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Luxon Burgess – Green Party of Canada

1. The Green Party of Canada will prioritize the most vulnerable by ensuring equitable access to climate-resilient housing, disaster preparedness programs, and sustainable job transitions. We will invest in affordable housing retrofits, create emergency response plans that protect at-risk populations, and expand funding for renewable energy projects that benefit low-income communities. Public transit will be expanded to ensure accessibility while reducing emissions, and Indigenous-led climate solutions will be central to our environmental policies. By addressing climate justice alongside environmental action, we will ensure that no one is left behind in the fight against climate change.
   To ensure equitable support for all community members, we will implement policies such as a guaranteed livable income (GLI), affordable green energy programs, and free or low-cost public transit. We will strengthen food security through local agriculture initiatives, provide GLI for caregivers and people with disabilities, and ensure that climate policies are developed with an equity lens. By prioritizing the needs of marginalized communities, we will create a more just and sustainable Canada where every person has the resources and opportunities to thrive.

2. Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and the Green Party of Canada is committed to making sustainable, affordable, and accessible transportation options a priority. I will advocate for major investments in public transit, including expanding and electrifying bus and rail networks to ensure reliable, low-emission alternatives to personal vehicles. We will support businesses in transitioning to green transportation by offering incentives for electric vehicle adoption, active transportation infrastructure, and low-emission delivery solutions. Additionally, I will push for safer cycling and pedestrian infrastructure to make active transportation more viable, and advocate for intercity transit options to connect our region with surrounding areas sustainably. By working with all levels of government, businesses, and residents, we will build a transportation system that reduces emissions while keeping our community moving efficiently and affordably.

3. The Green Party of Canada recognizes that reducing emissions from buildings is essential for meeting our climate goals while lowering energy costs for residents and businesses. I will advocate for large-scale investments in retrofitting existing buildings with energy-efficient upgrades, such as improved insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels, with targeted grants and low-interest loans to ensure affordability for homeowners, renters, and small businesses. For new developments, I will push for stricter green building standards, promoting net-zero construction and the use of sustainable materials. Additionally, I will support community-led renewable energy projects and district heating systems to provide cost-effective, low-carbon energy solutions.

José de Lima – NDP

1. As our communities deal with the impacts of climate change, our elected officials are given the trust of their constituents to lead and combat the impacts of climate change, at the government level in Ottawa, and at the local level in our home communities. Prioritizing the most vulnerable members of society in adapting and mitigating to climate change include providing access to shelter, and spaces in our community where people can gain access away from the elements, extreme weather, and protect their limbs, lives, and overall health. In Cambridge I worked with other community leaders to increase access to warming and cooling centres, and manage a drop-in that is seen as a warming/cooling centre that provides ways to mitigate climate change and extreme weather to vulnerable and marginalized community members.
   Actions also include supporting and expanding programs such as the Cambridge Food Bank’s zero waste policy, and their commitment and intentional work to reduce waste, and provide lessons and fun ways for the community to learn about best practices as it relates to food and reducing waste.
   I’m running in this election to put forward policies that will address climate change and fight for workers, not for Big Oil billionaires. This includes fighting the climate crisis, make life more affordable and create good jobs across the country. I will fight to save you money on your energy bills with free and easy-to-access home energy retrofits and clean power.

2. As Cambridge’s Member of Parliament I will partner with cities and towns to build up affordable and reliable transit to offer relief from gridlock, and progress fighting the climate crisis. Advocating for reduced emissions in transit while supporting constituents include the creation of a fare-free transit framework to lower commuting costs for workers. I will work in Parliament to modernize and expand public transit in communities across Canada, with the goal of electrifying transit by 2030 to cut emissions. We will make funding for public transit permanent through the Canada Public Transit Fund available right away to support municipalities to move forward on their transit projects. We will include operational funding in cost-sharing agreements with provinces and cities. That takes the cost burden off transit riders and taxpayers, and helps ensure service is convenient, frequent and reliable. The NDP will be an active partner in scaling up bus and train service between communities—something rural communities and commuters both need.
   In Cambridge we are waiting for two-way all-day GO trains, and for the ION LRT to make its way to our home community. We deserve a transportation system that is environmentally friendly, accessible, and uniform across the Region of Waterloo. As a Member of Parliament that will be a priority of mine.

