Speaker's Forum

The Cornwall Carbon Reduction Initiative (CCRI) is pleased to present its Speaker's Forum. Several times a year, the CCRI hosts discussions between prominent speakers and the Cornwall community on topics related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

January 22, 2009 - David Chernushenko

David Chernushenko, the founder of the Living Lightly project, led a discussion in Cornwall following the CCRI's presentation of his film Be the Change. The film is a "100km film" and the first of the Living Lightly series, showcasing the many things that everyday people can do to live more sustainably and become, as he called them, local heroes.

"It's all well and good to see some celebrity in Hollywood undertaking sustainable projects, but we've never met them so we feel far removed," said Chernushenko. "But when you see a local hero - someone right around the corner - who is trying to live greener or more lightly, the message is well, if she or he can do it, maybe I can do it!"

Chernushenko noted that his film focused entirely on positive environmental activities and not on negative ones. "Would you rather see stories about all of the positive things that people are doing, or would you rather be told over and over again about all the bad things we're doing to ruin the planet?" Chernushenko said. "It's a whole lot more interesting, and a whole lot more fun, to look at the amazing and positive things people are doing right here in our own communities."

July 23, 2008 - Stéphane Dion

Former opposition Leader Stéphane Dion stopped in Cornwall during his tour of Eastern Ontario as part of the CCRI's Speaker's Forum Series. Dion presented the Liberal Party's "Green Shift" plan to a captive audience of 110 people.

"Climate change is the worst environmental threat that humanity is facing," Dion said. "Greenhouse gas emissions are threatening our relationship with the planet. We need to do something very simple. We need to put a price on carbon."

"Canadians want to act on climate change," Dion said. The beauty of the Green Shift, he explained, is that for every penny raised through the carbon tax, a penny goes back in the pocket of Canadians in tax cuts. The Green Shift plan will make the government tax differently, not more, in a way that is good for the economy, the environment, and the social fabric of our country. "It's the right thing to do."

June 23, 2008 - Peter Tabuns

NDP Energy and Environment Critic Peter Tabuns stopped in Cornwall during a province-wide tour. He spoke about kickstarting Ontario into "21st Century thinking", highlighting his belief that Ontario could reduce its energy consumption by 40 to 50 per cent through intense energy efficiency measures alone.

Tabuns also addressed the changing landscape of Ontario's manufacturing sector, describing what he called the New Energy Economy. "People understand there's a big problem and a big opportunity," said Tabuns. "If we can make cars, transmissions, and engines here in Ontario, there's no reason we can't make wind turbines."