durhamregion.com | This Week | Thursday, May 19, 2022 | 12 Many Ontarians are focused on the cost of living now, and that's understandable. But when you cast your ballot in the June 2 provincial election, please remember that our very lives -- and the lives of our children -- depend on a healthy planet. The David Suzuki Foundation hopes that when you vote, you'll keep the climate crisis and protection of nature top of mind. There are some issues to consider as you begin thinking about which candidate you want to support. Protecting green space. Here in southern Ontario we're blessed with the Greenbelt, an extraordinary landscape of farms, rivers and forests abutting one of Canada's most densely populated regions. If you've spent time walking its trails, as I have, you know how marvelous it is. Its trees capture carbon and help us tackle the climate crisis; its cool streams provide habitat for fish and wild-life; its farmlands grow succulent fruit. But our Greenbelt is under threat because the Ontario government is planning to pave part of it with Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. These unnecessary highways will waste billions of dollars and make congestion worse: new roads inevitably mean more cars and driving. If you're concerned about our Greenbelt, it's crucial that you vote on June 2. Renewable energy. Scientists urge us to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and shift to alternatives such as solar and wind power. These energy sources -- abundant in many parts of Ontario -- don't create carbon pollution but they do create local employment. A few years back, the province's renewables sector was starting to take off and investor confidence was high. But in 2018 the Ontario government cancelled more than 750 renewable energy contracts, saddling Ontarians with more than $230 million in cancellation costs. If you're concerned about this loss of jobs and emissions-free power, it's crucial that you vote on June 2. Protecting species at risk. The animals and plants that live in Ontario enrich our lives with their beauty and song and have intrinsic worth quite apart from the joy they bring human beings. But more than 230 species in the province are now at risk of disappearing. Threatened creatures include Blanding's turtle -- with its brilliant yellow chin -- and the bobolink, a magnificent bird that can fly as far as 1,800 kilo-fly as far as 1,800 kilo-f metres in a day. You'd think the OntarioYou'd think the OntarioY government would do all it could to save at-risk species while it still can. But the province's record in this area is poor. In a recent report, Ontario's auditor general wrote, "Our audit found that the Environment Ministry is failing in its mandate to protect species at risk." If you're concerned about losing some of our animal friends forever, it's crucial that you vote on June 2. We know OntariansWe know OntariansW feel strongly about thesefeel strongly about thesef issues. A recent EKOS poll found 85 per cent of usfound 85 per cent of usf agree the province should do more to protect forests and wildlife. (Interestingly, in the 905 region the figure climbs to 87 per cent!) But the challenge is electing politicians who will respect our wishes and make laws that actually preserve nature and reduce emissions. It's something to think about as you decide which candidate gets your vote. Gideon Forman is a climate change policy analyst at the David Suzuki Foundation. THIS ELECTION, VOTE WITH CLIMATE AND NATURE IN MIND OPINION OUR LIVES, AND THOSE OF OUR CHILDREN, DEPEND ON A HEALTHY PLANET, WRITES GIDEON FORMAN GIDEON FORMANColumn Ontario's chief electoral officer, Greg Essensa recently talked to media about the upcoming provincial election and what voters should know. There are several changes for this election, which begins with the writ being issued on May 4 and concludes with election day on June 2. To begin with, Elections Ontario has a new smartphone app that provides voters with an electronic voter ID card, maps to voting stations and information on candidates. "This app now allows the elector to choose how they interact with us," Essensa said, noting users can sign up for notifications. "In this digital age, it is allowing us to connect with electors on a device that most everyone has in their pocket." The timeline for advanced polls has also changed, moving from five days to 10 days. Polling officers will have the ability to rotate polls in communities. "That means during the 10 days, they may have a poll open in one community for three or four days, another community for another four or five days, but overall, we have coverage of all 10 days," Essensa said. "That ultimately affords electors more choice, more opportunity for them to come and exercise their right to vote early." Advance polls will be available between May 19available between May 19a and May 28. Voters will have the op-Voters will have the op-V portunity to request a vote by mail ballot as well. Voters have until 6 p.m. on May 27 to request a vote by mail ballot. Essensa encouraged people to make sure they are registered to vote and their information is correct with Elections Ontario, so that they receive their voter information card. To vote, you will need the voter information card and one piece of identification. And for those interested, the election provides an employment opportunity. "We hire in excess of 55,000 people to work for us on election day, these are all paid positions," Essensa said. For more information about working with Elections Ontario, visit jobs.elections.on.ca/en/ apply. Essensa said the pandemic has presented some challenges, but he is confident that Elections Ontario will be able to safely deliver the election on June 2. "This election has been a challenge certainly with COVID, we had to reassess all our plans," he said. "We recognized that we needed to upgrade our systems and we've done that to make it as easy as possible to exercise the right to vote." HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ONTARIO ELECTION Greg Essensa, chief electoral officer of Ontario, said there are changes to this year's election, including extending the advance poll period to 10 days. Shane MacDonald/Metroland SHANE MACDONALD shanemacdonald@ simcoe.com PROVINCIAL ELECTION THERE ARE SEVERAL CHANGES FOR THIS ELECTION, INCLUDING AN ELECTIONS ONTARIO SMARTPHONE APP