42 years ago, 20 million people celebrated the first Earth Day. This year, more than 500 million people from 170 countries will participate in Earth Day festivities, signalling their genuine concern for the future of our planet. We’d like to celebrate Earth Day with you by sponsoring the sustainability of Ontario’s unique and beautiful forests.

With your immediate donation to the Green Party of Ontario, you can celebrate Earth Day in 2012 with our 3^rd annual Forest of Hope campaign.

Green parties across the globe are on the forefront of the environmental movement on a political level and participate in government around the world. In May 2011, Elizabeth May became Canada’s first elected Green MP. But Elizabeth’s victory is just the beginning of what we need to create a sustainable future. We need to keep the momentum going and make sure that Green policies, Green democracy, and Green values are front and centre in Ontario.

Three years ago, you helped launch the Forest of Hope, commemorating the 40^th anniversary of Earth Day. Through this campaign, a portion of your one-time or monthly contribution made to the Ontario Greens goes towards planting trees in our province. We’ve partnered with a local community organization, Further Advancement In Tree Habitats – www.faithproject.ca – to support the development of strong and sustainable tree habitats that will have a healthy and lasting effect on the people living in the Durham Region.

With this gift, you can leave a legacy for generations of Ontarians to come. Please join the Forest of Hope campaign again this year and help us all get ready for the next election with your financial contribution. You can go online at www.forestofhope.ca or call us toll-free at 888-647-3366.

Yours sincerely,

Craig Cantin

Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

P.S. Thank you so much for showing your continued support for the Ontario Greens with your generous financial donation to the Forest of Hope campaign.

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If you are a member of the Ontario Greens, we have internal elections coming up.  With Ontario in a minority government situation, we could have a provincial election at any time.  (Canadian Greens are all too familiar with that!)  It’s critical that we have the strongest possible leadership team to support Mike Schreiner as we prepare for the next campaign.

With that said, it is my honour to support the following three people.  I know how dedicated they are to our party, and have seen firsthand their dedication and determination to move our political organization forward.  I am an enthusiastic supporter of each of these individuals, and encourage members to lend their support.

Secretary – Kathy Acheson

I have worked alongside Dr. Kathy Acheson for several years, including in her capacity as Chair of the Federal Campaign Committee while I was the Interim Executive Director of the Green Party of Canada.  Dr. Acheson is one of the hardest working members I have met, whose comprehensive institutional knowledge of the fundamentals required to operate an effective political organization is exceeded only by her selfless dedication to the Canadian Green movement.  I have every confidence that she will bring the same boundless energy and enthusiasm into the role of Secretary for the Green Party of Ontario.

Male Deputy Leader – Kevin O’Donnell

I have collaborated with Kevin O’Donnell on a number of Green Party projects over the years, including some key work developing our web-based election campaign application, GRIMES.  This program was an important building block in securing the historic win of our first elected Green MP last year, and Mr. O’Donnell’s political expertise was critical.  His willingness to serve for the greater good of the party is commendable, and I am proud to support his bid to earn your trust as male Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario.

Female Deputy Leader – Judith Van Veldhuysen

I had the pleasure of working with Judith Van Veldhuysen during the recent Ontario Election, in her capacity as candidate for the riding of St. Paul’s.  As someone with intuitive political common sense, Ms. Van Veldhuysen is a quick study and was never afraid of taking on new challenges during her first electoral campaign.  She’s well-spoken and articulate, and did our party a great service in putting her name on the ballot.  Beyond a shadow of a doubt, I’m convinced that Ms. Van Veldhuysen is the next generation of political leadership our party needs, and happily support her as female Deputy Leader.

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Tonight’s deadline is important. Making one last political donation to the Ontario Greens matters, with 25 to 30 percent of our annual budget coming from this time of year.

If you can, take advantage of this last opportunity to top up your 2011 tax credit. You can get up to 75% of your donation back on your 2011 taxes – but you must donate before midnight to make it happen.

Anyone who makes a donation of at least $100 will receive a special Green Party gift.

If you can’t afford a $100 donation today, make a New Year’s resolution right now and consider starting a monthly donation of $5.

Here’s to you and the Ontario Greens in 2012,

Craig Cantin
Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

P.S. Between not one but two elections in Ontario in 2011, coupled with every organization conducting an End of Year fundraising campaign, you have received a plethora of fundraising emails. We truly appreciate your support, and thank you for your patience as we strive to reach our financial goals.

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Dear Friend,

We are hours away from the end of the year. When midnight tomorrow comes and goes, so too will your last chance to maximize your 2011 tax credit!

Take advantage of this last opportunity to top up your 2011 tax credit. You can get up to 75% of your donation back on your 2011 taxes – but you must donate now to make it happen.

