Forty groups and notable Torontonians have united to send a letter to Mayor Tory and City Councillors to show support for the bold new climate action plan that will be voted on at City Council.
View the letter as a PDF or read full text below.
Dear Mayor Tory and Toronto City Councillors,
Toronto shares an ambitious yet achievable climate goal with cities like London and Washington, D.C. – reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. With TransformTO, we now have a clear plan that will get us to our target and that shows climate action will bring us all much needed hope and prosperity.
We, the undersigned, urge you to adopt and fully implement TransformTO Report #2 – The Pathway to a Low Carbon Future when it is discussed at City Council on July 4, 2017.
Create Multiple Benefits
We are excited about this climate action plan because the envisioned low-carbon actions has the potential to generate multiple benefits for all Torontonians:
- Make life more affordable
- Create jobs and much-needed local economic activity
- Improve public health
- Reduce poverty
- Keep Toronto competitive as a global city
Send a Signal to Provincial and Federal Government
The adoption of the TransformTO plan would send a clear signal to the Ontario and Federal governments that Toronto is ready to receive and invest climate action funds in ways that will reap maximum benefits. And with this decision, Toronto would join leading international cities like Paris and New York which recognize the vital role municipalities play in taking climate action.
It also acknowledges that we must take action now to ensure that we are leaving a modern, prosperous and healthy city for our children and grandchildren.
Mobilize New Resources through Collaboration
Transform TO Report #2 makes it clear that we must get serious about climate action and that doing so will contribute to current and future prosperity. The strategy takes a collaborative approach that ensures every climate dollar spent by the City leverages external resources and addresses environmental, social and economic priorities. This is exactly what Toronto needs.
TransformTO also creates a sound platform for accelerating the City’s emerging resilience plan. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recently urged all levels of governments “to come together and implement expansive climate policies that will better prepare Canadians and their communities for when disasters strike.” TransformTO would help do just that.
Finally, we welcome TransformTO as a plan that creates participation by businesses, residents, community organizations, associations, and civic leaders – like those of us who have signed this letter - in shaping and delivering this important work.
We are ready. We are full of hope. Let’s start creating a stronger Toronto by having Council adopt and implement TransformTO Report #2.
Sincerely,
Sevaun Palvetzian, CEO
CivicAction
Bala Gnanam, Director, Sustainable Buildings Operations and Strategic Partnerships
Building Owners and Managers Association of Greater Toronto Area
John Cartwright, President
Toronto & York Region Labour Council
Sandy Houston, President and CEO
Metcalf Foundation
Colette Murphy, Executive Director
The Atkinson Foundation
Kofi Hope, Executive Director
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
David Crombie
Cherise Burda, Executive Director
City Building Institute | Ryerson University
Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada
United Steelworkers
Jerry Dias, National President
UNIFOR
Fred Hahn, President
Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario
Doris Grinspun, Chief Executive Officer
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
Scott Travers, President
Society of Energy Professionals, IFPTE Local 160
Carolyn Egan, Co-Chair
Good Jobs for All Coalition
Sean Meagher, Executive Director
Social Planning Toronto
Lucy Cummings, Executive Director
Faith in the Common Good
Rosemary Powell, Executive Director
Toronto Community Benefits Network
Tara Seucharan, Co-contact
Council of Canadians, Toronto chapter
Marion Fraser, President
Fraser & Company
Cara Clairman, President and CEO
Plug’n Drive
Geoff Cape, CEO
Evergreen Brick Works
Tim Gray, Executive Director
Environmental Defence Canada
Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director
Canadian Environmental Law Association
Gideon Forman, Climate Change and Transportation Policy Analyst
David Suzuki Foundation
Jack Gibbons, Chair
Ontario Clean Air Alliance
Paul Antze, Steering Committee Member
Green Neighbours 21
Rob Shirkey, Executive Director
Our Horizon
Angela Bischoff, Director
Greenspiration
Sheila Murray, Cofounder
Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW)
Lyn Adamson, Chair
ClimateFast
Marjorie Brans, Managing Director
School for Social Entrepreneurs and League of Intrapreneurs
Professor Kimberly Strong
Director of the School of the Environment
University of Toronto
Liz Rice, Toronto Chapter Co-Chair
Citizens' Climate Lobby
Gabriella Kalapos, Executive Director
Clean Air Partnership
Franz Hartmann, Executive Director
Toronto Environmental Alliance
Emmay Mah, Coordinator
People’s Climate Movement
Keith Brooks
Clean Economy Alliance
Dave Bulmer, President/CEO
AMAPCEO Ontario's Professional Employees
Daniele Zanotti, President and CEO
The United Way Toronto & York Region
Nicole Risse, Executive Director
Ontario Sustainable Energy Association
Paul Mero and Rita Bijons – Co-Chairs
Green 13
Caleb Woolcott, Municipal Campaign Lead
Toronto350.org