The ClimateFast newsletter shares information, resources, news, and activist opportunities about the climate crisis that may interest our readers, and does not necessarily reflect the views of ClimateFast members. If you have an event or resource you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@climatefast.ca.

The Climate Emergency Unit has been hard at work on their campaign to win funding for a Youth Climate Corps in Canada. This organization would mobilize Canada’s young people with good jobs in a wide variety of fields, both reducing emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change. The United States recently announced their own plan for a Climate Corps, and it’s up to us to keep the momentum going and win the same thing for Canada!

Ontario Power Generation is pushing to expand production at the Portlands Gas Plant in Toronto. The plant’s emissions have already increased over the past several years, and would skyrocket even further if the planned expansion were to go ahead. The municipal government opposes the expansion, but so far provincial leaders have ignored their opposition. The Ontario Clean Air Alliance has prepared a letter template calling on the provincial Energy Minister to respect the decision of Toronto’s government.

Saturday, Nov. 4th, 12:00pm
Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square
350Canada, Climate Emergency Unit, CUPE-ON, and Seniors for Climate Action Now invite you to our day of action for Good Green Jobs for All on November 4th, 2023. The event will feature speakers from the Canadian labour movement and youth organizers working to bring a Youth Climate Corps to Canada. We are fighting for fair wages, racial justice, and Indigenous sovereignty and knowledge as pillars of a new Youth Climate Corps. YCC would be a brash, new public program which would facilitate our energy transition in a fair and equitable manner. Come join us to power up the future we want!

In a highly anticipated decision released Friday, October 13, a majority of the Supreme Court of Canada found that the 2019 Impact Assessment Act was, in part, unconstitutional. This reference case will have significant implications for the future of Canada’s Impact Assessment regime. The goal of the Act is to establish a regime that assesses the environmental and social impacts of proposed developments (such as mines and dams) with the goal of mitigating those impacts. Mitigation efforts can range anywhere from suggesting changes to the development process to prohibiting the development all-together. The Attorney General of Alberta brought this case before the courts asking them whether the Act was unconstitutional because it fell outside the powers of the federal government. The Court found that part of the Act (sections 81-91) was constitutional but found that the rest of the Act was not. This case, while significant, is not binding. This means that the Act remains in force. The Impact Assessment Agency has even stated that it will continue to enforce the Act and will propose some specific amendments to make it constitutional. However, proponents who wish to circumvent Canada’s Impact Assessment procedure will now have a strong legal basis on which to do so.

On Monday, October 16th, Ontario’s new Housing Minister, Paul Calandra, introduced new legislation that would reverse his government’s previous decision to allow owners of Greenbelt land to develop on their property. Ford’s More Homes Built Faster Act would have opened 7,400 acres of Greenbelt Land in flood-prone areas for development and went directly against the Premier’s promise to leave the land untouched. As Calandra tabled The Greenbelt Statute Law Amendment Act, he acknowledged the significant concerns that Ontarians had with Ford’s previous statute, stating plainly, “We made a mistake.” This Bill is a victory for every citizen who made their concerns known by signing petitions, protesting, and spreading the word about what Ford planned to do. However, Ford will continue to face scrutiny for his original Greenbelt Act as the RCMP recently announced its specialized unit dealing with politically sensitive allegations such as corruption and breach of trust will review his legislation.

In the 1960s and 70s, blue-green algae spread rampantly throughout Lake Erie, posing a significant ecological crisis for Canada and the United States. While the two countries successfully managed the crisis, eliminating much of the algae problem and creating a rare environmental success story, the algae has returned to Lake Erie, and this time, government intervention has been short of heroic. The spread of blue-green algae (or eutrophication) is caused by the leaching of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into bodies of water. The nutrients usually come from agricultural run off or from household industries. Eutrophication is problematic because it blocks sunlight and depletes the lake of its dissolved oxygen. The problem was so severe in the 60s and 70s that western Lake Erie was declared “dead.” As a result of combined government action involving changes to farming practices, improving wastewater infrastructure, and banning phosphates from detergents, the algal bloom problem slowly resolved. Much of the lake and its ecosystems recovered. However, algae returned in the early 2000s despite sustained efforts and the algae is even more toxic than before. Studies are suggesting that the spike in vegetable and cannabis greenhouses could be a significant contributor to the return of the algae, but it is still unclear what is causing its renewed, more vigorous spread. Nevertheless, it is clear that Canadian government action is lacking as they are doing little to test the water, check greenhouse sites, or adapt their mitigation plan for Lake Erie.

At the invitation of MP Charlie Angus, John Vaillant, the author of Fire Weather, spoke to the committee on Oct 16 alongside the CEO of Suncor, Richard Kruger. Suncor decided to sell its renewable energy division and focus on its core business - oil and gas - thus threatening life on this planet. Kruger was called to testify because of Suncor’s change in stance on reducing GHG emissions. Vaillant pulled no punches about what’s at stake - why it’s so important to act - and who to blame. The Tyee article includes a link to Vaillant’s powerful testimony at the committee.