As a special thank you for rising making that final 2011 contribution, everyone who makes a donation of at least $100 (or a monthly donation of at least $10) will receive a special Green Party gift.  Your choice: a GPO cap, t-shirt, corn mug, a 2012 Green Party calendar, or we will plant a tree through our Forest of Hope campaign.

There are three easy ways to donate:

1. Online, with your credit card or with PayPal;
2. Call our office at 888-647-3366. (Or 416-977-7476 if you reside in Toronto.) If you do not reach a live person, please leave a message; or
3. Writing a cheque, made payable to the Green Party of Ontario, to:Green Party of Ontario
   PO Box 1132 Station F
   Toronto, ON  M4Y 2T8

Cheques must be dated and envelopes postmarked no later than tomorrow (December 31st) to be considered a 2011 donation.

If you are not in a position to donate $100, please consider $10, $25, $50 or any amount that you are comfortable with. To show our gratitude, we will send a special GPO fridge magnet with your February tax receipt for any final 2011 financial contribution.

Donate to the Ontario Greens right now and seize this final opportunity in 2011.

Craig Cantin
Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

P.S. Have you completed our post-election survey? Have your say today!

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Dear Friend,

We are a mere four days from the end of the year. When midnight on December 31st comes and goes, so too will your last chance to maximize your 2011 tax credit!

Take advantage of these last few days to top up your 2011 tax credit. You can get up to 75% of your donation back on your 2011 taxes – but you must donate now to make it happen.

As a special thank you for rising making that final 2011 contribution, everyone who makes a donation of at least $100 (or a monthly donation of at least $10) will receive a special Green Party gift.  Your choice: a GPO cap, t-shirt, corn mug, or the 2012 Green Party calendar.

If you are not in a position to donate $100, please consider $10, $25, $50 or any amount that you are comfortable with. To show our gratitude, we will send a special GPO fridge magnet with your February tax receipt for any final 2011 financial contribution.

Donate to the Ontario Greens right now and seize this final opportunity in 2011.

Craig Cantin
Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

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It’s amazing to see the excitement and energy within our party, even after enduring two election campaigns this year!  It’s been a great year for the Green Party with success at home – electing our first Green MP  – and globally in Germany, UK, New Zealand and Australia. And just last month, the Green Party of Canada’s Adriane Carr was elected as the first Green on Vancouver City Council!

As 2011 draws to a close, we need to look ahead and continue to grow our party.

Twenty percent of our funding comes at this time of year, which is why we are counting on you to make a final donation in 2011. Building the party in 2012 requires steady, stable funding, and your support during the next 22 days is absolutely critical

Don’t forget! As a special thank you for rising making that final 2011 contribution, everyone who makes a donation of at least $100 (or a monthly donation of at least $10) will receive a special Green Party gift.  Your choice: a GPO cap, t-shirt, corn mug, or the 2012 Green Party calendar.

Thank you so much for your ongoing support of our party. Together, we can move our Green Vision ahead and build a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

Yours Sincerely,

Craig Cantin
Deputy Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

P.S. If you are unable to make a $100 commitment today, please consider $15, $40, $60 or whatever you can afford. We truly value any amount you can give, and will send a special GPO fridge magnet with your February tax receipt for any final 2011 financial contribution as a token of our gratitude.

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Several days ago, Mike Schreiner wrote to you about moving our party forward in 2012.  (If you have not yet received his letter, an online version is available here.)

With a minority parliament, we knew there would be urgency to prepare our party for a possible early election. Little did we know that the Leader of the Opposition would in recent days threaten to vote against the government immediately following the Speech from the Throne.

At a time when sensible proposals are required to reduce our public debt and create well-paying Ontario jobs, this kind of bravado is the last thing we should hear from our elected leaders.  We need good policy, not partisan politics, and a Green Vision to build a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

Your feedback on the 2011 campaign – over 800 replies and counting – has been fantastic and will help shape our party in 2012.  (If you haven’t filled out the questionnaire yet, please take a few moments to add your voice.)

Building the party in 2012 also requires steady funding.  20% of our funding comes at this time of year.  We need to prepare now, keep our elbows up and maintain our profile.  We cannot afford to let our guard down for a moment, and need your financial support today.

As a special thank you for rising making a final contribution in 2011, everyone who makes a donation of at least $100 before January 1st (or a monthly donation of at least $10) will receive a special Green Party gift.  Your choice: a GPO cap, t-shirt, corn mug, or the 2012 Green Party calendar.

Together, we will take our party to the next level in 2012.  Thank you again for your continued financial support, and for your critical feedback.

Yours sincerely,

Becky Smit
Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

P.S.  As we enter into a new year, please know how much your continued support means to me and our party!  Together, we will continue to make a positive difference!

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A team of more than 10 interns from the local universities observe the proceedings of more than two dozen standing committees to keep Elizabeth apprised on all of the issues before Parliament. They also help Elizabeth stay on top of issue-based emails and letters from both SGI and the rest of the country.

