Content
- Provincial news re Bill 4 - Consultation Party Oct 3rd
- Toronto election update - get involved!
- Climate Events Calendar - Films, Mayoral Debate & more!
A WIN FOR CONSULTATION ON BILL 4 – PROVINCIAL CAP AND TRADE CANCELLATION ACT
Hundreds of you signed our petition campaign to press the government for consultation on Bill 4, the Cap and Trade Cancellation act. The Environmental Bill of Rights requires that any act that will affect the environment be open for consultation.
Thanks to public pressure and the legal work of Greenpeace and EcoJustice the government has just backed down on that and opened a period of consultation on Bill 4. You can find the consultation page here, with a link to Bill 4 so you can read it.
Please also note the government has said it will bring in a new climate action plan in December. We want to do everything we can to make this a meaningful plan while we also point out all of the things that are being lost with the cancellation of Cap and Trade.
Join us on WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3 RD at 6:30 pm at Friends House 60 Lowther Ave. for a ‘consultation party’. Keith Stewart of Greenpeace will join us. We’ll discuss together what needs to be in our feedback on Bill 4 and how we can press this government for the actions we need to see in the new climate action plan. Bring your laptop (we’ll also have some spare ones if you don’t have your own) and we’ll then enter our feedback right on the spot.
The deadline for feedback on Bill 4 is Thursday October 11 th . The link is here: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/013-3738
TORONTO’S ELECTION IS VERY IMPORTANT
At our last meeting September 12 th we looked at how we can support the election of climate action friendly councilors and Mayor . It was not what we were hoping for, but now we know that there will be 25 wards and the election will be October 22 nd as planned. We want to take our survey questions to the candidates – please read below for how to help with this initiative!
Toronto has lost $500 million in grants including $300 million for social housing energy saving retrofits and $52 million for 10 programs that were part of the TransformTO plan, which is designed to lower Toronto’s GHG emissions 80% by 2050. It’s essential that other levels of government partner with Toronto to make reaching this goal possible. So this loss of funds is a very big blow.
On September 12 th we discussed several campaigns where there is a clear contrast in climate policy commitment, support for active transportation (walking, cycling, safe streets) and for planning decisions (like TransformYonge and Stormwater management/fees) These are very live issues at the city right now.
Right now we need volunteers to bring our survey questions to local candidates so we can summarize the results on line and send out in October . If you can help by contacting candidates in your ward or another ward in the city in the next two weeks please email lyn@climatefast.ca
The Toronto Council Renewal Project (TCRP – www.torontorenewal.com ) will be making its candidate recommendations based on a number of criteria including climate, transportation, and planning program planks. Now that the number of wards is clear this list will be posted very soon and we will post a link.
VOLUNTEERING FOR A CAMPAIGN
The ONLY way community candidates can win over developer candidates with lots of money is people power. Candidates are out there every day building support for their election. We encourage you to find a candidate you support and get involved Donations are helpful too and there is a partial rebate for your donations https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/8f9c-2018ContributionRebateGuide.pdf )
ClimateFast volunteers tabling at Open Streets
VOLUNTEER WITH CLIMATEFAST
We also need help with core tasks for ClimateFast. Please email: volunteer@climatefast.ca and bring your skills! Be part of the core planning team, the film festival team, outreach, media, communications, tabling, administration – we need skills in all areas.
CLIMATE ACTION INITIATIVES IN TORONTO – CALENDAR BELOW
FILM SCREENING BEYOND CRISIS: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21 ST , 6 – 9:30 pm
Celebrate the last official day of summer with Water Docs Film Festival at their FREE outdoor screening of Beyond Crisis (2017) , a film that explores what it means to live in this new era of climate change and celebrates the stories of people around the world who are moving humanity forward ( watch the trailer ). The screening will take place at the R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant, 2701 Queen St E
There will be FREE popcorn and a post-screening discussion with the filmmaker about what communities can do to advocate for a safe climate future. Pay-What-You-Can donations are appreciated. Please bring your own lawn chairs and blankets to sit comfortably for the screening and your own refreshments (no plastic water bottles please).
DRAWDOWN INTRO SEPT 26 & summit October 24th
based on the book by Paul Hawken – practical initiatives for positive change,
100 top ideas to tackle the climate challenge: www.drawdown.org
Intro session Sept. 26 th , 6:30 pm, 60 Lowther Ave.
Materials summit Oct. 24 th , 6:30 pm, to register: www.unifytoronto.ca
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 26 TH : SCARBOROUGH TRANSIT DEBATE
The 2018 Mayoral Transit Debate is coming up one week from tonight! TTCRiders is hostig and Globe and Mail columnist Marcus Gee will moderate the event. The following candidates have confirmed their attendance: Jennifer Keesmaat; Sarah Climenhaga; Saron Gebresellassi
Notice anyone missing? We sent an invitation to Mayor John Tory nearly a month ago, but his campaign has not yet confirmed whether he will be there. Email mayor_tory@toronto.ca and ask him to attend!
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-2018-mayoral-transit-debate-tickets-499…
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 3 RD 6:30 PM – Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave.
Consultation Party re Bill 4: let’s learn about the bill and work on input together;
Bill 4 is online and open for comments until October 11 th :
NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION TRAINING – Rev Maggie Helwig
Church of St. Stephen’s in the Field 2 – 6:00 pm Saturday Oct 6 th
Learn about strategies applied in campaigns eg civil rights movement that might be useful at this point in Ontario.
Pre-register: ststepheninthefields@gmail.com
CARBON CONVERSATIONS
Six week group discussion series this fall. Consider your carbon footprint in conversation with others: https://www.carbonconversationsto.com/
October 11th: Film - When the Storm Fades
– (Philippines) - Produced by Naomi Klein, The Yes Men and Mark Achbar (director of The Corporation and Noam Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent at The Famous Players Canada Square Cinema in Toronto (
Tickets Available Here
).
CONFERENCES:
CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY – register by October 1st
CCL - Oct 13 - 16 , conference and lobby days in Ottawa www.citizensclimatelobby.ca .
CLIMATE ACTION NETWORK - CANADA
Climacon 2018 - Toronto (York University Oct 10 – 11 ) https://climateactionnetwork.ca/climacon/
ONTARIO CLIMATE SYMPOSIUM - Oct 11 – 12 at OCAD
climateconnections.ca/symposium/program
Thank you friends for all that you do! We can change the future – together.
The ClimateFast team