Calls to Action

Heat Pumps for All

  1. We’re calling on Members of Parliament across the country to champion a Universal Heat Pump Program.
  2. Sign up to host a climate circle
  3. Find Your Local Campaign and lead one in your riding if there isn’t one already to pressure the local MP to support this initiative
  4. Build Local Power

All Ontario homeowners who are heating with methane (natural gas) from Enbridge: your gas bill will be going up because of Bill 165

On December 21, 2023, the Ontario Energy Board, an independent, regulatory body whose mandate is to look out for the interests of Ontario energy consumers, made the decision that Enbridge could no longer pass the cost of expanding its methane gas pipeline infrastructure on to its existing methane gas customers. This had been done by amortizing Enbridge’s costs over 40 years to existing customers. The OEB felt a 40 year amortization did not make sense if Canada is to attain its net zero carbon emissions commitment by 2050 (26 years away). Burning methane produces carbon emissions. This would leave stranded assets including pipeline infrastructure and customer-owned gas furnaces, once existing customers converted to alternative energy sources such as heat pumps which use electricity. With the OEB ruling, developers would be able to consider other heating options such as heat pumps in place of gas furnaces when developing new housing.

On December 22, 2023, 15 hours later, Tim Cooke, the Progressive Conservative Minister of Energy at that time announced that they would overturn the OEB’s decision. This compromised the independence of this regulatory agency.

On February 22, 2024, Tim Cooke introduced Bill 165, Keeping Energy Costs Down Act (a misnomer). Bill 165 would overturn the OEB decision and enable Enbridge to continue to amortize over 40 years its methane gas pipeline expansion costs.

Here are the articles that describe the situation including one that uncovers the conversations that took place between the Doug Ford government and Enbridge prior to the Minister of Energy’s announcement:

On May 16, the Doug Ford Progressive Conservative government passed Bill 165 into law.

Since then, the Canadian Climate Institute has come out with a report as reported on by the Toronto Star in this article written by Marco Chown Oved published on June 13, 2024, entitled, ‘Expanding gas infrastructure to heat buildings today is like investing in video rental stores 15 years ago’

Here is the executive summary of the report entitled, HEAT EXCHANGE: How today’s policies will drive or delay Canada’s transition to clean, reliable heat for buildings.

The Globe & Mail published an editorial in favour of the OEB decision, citing this same report: Building a postcarbon future on June 19, 2024

Here is an article about Enbridge and ‘fighting for its survival’: Enbridge Gas is ‘fighting for its survival’ — and that means keeping Ontario on fossil fuels, the Narwhal, June 25, 2024.

There are several calls to action that have been generated by several environmental organizations to tell your elected representatives to rescind Bill 165. Please send a message to the Doug Ford government to rescind Bill 165 and respect the Ontario Energy Board decision:

Here are some related calls to action that you can also do:

Thanks for making a difference.

Ray Nakano

Top 10 Climate Actions

Here is a list of the Top 10 Climate Actions that you can take compiled by Ray Nakano and released on June 20, 2024.

The IPCC must make clear: a liveable future requires a rapid and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels, not reliance on speculative technologies.

Please click here.

We need Clean Electricity Regulations that can take Ontario to a climate-safe future

Please click here.

Sign now: Tell RBC to stop funding climate destruction and respect Indigenous rights

The Royal Bank of Canada is the fifth largest fossil fuel funder in the world and the biggest one in Canada. Since 2016, when the Paris climate agreement was signed, RBC has poured over $262 billion into dangerous fossil fuel projects that threaten the very existence of our planet.

Click here to sign the petition telling RBC to stop funding climate destruction and respect Indigenous rights.

There’s no sugarcoating it: fossil fuel advertising is making us sick.

Just like tobacco companies, fossil fuel companies are failing to inform us about their product’s health and environment hazards, and manipulating us into thinking they’re greener than they are. Their advertising undermines Canada’s climate commitments, and their greenwashing obstructs climate action. Canadians deserve better. We know this, and so should your elected officials. 

Click here and send a letter demanding your elected officials take action today for a safer, healthier tomorrow.

TELL THE CANADA PENSION PLAN TO PROTECT YOUR PENSION AND THE PLANET

Click here and send a letter to CPP fund managers and board directors.

We need to phase out polluting gas to save our climate!

Click here and urge the Government of Ontario to direct the IESO to plan for a full phase out of gas-fired generation by 2030.

How to be a Hero for All our Children

This article was written by Lindsey Fielder Cook and was published by the Quaker United Nations Office on April 21, 2021.

How to be a Hero for All our Children: A People’s Climate Toolkit is a guide to personal and political climate action. Gathering climate science from the latest reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside suggested personal actions and questions for politicians, “How to be a Hero” is an accessible resource to share with local communities and as part of educational initiatives.

“How to be a Hero” is offered in two versions. The shorter A6 booklet is designed as a conversation starter or to put through doors, and features colourful graphics to engage new readers and visual learners. The A5 “extended version” offers a simpler layout and features further information and questions for politicians. Both publications offer full bibliographies that link readers to the relevant IPCC reports, offering easy and direct access to the climate science given to their governments.

The publications are accessible online and via a “print at home” version which can be used for campaigning and personal distribution. To request a physical copy of the publication, please follow this link.

You can print on your own below. They are available in English, French, and Spanish.