Meeting Notes...
VFL – tickets will go on sale May 1
Instructions will be provided at the meeting next week
Paper forms will be available for members who prefer to sell paper tickets
Proceeds will go to the Human Society Pet Pantry – as part of their capital campaign
There will be incentives for the top salespeople
May 10 Club Executive training @ the University of Guelph
Flag Program
For $100 the club will install a flag on May long weekend, Canada long weekend and Remembrance Day
A member will put together a pamphlet if members will distribute
Brad will send an email – respond if you are willing to do this
Anniversaries
Bob Kieswetter and Rose will celebrate 57 years of marriage
Bill Green and Laura will celebrate 50 years of marriage
Klara and Mayli will also celebrate their wedding anniversary
Graham Gardiner celebrates 35 years as a Club member --- thank you Graham for you long-standing commitment to Rotary and service above self!
Speaker Mike Morrice
Mike Morrice is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kitchener Centre, representing the Green Party of Canada. He was first elected in September 2021, becoming the first Green MP elected in Ontario and one of only a few Green Party members in Canadian federal politics.
Morrice has a background in social entrepreneurship and sustainability. Before entering politics, he founded Sustainable Waterloo Region, an organization focused on helping businesses reduce their environmental impact, and also launched Green Economy Canada.
In Parliament, he advocates for issues such as:
- Climate action and environmental sustainability
- Affordable housing
- Poverty reduction and support for people with disabilities
Mike has lead cross party coalitions on these important issues.
Mike is a fellow Rotarian and a member of the Kitchener Club.
An issue Mike is passionate about is Housing. He suggests the housing crisis will worsen by the Tariffs, especially as the increase the cost of living.
In the 1970’s 40% of the housing stock was built as affordable housing by the Federal government. Mike’s first home was a cooperative and that is how he saved money to purchase his own home. Mike noted the lack of affordable housing has an impact on people having a sense of hope, especially if they are low income.
He highlighted the encampments as a policy failure – pointing to the need for more shelter space. He noted in his role he can advocate for our community and reminded us that in the first round of Federal affordable housing Waterloo was passed over. He took initiative to speak to the housing minister Stephen Lecce as the time and in the next round of funding Waterloo received 5.4 million. This assisted the Region in purchasing the former YWCA building downtown Kitchener and provided support for The Working Centre housing project.
He talked about the need to build homes that people can live in and moving away from using Federal housing money to build luxury homes. He gave an example of Loblaws receiving a tax subsidy and noted that this money could be redirected to housing profits as Loblaws is a profitable company.
He was asked about climate change. Mike believes we should be focusing on the economy of the future. For example, two-way all day Go Train Service. He noted that building high speed rail is a great climate change solution. He expressed frustration that while the serving government has promised this service between Waterloo and Toronto that there is no plan in place to make this happen, despite a 752-million-dollar investment by the Federal government. He notes that Canada is the only G7 Country without a robust light rail train system.
View: we should be equipping for the economy of the future
He also suggests building the electricity grid across Canada for a stronger and more resilient economy. Noting that Quebec sells their surplus electricity to New York for far less than Canadian pay for electricity.
Question: Why should not-for-profits apply for an HST rebate and most only have 85% back – why not make them exempt?
Mike agrees they should be exempt… however, suggested when politicians campaign on tax breaks it is important to ask how the lost revenue will be made up.
Question: Will Carney keep the commitment to end the Carbon Tax?
Mike: Mike believes that Carney will keep this commitment however, he noted that the carbon tax is most economically efficient way to reduce emissions. He noted rebates are higher than most people pay in tax.
Question: What are the top 3 issues when going door to door?
Mike: The top three things I hear are: #1 tariffs; #2 you are all crooks and liars; #3 strategic voting and the top the issues are: tariffs, housing and affordability.
Question: When government gets into housing – how do you balance out not creating future state ghettos?
Mike: Go back to what works –For example on Queen Street there is Bread and Roses co-op, retirement living and luxury condos all in close proximity – a mix of different housing types in one location works. He noted the definition of housing is critical and he advocates for housing that is not more than 30% of income.
Question: In your opinion will we become the 51st State?
Mike: There is no chance we will become the 51st state. One reason is we are part of Nato. It is very possible that people will lose jobs during this economic warfare.
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