3. Canadians are doing their part to fight the climate crisis. They deserve a government who does its part, too, to protect our air and water. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods and even their lives to wildfires, floods and increasingly extreme weather across the country. Under the Liberals, Canada has the worst record on climate action in the G7 and provides more public financing for oil and gas than any other G20 country. I stand alongside the NDP in our fight to save you money on your energy bills with free and easy-to-access home energy retrofits and clean power, eliminate handouts to Big Oil once and for all Invest in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness. I will also advocate to create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs by investing in clean energy, energy efficient affordable homes, electric transit and zero-emission vehicles.

Maya Bozograd – NDP

1. Addressing climate change can’t leave anyone behind, especially the most vulnerable in our communities. That’s why New Democrats will make eco-energy retrofits free and easy to access for low-income and middle-class families. This helps people save on energy bills while making their homes more climate resilient. We’ll also invest in public transit and create hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean energy, with a focus on ensuring that rural, Indigenous, and low-income communities are part of the transition.

2. I will work with the municipalities within Kitchener-Conestoga to help expand public transit in our community. The NDP goal is to electrify transit by 2030 to cut emissions. We will make funding for public transit permanent through the Public Transit Fund. This will be available right away to support municipalities move forward with their transit projects.

3. New Democrats are committed to making home energy retrofits free and easy to access, particularly for low- and middle-income families. This will help ensure our homes are more resilient to wildfires, heat waves, and floods, while also saving on home energy costs. I personally believe in a retrofit strategy that also includes funding for local non-profits, municipalities, and small businesses to upgrade buildings with retrofits and reduce emissions. I am committed to also working with local trades and energy experts to create good jobs and make retrofits accessible at the community level. This is not only a step in the right direction with respect to the climate, but it also lowers energy bills, improves health, and makes sure everyone benefits from the transition to a greener future.

Tim Louis – Liberal Party of Canada

1. Canada has seen the effects of Climate Change firsthand. We are experiencing more severe weather events like floods, droughts, and tornadoes which can result in devastating property and infrastructure damage. Wildfires have also grown in frequency and intensity, leading to devastating results for communities directly in their paths and to unhealthy air quality in communities across the country.
   While no other Canadian government has done more to fight climate change than our Liberal government, and Canada’s emissions are now the lowest they have been in 27 years, excluding the pandemic years, we know there’s more to do.
   As such, our government has implemented many programs and policies to support Canadians in the fight against climate change. Including the Greener Homes Grant to help homeowners, the phasing-out of coal or the Natural Climate Solutions Fund to support the commitment of planting 2 billion trees.
   Locally, in October 2022, Tim Louis, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a contribution of over $163,000 to the Wilmot Horticultural Society while joining in the group’s tree-planting activity. The Wilmot Horticultural Society, through their Let’s Tree Wilmot initiative, used this funding to plant 2,600 trees on 3.9 hectares of public land over the course of one year. To prepare for planting, they develop training for township staff, volunteers and the general public on proper tree care techniques. Public education efforts, including workshops, public talks and locally produced videos, encourage local property owners to grow more native trees on their property while also equipping them to care for their trees properly.
   Whether it is protecting land and water or setting target emissions, our government knows that the effects of climate change impact the most vulnerable members of our community, although we all share the same environment, the negative impacts of climate change weigh heavier on some more than others. The Liberal Party of Canada supported the passage of a law requiring a national strategy to address environmental racism and advance environmental justice within two years.
   A new Liberal Government led by Mark Carney will engage with all Canadians in the development of the strategy, including youth, people of lived experience, grassroot organizations, academics, and civil society who have been the foundation of the environmental justice movement in Canada. A new Liberal Government will also find ways to continue the important progress made in recent years by the Liberal Government: ranging from its work on the National Adaptation Strategy to imposing strict benzene pollution controls in the pursuit of environmental justice for Aamjiwnaang First Nation and Sarnia, Ontario.

