Turning Thornhill red by going green: Gladstone

THORNHILL, Ontario, Sept. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Liberal candidate Gary Gladstone is taking a decidedly different approach to campaigning in this upcoming federal election. Gladstone has decided to shun single use plastic bag lawn signs. "I know that they have been a staple of modern campaigns for years but I think the evidence is overwhelming that single use plastics are an environmental concern," said Gladstone. "After consulting with my team, we have decided that we will not use these signs and instead focus on other communications tools that can be reused or recycled," Gladstone added.

Single use plastic has been identified as a significant environmental challenge by the federal government. Currently, less than 10 per cent of plastic used in Canada gets recycled. Plastic waste ends up in our landfills and incinerators, litters our parks and beaches, and pollutes our rivers, lakes, and oceans.

"There is mounting evidence that single use plastics breakdown and enter into the water system and may be harmful to our ecosystem and pose risks to plants, animals and humans," Gladstone pointed out. "That is why the Prime Minister is offering leadership in proposing a ban on harmful single use plastics beginning in 2021."

"My campaign will be following the waste reduction principles - reduce, reuse and recycle. We will not provide any lawn signs and only be putting up arterial road signs, which is a 83% reduction in sign usage compared to a traditional campaign. I will be storing and reusing my signs in the next election campaign. And only those signs that are too damaged to be reused, will be recycled."

"I challenge my Conservative opponent Peter Kent to do likewise. As a former Environment Minister he did nothing to protect our community and country from the environmental danger posed by single use plastics," Gladstone said. "Canadians want the next government to offer leadership on environmental issues unlike the rollback of protection taking place under Conservative Premier Doug Ford."

Gary Gladstone is the Liberal candidate for Thornhill. An active member of the community for over twenty-five years, Gary has deep roots in Thornhill and will ensure Thornhill's voice is heard in Ottawa.

For more information contact:

Emma Wakelin, Campaign Manager

Gary Gladstone, Candidate
(289)588-9750
[email protected]