the media has not paid attention to less sexy, but equally important factors in the energy sector.

How has the GEA affected lesser known but equally important players in the energy and environmental field?

Kevin Matthews from Canada Composting and John Stephenson from …

On Monday night at the Duke of York, more than 80 local residents joined Why Should I Care in welcoming three provincial MPP candidates for the riding of Trinity-Spadina. Incumbent NDP MPP Rosario Marchese, the Liberal’s Sarah Thomson, and the Green Party’s Tim Grant all attended. The Conservative Candidate declined our invitation… and missed quite a show.

Candidates were permitted to begin with a short speech introducing themselves and their positions. After declining a poorly timed cell phone call, Tim Grant proceeded to pull no punches, calling for …