2. A new government led by Mark Carney will work to achieve Canada’s emissions reductions targets and commitments under the Paris Agreement. Mark Carney’s climate policy will be unifying, credible, and predictable—to reduce emissions, drive investment, and build an economy for the future. It will be science-based and guided by transparency. By working together and pursuing more effective policies, we can build a sustainable economy for all Canadians across generations and the strongest economy in the G7.
   Our party understands the importance of reducing our transit emissions, and that it means we need to invest in our public transit systems. Which is why we introduced the Green and Inclusive Community Building Program is a $1.5-billion investment over 5 years to support green and accessible retrofits to accommodate EV and zero emission transport. The Zero Emission Transit Fund is a $2.75-billion program to support public transit and school bus operators who are electrifying their bus fleets, assisting in the purchase of 5,000 ZEV buses over 5 years.
   The first of Grand River Transit’s electric buses began service in February 2024 as part of its zero-emission bus pilot project. Ten more electric buses arrived later in 2024. This initiative is part of the Region of Waterloo’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. In 2020, the Region of Waterloo discontinued the purchase of diesel-only buses, switching to hybrid and electric options. The buses, and associated electric chargers located at the Northfield garage, were funded by the Government of Canada’s ($6,048,400) Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS) through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), as well as the Government of Ontario ($5,039,829), and the Region of Waterloo ($4,032,771), totalling $15.1 million.
   Additionally, we made up to $5-million in funding available for local EV infrastructure construction, up to a maximum of $100,000 per project for local partners to construct and install EV chargers in public spaces, streets, multi-unit residential buildings, and workplaces. To Date, we have approved funding to support the installation of over 34,500 charges, with an additional 50,000 set to be installed by 2027 as outlined in Budget 2022. Since 2016, over $1-billion has been invested into measures to make ZEVs more affordable and changing more accessible for Canadians. These investments will create infrastructure to meet demand for ZEV owners and help Canadians who want to switch to ZEV.

3. Lowering the emissions that come from buildings is key in the fight against climate change. That’s why we’re funding home retrofits and lowering utility bills while making it easier for low- and middle-income households, including renters, to adopt heat pumps and energy efficiency upgrades including insulation upgrades, heat pump installation, and window replacements.
   Our government has already implemented the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan program, offering funding between $125 and $5,000 towards cost for eligible home retrofits and up to $600 toward cost of pre- and post-retrofit evaluation. The Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Program is a $1.5-billion program that supports green and accessible retrofits, repairs, or upgrades to existing public community buildings over 5 years.

Matt Strauss – Conservative Party of Canada

1. Conservatives believe in practical, compassionate solutions that help people—not punish them. We recognize that vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and we are committed to protecting them through targeted, effective action—not costly taxes that drive up the cost of living.
   Instead of carbon taxes, which hurt low-income families the most, we support investing in technology, not taxes. This means prioritizing innovation in clean energy, home efficiency retrofits, and infrastructure resilience—especially in at-risk areas. We will also support community-based adaptation programs, ensuring local leaders and organizations have the tools to prepare and protect those most in need.
   Our approach focuses on measurable outcomes, not virtue signalling. We will direct federal support to energy efficiency programs for seniors, low-income households, and Indigenous communities, helping them lower both emissions and utility bills without sacrificing affordability.

2. A huge percentage of emissions in this region come from people commuting down the 401—something many would gladly stop doing if high-speed rail were available. For ten years, Justin Trudeau and the Liberals have been promising a high-speed or high-frequency rail corridor between Windsor and Quebec City. And for ten years, they’ve delivered nothing.
   Now, just weeks before the end of their mandate, they suddenly announce they’ll spend $5 billion—not to build rail—but to spend four more years studying it. Worse, their plan completely leaves out Kitchener-Waterloo. That is reprehensible.
   Kitchener-Waterloo is Canada’s Silicon Valley. This community powers innovation across the country. We must be connected to any national rail project. Yet our four Liberal MPs sat silently when this announcement was made—not one of them stood up for us. Not one word.
   Over my dead body will a major national infrastructure project move forward that leaves our region out in the cold.
   I say this not just as a candidate—but as someone with lived experience. My wife is from Holland. I spent ten seconds on Google Maps and found two Dutch cities about the same distance apart as Kitchener and Toronto. Then I checked how many trains run between them each day. The comparison is embarrassing.
   Let’s be clear: we don’t need more taxes. We need better infrastructure. That’s why I support technology, not taxes—investments in high-speed rail that actually serve this region, clean vehicle tech for those who drive, and low-emission options that support working Canadians and businesses without punishing them.
   We can reduce emissions and congestion through smart, targeted infrastructure—not by making life more expensive.

