Nominated Green Party Candidate Ralph Torrie is busier than ever these days, despite an impending election. With over 25 years of experience in the environmental sector, focusing on energy issues, he is finding himself in demand everywhere as a speaker and expert in the field.

He's recently been appointed to the Green Party shadow cabinet with responsibility for infrastructure and community development, a position he is pleased to hold, "I am very pleased with this portfolio because I believe that getting our economy going again is closely tied to action at the community level. Rather than prisons and fighter jets, we need to be investing in the infrastructure our communities need to build the foundation for a sustainable economic future.”

On another front, he's taking part in the first in a series of workshops being held across the country on Canada’s energy future. The invitation-only workshops, sponsored by Pollution Probe, bring together senior representatives of government, industry and the environmental sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s energy economy.  Mr. Torrie will provide concluding comments and observations in the closing session of the first workshop.

As an internationally recognized expert in the field of sustainability, energy and environment issues,  Ralph has been asked to deliver the guest lecture at the University of Toronto on February 17 on environmental sustainability and the opportunities and challenges it presents to Canadian institutions.

And as if that weren't enough, he has accepted an invitation to sit on the Board of the Sierra Club of Canada Foundation.  “The Sierra Club is among the oldest and most respected conservation and environmental groups in the world, and I am honoured to have been asked to serve in this way”, said Mr. Torrie.

As one of his first duties with the Sierra Club Ralph will appear on Parliament Hill as an expert witness before the Standing Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources. “The Senate Committee has been doing excellent work”, said Mr. Torrie, “and I am honoured to have been asked to contribute to their deliberations on Canada’s energy future.”

And finally (for now, anyway) Ralph has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Partnership.  The Clean Air Partnership engages governments, businesses and citizens’ groups in the common goal of eliminating air pollution in the Greater Toronto Area.  Mr. Torrie’s appointment acknowledges his expertise in this area, but he is also the first Board member to be appointed who lives outside what is normally considered the GTA.  “I think everyone who is following the air pollution issue in southern Ontario in recent years recognizes that this is no longer just an urban issue”, said Mr. Torrie.  “I live next to the lake in Cobourg and there are days when the horizon is a dirty brown.  Even in cottage county now we are seeing the spread of smog.  I think it is important that the Board of the GTA Clean Air Partnership includes the perspective of someone who lives downwind of the traffic and activity in Toronto that is contributing to widespread pollution in southern and eastern Ontario”.