Liberal MP David McGuinty knows that big changes often start from small beginnings.
For Project Porchlight, that change began in 2005. “Stuart (Hickox, Project Porchlight Executive Director) came to see me as a constituent with an idea,” says Mr. McGuinty, who has spent most of his career working with environmental and energy issues. “I said, ‘Let’s get this project launched and it’ll take off, mark my words.’ And it did.”
Together, Stuart and Mr. McGuinty set up meetings with prospective donors in the MP’s constituency office and on Parliament Hill. The momentum of those meetings made it possible for Stuart to attract Hydro Ottawa and the Ontario Power Authority to the table. Before long, funding was in place for a 35,000-bulb pilot project in Ottawa South. The launch event was October 28, 2005 at Giant Tiger, during which Mr. McGuinty, Stuart and other sponsors appealed to the community to volunteer to deliver bulbs. Over 200 people responded to the appeal and all the bulbs were delivered within eight weeks.
“My family and my extended family have always had a couple of monikers or mottos,” Mr. McGuinty says. “One of them has always been: ‘The best way to start is to start.’ We started by just getting out there and knocking on doors and telling people what Project Porchlight was all about.”
Mr. McGuinty’s support continued. With a successful pilot project behind them, the Porchlight team was able to secure support from the Mayor of Ottawa and Hydro Ottawa to expand Porchlight to a city-wide campaign. David opened a lot of doors to decision makers.
“It’s one thing to have a good idea,” says Stuart, “but success depends on finding those first champions who are willing to work to make things happen. David is our founding champion.”
Project Porchlight continues to grow, across Ontario and into Alberta. In 2008, the campaign will jump the border into two states in the US. (Stay tuned for details!)
Today, Mr. McGuinty is still actively involved in the campaign. He serves as a casual counsel and community spokesperson, and continues to introduce Stuart and his staff to valuable contacts in government while respecting Porchlight’s strict non-partisan approach.
“Project Porchlight inspires my own work as the environment critic for the Official Opposition,” Mr. McGuinty says. And, he explains, it was a great impetus for the recent Ontario ban on the sale of incandescent light bulbs by 2012. “It’s these kinds of practical measures that people can take which will save them money and protect the environment,” he says. “And it’s never been more important to do so.”
