Climate advocates, experts want to see more focus on environment in Ontario this term
Focus on flood, wildfire and extreme heat mitigation: University of Waterloo professor
The Progressive Conservatives shot to victory within minutes of polls closing in Ontario's provincial election — but absent in the victory speech of three-time majority Premier Doug Ford were mentions of climate change and sustainability.
Climate advocates say they're hoping this term differs from the campaign, and the issue becomes more of a focus for the premier.
Rupp Carriveau is a professor in the faculty of engineering at the University of Windsor. He says the government should focus on mitigating climate change while ensuring it is economically viable.
"I would like to see a greater connection between economic initiatives and the environment this term," he said. "I would encourage the government to make a greater effort to connect their efforts to environmental concerns.
"Making the connection between the cost of adaptation and the potential benefits of efforts to mitigate change is key."
The premier's office and the Ministry of Environment did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
But the province does have a 2018 environment plan that sets targets for greenhouse gas reductions: 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, which the plan notes aligns with the federal government's Paris Agreement commitments. It says greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 22 per cent since 2005.
It also sets new standards for renewable content in gasoline between 2025 and 2030 and has increased the penalties for polluters.
"Since 2018, the government has taken significant steps to protect our land, air and water, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment now and for future generations," the plan reads.
New provincial rules also introduce mandatory organic waste diversion through green bin programs in municipalities this year, including Windsor.
Climate change issues 'overshadowed' by tariff talks
Niharika Bandaru, the executive director of Windsor of Change, a local climate advocacy group, said climate and sustainability priorities got "overshadowed" by tariff talks this election.
LISTEN: Activist says climate change overshadowed by other issues in campaign
During the campaign, their group had sent out a questionnaire on climate change and sustainability to parties to better inform voters.
"We did have some responses mostly from the Essex ridings. Unfortunately, we did not have responses from the incumbents or the main challengers… We were hoping to hear more," she said.
While she says it's progress that climate and sustainability are no longer considered niche issues, "the lack of clarity is not helpful."
'Quite concerning the lack of focus on environmental issues:' Ontario Nature
Tony Morris is the conservation policy and campaigns director with Ontario Nature.
He said climate "wasn't, unfortunately, a prominent issue" during the campaign.
"We can't continue to ignore the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis, which are a bit more existential crises compared to some of the other things that Ontario is facing," he said.
Morris said the government's record on the file has not been the best so far, with changes to the land use planning legislation, using the Greenbelt as an example and limiting protections to wetlands across the province.
"There's a push for urban boundary expansions, even [in] municipalities that don't want them, the use of ministerial zoning orders that can override provincial priorities like environmental protections," he said.
While the focus on housing and infrastructural growth is important, Morris said it should not be done without environmental sustainability causing the "overall disconnect."
"Having a concrete plan to protect and restore nature will help address climate issues as well… It's one of the simplest things Ontario can do," he said. "We've been asking the government for quite some time to commit to protecting 30 per cent of lands and water by 2030.
"The Ontario government has still not committed to that. That is not a political issue. It's not an ideological issue."
Focus on flood, wildfire and extreme heat mitigation: Professor
Blair Feltmate is head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo.
He said Canada had $8.5 billion in damage across the country due to flooding, wildfires and other extreme weather risks last year.
"We had about a billion dollars in claims due to flooding in Toronto and southern Ontario with 10 per cent of homes in the province now no longer eligible to receive insurance coverage for basement flooding. This is problematic because the average cost of a flooded basement in southern Ontario is about $54,000," he said. "Governments have been living in denial."
Besides mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, Feltmate said the three perils that Ontario should be focusing on are flooding, wildfire and extreme heat events.
Feltmate said this term, around flooding, the government should focus on helping homeowners directly with subsidies for things including flood alarms.
"The government should provide subsidies in support of ensuring that there is a battery backup supply for a sump pump when the big storms hit."
In terms of wildfires, he advises — and says the province should advise — homeowners to replace bushes around their homes with river stone or nonflammable material, replace wooden fences with chain fences and have a metal roof on a house to deter embers.
Between now and 2050 and 2080, he said it's going to get very hot, particularly in Southern Ontario, where he says the maximum summer temperature will increase by between three and five degrees.
"Windsor is the most challenging city in southern Ontario. It has about 18 to 20 days per summer over 30 C. That's going to go to 55 to 60 days per summer in future."
Consequently, he said, the government should aid people in apartment buildings, for example, to make sure that they have blinds and glazing on windows and awnings or mechanical shutters.
"The warning is that we're not mobilizing known solutions to known problems and nearly not quickly enough… the Government of Ontario should launch a provincial educational campaign to address simple steps to home flood, wildfire and heat protection."
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