Signatures and endorsements for the agreement from Federation of Canadian Municipalities CEO Carole Saab, Toronto Mayor John Tory, TAF CEO Julia Langer and Chair Parminder Sandhu
With the increasing urgency of the climate crisis, it’s out with incrementalism and in with big investments. New tools and new hope just landed in TAF’s bank account with a $40 million Canada fund, bringing our total asset to $90 million. Combined with the funding planned to roll out for other cities across the country through the Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) network, this is a significant green impact fund for Canada representing $210 million.
This investment didn’t happen overnight – it is the culmination of over three years of work between TAF, the LC3 network, the Government of Canada, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the City of Toronto. And now it’s time to put it to work.
For our GTHA community, this means more resources for cleantech investments, deep energy retrofits for healthy homes, and grant support for climate-smart policies and programs. For a glimpse of the potential impact, our buildings team has deep energy retrofits in progress in about 400 social housing homes across the region. Next year we’re aiming for 1,600 healthier, greener, more resilient homes.
For Canada, this means we can build back better at the scale we need to make significant impact on urban carbon emissions. In partnership with FCM, and the LC3 network representing Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver, we can share resources and expertise to take on the complex issues facing our climate, shedding the silos that don’t reflect the borderless nature of carbon pollution.
Almost thirty years ago, Toronto City Councillors Jack Layton and Dan Leckie had the “wild idea” to create TAF as a $23 million municipal climate fund, and the successful model is now spawning nation-wide. We’re going to need more visionary thinking and creative ideas like this as Canada shifts its focus from emergency pandemic relief, to stimulus spending, to the long-term investment in a just, climate-focused recovery that millions of Canadians are calling for. Recognizing the Government of Canada’s vision in supporting LC3, we are hopeful.
Stay tuned as we put TAF’s expanded fund to work. Now is a good time to keep in touch – receive our updates in your inbox by subscribing here, or contact us with questions or comments.
Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) supports cities and communities in reaching their carbon emissions reduction potential. This initiative, implemented in partnership between seven local centres and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), was established through an endowment from the Government of Canada.
Please give me TAF’s views on banning gas powered leaf blowers, mowers, trimmers and edgers in Toronto. This is an urgent request as I am deputing before the Infrastructure and Environment Committee Sept. 17 on Shelly Carroll’s motion to ban gas leaf blowers. CARB, Env Canada & the US EPA say they are.
Many thanks,
Harold Smith 416 435 9039
harbersmith@sympatico. ca
Thank you for the interest Harold. Eliminating and reducing use of fossil fuels where there are alternatives is important. From a climate change perspective we haven’t seen a compelling case for banning leaf-blowers. The City of Toronto’s evaluation for TransformTO states: “Based on available research, not enough evidence exists to make a strong link between the use of small engine equipment and air quality and climate change concerns. Thus restricting the use of such equipment from an environmental perspective does not appear to be a justifiable approach. Through our investigation of strategies taken by other jurisdictions, it was discovered that the majority of other cities, who have addressed concerns related to small engine equipment use, have done so through the use of noise regulations. We believe this is the most feasible option for the City of Toronto as well.” Even though the environmental affects of such devices seem minimal, there is no doubt they are annoying, and do contribute to pollution. Good luck with your deputation Harold! See the TransformTO report here: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/9234-TransformTO-Evaluation-of-Potential-Additions-to-TransformTO-Report-1-Strategies.pdf
How about Mark Carney’s new path,with Brookfield will we see a green fund that works with you to create a place where Canadians can invest in your projects?
Thanks Natalie. Access for all Canadians to invest in energy efficiency retrofits would be an ultimate success. The nascent market for retrofits will need to scale up and be more established before big funds like pension funds or mutual funds will offer opportunities to invest in them. There are various market drivers that TAF has identified in our reports and other blogs that could support the retrofit market in getting to this scale. For example, https://taf.ca/investing-in-retrofits-heres-how/