The City of Toronto’s Infrastructure and Environment Committee has a number of environmental measures on its agenda for Wednesday April 26; including a proposal on a municipal Carbon Budget. According to the City's climate plan this carbon budget process is to be implemented this year. It will be difficult to implement, and it’s important that the committee hears support for strong climate action from Toronto residents. The committee will accept both spoken and written deputations.

ClimateFast will host an online conversation on Sunday, April 23rd at 7pm with Councillor Dianne Saxe (pictured) to help concerned citizens prepare to depute. Councillor Saxe will present the issues surrounding a carbon budget for the city. Registration details can be found here. Please contact Lyn Adamson for questions.

Join us on Sunday then write a submission or sign up to speak at the meeting on Wednesday April 26th at 9:30am. To submit a written comment or sign up to speak, contact iec@toronto.ca; include your address and phone number in your message.

The City of Toronto is seeking public comments on its plan to extend the Bloor West complete street from Runnymede Ave to Aberfoyle and eventually Kipling Ave in Etobicoke. There is strong support for the extension, but also strong and growing opposition from motorists who fear that safety improvements for vulnerable road users will increase driving times. It's not just about bike lanes, but also safety improvements at perilous intersections such as South Kingsway, buffered sidewalks, a narrower roadway (which equals lower speeds), summertime space for outdoor cafes, and climate action! Your voice in support of a complete street including bike lanes is vital. Voices from all over the city count!

The public feedback survey for the Bloor West Complete Street Extension must be submitted by April 27. Support from people who live in, work in, or visit Etobicoke will be particularly meaningful. Let's give this bike lane extension a boost!

ClimateFast has joined in a press release expressing community concern over road safety as there have been 2 recent pedestrian deaths in Toronto, including one in the area where the changes are proposed. 65 businesses have signed on to support the project.

Municipal public transit systems across Canada are currently under threat. Following sharp decreases in ridership during the COVID-19 pandemic, transit authorities lack the revenue to provide frequent, affordable, high-quality service - and many municipalities are exacerbating this problem by cutting transit budgets. Environmental Defence is calling on the federal government to step in and provide ongoing funding to support public transit operations.

Toronto’s Ontario place, which has long been a public park, is slated to be taken over by private businesses. The planned redevelopment, which is supported by the provincial government, will limit public access, and destroy vulnerable waterfront habitats. A coalition of civil society groups is calling on provincial leaders to reconsider the plan, and ensure these lands can continue to play their important role for people and wildlife.

April 21-23, 2023, various times
Various locations
Multiple local groups will host events under the banner of Yours to Protect Weekend, an event supported by Environmental Defence. Local events include rallies, nature walks, repair cafes, and many others.

April 25, 2023, 5:20pm ET
Room 4007, University of Ottawa Social Sciences Building / Online
The University of Ottawa’s Centre for International Policy Studies will host a debate on the role of nuclear power in the energy transition. This is a hybrid event.

May 2, 2023, 1:00pm ET
Online
The Climate Emergency Unit will host a webinar on the Just Transition Transfer, a new policy proposal aimed at ensuring equitable and sufficient funding for a transition to renewable energy throughout Canada. This event is intended primarily for those working in municipal governance

On April 18th, the Ontario Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit brought against the Government of Ontario by 7 young people. These youth, supported by Ecojustice, argued that Premier Doug Ford’s government violated their charter rights and those of their fellow young people by weakening the province’s plans to tackle climate change. While the dismissal is a disappointment for climate advocates, there were several promising elements in the judge’s decision, which accepted the facts about climate change presented in the challenge, sharply criticized the provincial government’s weak climate plan, and also found that the courts are an appropriate venue for future challenges in this vein. Ecojustice plans to appeal the decision.

Image: The applicants in the case, together with supporters. Photo from Ecojustice

Read the press statement from Ecojustice
Read the CBC’s article
Read the Energy Mix story

The Royal Bank of Canada was the largest single funder of fossil fuel extraction projects in 2022, and actually increased its fossil fuel investment over the previous year, according to the recent report Banking on Climate Chaos 2023. The report, which is released annually by a group of environmental organizations, takes a detailed look at financial data to reveal the role that banks play in the ongoing expansion of the oil and gas industry. Other Canadian banks, including BMO, TD and Scotiabank, were also found to be major funders of fossil fuel projects. 

Read the report
Read the National Observer article
Listen to the coverage on CBC’s The Current
See Banking on a Better Future’s resources on divesting from fossil fuels

Watch Senator Rosa Galvez explain her proposal for the Climate-Aligned Finance Act, and the private member’s bill she has put forward to implement it, in this webinar hosted by Citizens’ Climate Lobby.

Read the Canadian Climate Institute’s recommendations for public investment in Canada’s energy transition

Explore the Green Career Centre, a resource to help young people, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, build green careers.