WHY WATERLOO REGIONS LOW CARBON FUTURE NEEDS YOUR VOTE IN THE PROVINCIAL ELECTION
Make your plan to vote on February 27th
As we approach another provincial election, it’s important for us to reflect on the role that our provincially elected officials play in maximizing the impact of local climate actions and vote accordingly. Climate change is at the center of many decisions and impacts everything from our local built environment, economy, to our health and social security. The jurisdiction of the Province of Ontario encompasses legislation related to our major transportation networks and highways, energy sector regulation, land use practices, education and health care systems, and waste management. The provincial government therefore can make legislation and investments that drive innovation in climate action across the region and support us to reach our greenhouse gas emissions targets, build a more prosperous, resilient and equitable community. On Election Day (February 27th), it’s important to consider these policy frameworks and legislation that can further our climate action goals to meet TransformWR’s 50by30 and 80by50 targets.
TransformWR:
TransformWR is our community’s climate action plan for addressing climate change in Waterloo Region, and identifies actions for the areas where we can reduce emissions within our region. Here are some of the ways that provincial jurisdictions can influence strong climate action:
| CALL TO ACTION | TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGES | PROVINCIAL JURISDICTION |
|---|---|---|
| Transform the Ways We Move | Most trips are taken using active transportation, with the support of a robust public transit system. | Supporting active transportation. The provincial government has the authority to establish guidelines for “complete streets” including bike lanes and multi-use paths that make a commitment to creating communities that are both more bikeable and walkable. Public transit system growth. The province is an important partner in the operations and the expansion of infrastructure and provides some of the funding for the transportation system in the Waterloo Region. Highway development. The provincial government is in charge of making decisions pertaining to highways, such as the Conestoga Parkway and Highway 7 to Guelph. |
| Transform the Ways We Move | Remaining personal and commercial vehicles are zero emissions vehicles | Accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption. In the past, the provincial government has offered financial incentives for the purchase of electric cars and is in charge of regulating usage and resale market conditions. Electrification of commercial vehicle fleets. The province is responsible for establishing emissions and safety regulations for commercial vehicles, and it has the potential to play a significant role in the electrification of fleets. Deploying EV charging infrastructure. Public charging stations are installed along highways and in rural regions with funding from the Province of Ontario. |
| Transform The Ways We Build & Operate Our Spaces | Businesses and homes no longer use fossil fuels for space heating and cooling, and water heating. | Individual building energy efficiency. The provincial government of Ontario sets codes and regulations for new and existing buildings. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is responsible for administering the Ontario Building Code, which regulates minimum efficiency requirements, energy use reporting and processes for how buildings are built and retrofitted in the province. Land use development and redevelopment. Through the Planning Act, the province regulates the development and use of land in Ontario, including processes and tools for planning and controlling development or redevelopment, as well as providing the legal foundation for local Official Plans and zoning-by laws. The energy system. The Ministry of Energy and Electrification sets energy policy. Ontario’s energy policy covers generation, transmission, and facilities, including renewable energy sources. This is accomplished through legislation and regulation. The Ministry oversees pricing regulatory frameworks. Policies that promote energy conservation, clean technology, and innovation would also fall under the purview of the Province. This is especially important in maintaining a low emissions factor for the electricity grid. |
| Transform the Ways We Relate | Waterloo Region has leveraged reducing GHG emissions to increase equity, prosperity, and resiliency for all. | Making housing and workplaces healthier, accessible, and affordable is already within the province’s power. The province oversees energy conservation and energy poverty reduction incentive programs (Ministry of Energy and Electrification), affordable and social housing policies, tenant affordability controls, landlord energy conservation incentives, and building codes that require construction practices to enhance the health of the indoor environment (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing). Creating policies and programs that increase the representation of equity seeking groups in the green workforce is part of the province’s jurisdiction. Building local capacity to drive forward climate action will necessitate an increasingly robust workforce, with opportunities for equity seeking groups at its core to support local economic development. The province can exert influence in this area through regulatory bodies such as the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade through strategic policies and programs. The provincial government can align key social, environmental, economic, land use, and energy policies and programs to allow groups and individuals to undertake equitable community-level climate action. Jurisdiction includes but is not limited to ramping up local renewable generation (Ministry of Energy and Electrification), providing appropriate tools, resources, and market signals to local governments and economies (Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade), and contributing to healthier communities and economic prosperity by protecting Ontario’s air, land, and water from climate impacts with strong policies and programs (Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks). |
| Transform the Ways We Produce, Consume and Waste | Waterloo Region uses less, wastes less, and no longer disposes of organic matter in landfills. | Guide transition to a circular economy. The provincial government has the authority to enact legislation for the use of recovered materials, which will contribute to the expansion of the circular economy. Waste management facilities and practices. Landfills are subject to regulation by the Provincial of Ontario, which includes the authorization of new landfills and the regulation of waste management procedures. Diverting organic waste from landfills. The province has the authority to prohibit the disposal of organic waste in landfills and to impose stringent rules on the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors regarding organic waste. |
| Transform the Ways We Produce, Consume and Waste | Waterloo Region has a thriving local food system built on local farming, and food production and processing that feeds much of our community. | Agricultural practices. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness of Ontario is in charge of regulating farming in the province, including but not limited to practices such as organic farming and small-scale farms. Reducing food waste. In order to reduce the amount of food that is thrown away, the province is able to provide financial assistance toward the process of rescuing and redistributing excess food. Supporting local food production and consumption. The province is responsible for enforcing sales regulations at farm stands and has the ability to encourage the purchase of locally grown food in Ontario supermarkets. |
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