The staff in the Ottawa office help Elizabeth with her legislative agenda, including proposing amendments to government legislation, drafting private members bills, managing Elizabeth‘s hectic schedule, and coordinating research initiatives with the Library of Parliament. The staff also work closely with the Riding office to assist with the needs and requests of our constituents.

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After months of wait, the results of our contest – the 2012 GPO Calendar – has finally arrived!

This year’s edition of our calendar contains 22 of our best photos taken by more than a dozen photographers.

We want our calendar to get into the hands of as many members and supporters as possible. With that in mind, we are pricing the calendars as low as possible at $16, including shipping, handling and taxes. (Cheaper still if you buy more than one.)  It’s a great gift for family and friends, for fellow members in your local riding, or as your own present under the tree.

We live in a province teeming with life that is rich in diversity. No matter where you live – from the Golden Horseshoe to the James Bay Frontier or from the Ottawa Valley to the Lake of the Woods – you need not travel far to see alluring beauty all around you. Our calendar is a wonderful ensemble of such photos, and we hope you will enjoy it.

Regards,

Becky Smit
Executive Director
Green Party of Ontario

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It has never been more clear to me how important it is to preserve and protect this wonderful province we call home. Throughout the highs and lows of 2011, we consistently pushed hard to deliver our GreenVision, providing solutions to address the major issues of our time – climate change, declining resources and rising energy prices and the disappearance of good, local jobs.

As we head into a new year, we are confronted with the uncertainty of a minority parliament.  I have little doubt that the legacy parties will continue to avoid, duck and dawdle, punting problems to future generations. The issues facing us today will still be here when we make our next trip to the polls, and I am committed to working with you to grow the Green political movement.

We need to prepare for a possible election as early as 18 months from now.  More, now than ever, we need your advice on how to move our party forward, and your financial support to replenish our campaign fund, maintain operations and strengthen our party from the ground up.

While the results of the recent provincial election were not what we hoped for, we know that there is a much larger issue at play. With less than half of the 8.5 million voters bothering to cast their ballot, our province is facing a democratic deficit that must be addressed.

We know that our Green Vision is what Ontario urgently needs to build a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.  We also know that many support this vision, with our membership more than doubling during the past twelve months to 3,300 members, and a record number of volunteers willing to roll up their sleeves and help promote our Green vision.

We need to take our policies, and package them in a way that will captivate our fellow Ontarians and provide a reason to vote once again. It’s essential for us take our vision to the next level, and inspire our friends, neighbours and loved ones.

To do this, we need your help.  Please take a few moments to fill out our questionnaire included with this letter, or to offer us your thoughts on the way forward online at www.gpo.ca/campaign-2011-survey.

Facing two elections six months apart (one federal and one provincial) is challenging to a young political movement such as ours. Your support throughout the year is a true testimony to the resiliency of our party, and I truly appreciate your loyalty.

Knowing first-hand the extraordinary efforts and sacrifices so many of you made this year, I know that we ask a lot of you to make a final 2011 donation.

20% of our funding comes at the end of the year.  And, because of the minority parliament, we need to prepare immediately for the next election, keep our elbows up and maintain our profile.  We cannot afford to let our guard down for a moment, and need your financial support today.

As a special thank you for rising to this challenge, everyone who makes a financial contribution at least $100 before January 1st (or a monthly donation of at least $10) will receive a special Green Party gift.  Your choice: a GPO cap, t-shirt, corn mug, or the 2012 Green Party calendar.

Monthly donations are critical to building our party, providing a stable base for us to plan operations, maintain an office and staff. They also allow us to execute exciting plans for next year that are already in the works – engaging members, supporters and new contacts in a policy development project that will drive our key messages for the next election and a community engagement process to put our ideas into action now.

I am asking that you join with me and many other sustaining members by starting a monthly donation of $50, $20, $10, or whatever you can afford.

Don’t forget that political contributions are eligible for generous tax refunds of up to 75% of your donation!  For example, a monthly donation of $50 starting today will cost only $12.50 over the rest of this year after the maximum $37.50 refund on your 2011 taxes (annual cost would be $207 after tax credit of $393).  A full tax credit chart can be found online at www.gpo.ca/donate.

We truly value any amount you can give.  To show our gratitude, we will send a special GPO fridge magnet with your February tax receipt for any final 2011 financial contribution.

You will find a donation form included with this letter to complete and return.  You can also donate online at www.gpo.ca/donate or over the phone at 888-647-3366.

Together, we will take our party to the next level in 2012.  Thank you again for your continued financial support, and for your critical feedback.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Schreiner
Leader
Green Party of Ontario

P.S.  As we enter into a new year, please know how much your continued support means to me and our party!  Together, we will continue to make a positive difference!

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