3. The path to sustainable buildings lies in empowering Canadians with smart technology and incentives—not more government red tape or costly taxes.
   Conservatives will support retrofit programs that focus on results, not bureaucracy. We’ll prioritize upfront support for homeowners and small businesses to adopt high-efficiency systems—like heat pumps, insulation, and smart energy controls—while simplifying the process and cutting red tape.
   We’ll also champion private-sector partnerships to accelerate innovation in construction and retrofitting. We want Canadian companies to lead the world in green building tech—and we want those jobs here in our communities.
   In contrast to one-size-fits-all mandates, we’ll pursue locally driven planning for sustainable development, ensuring new communities are walkable, transit-accessible, and energy-efficient—without driving up housing prices or limiting choice.

Héline Chow – NDP

1. New Democrats fight for workers, not for Big Oil billionaires. We’ll release a powerful plan to fight the climate crisis, make life more affordable and create good jobs across the country, while supporting our most vulnerable communities. We know we can save Canadians money on their energy bills with free and easy-to-access home energy retrofits and clean power. We will also stop letting big polluters off the hook and make them pay for their pollution. Climate change is here, and many of us are already feeling its devastating effects. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods and even their lives to wildfires, floods and increasingly extreme weather across the country. New Democrats are committed to investing in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness to mitigate these losses, and supporting people the most affected by climate change. Finally, we aim to create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs by investing in clean energy, energy efficient affordable homes, electric transit and zero-emission vehicles. Transitioning Canada into a green economy, that not only addresses the urgent climate crisis but supports Canadians.

2. The NDP will partner with cities and towns to build up affordable and reliable transit to offer relief from gridlock, and progress fighting the climate crisis. People in cities, towns and rural areas are tired of waiting for reliable transit. Canada’s public transit systems are facing a funding crisis – which means fares go up while service gets worse. The NDP believe in fare-free transit, and we’ll start moving in that direction to lower commuting costs for workers. The NDP will also modernize and expand public transit in communities across Canada, with the goal of electrifying transit by 2030 to cut emissions. We will make funding for public transit permanent through the Canada Public Transit Fund available right away to support municipalities to move forward on their transit projects. We will also support transit agencies by including operational funding in cost-sharing agreements with provinces and cities. That takes the cost burden off transit riders and tax payers, and helps ensure service is convenient, frequent and reliable. We will also create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs by investing in zero-emission vehicles and their associated infrastructure, for situations where transit is not an option.

3. We need people in Parliament who take the climate crisis seriously – not one who continues to prioritize profits over people and sustainability. Building a clean energy economy is a huge opportunity to create good paying jobs for Canadian workers. This extends to the way we build and retrofit homes with sustainability at its core. New Democrats will eliminate public subsidies and tax breaks for oil and gas companies saving $18 billion over 10 years and put that money to work for Canadians through a major home retrofit program. This program will retrofit 3.3 million homes with energy-saving upgrades, including free retrofits for 2.3 million low-income households, and grants or low-interest loans for 1 million more cutting energy bills by up to $4,500 a year for families across Canada. Under this plan we will invest $1.5 billion annually over 10 years to fund completely free energy efficiency upgrades for low-income households, providing insulation, air-sealing, and efficient heating and cooling like heat pumps. The remaining $300 million annually will be used to expand the Canada Green Homes Initiative which supports Canadians with a range of retrofits.

Simon Guthrie – Green Party of Canada

1. The Green Party of Canada is founded on six principles:
   Ecological Wisdom: We understand that people are part of nature, value Indigenous knowledge, and commit to caring for the natural world. We will center practices that restore ecosystems and build regional resilience.
   Social Justice: We stand for fairness, resource-sharing, and the recognition that climate change disproportionately impacts marginalized groups. Social justice is central to our plans, safeguarding the most vulnerable.
   Sustainability: Ending poverty and protecting nature requires using resources responsibly so that everyone’s needs are met. Whether it’s embracing complete communities or transitioning to clean energy, thoughtful urban planning and reduced waste can deliver both environmental and social gains.
   Respect for Diversity: We value and protect diversity in all forms – among people, cultures, and ecosystems. Climate action must honour these differences.
   Non-Violence: We strive for peace and security through cooperation, human rights, and well-being, rather than military force. Building climate resilience through flood defenses, wildfire management, and local adaptation measures fosters peaceful communities that feel secure in the face of a changing environment.
   Participatory Democracy: Everyone should have a say in decisions that affect their lives, with power shared fairly and decisions made locally. Local communities have the most insight into their vulnerabilities and capacities, and must be empowered to shape their future.
   
   We must take bold steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change that are now inevitable. My experience in restorative justice and community-building has highlighted the importance of resilience, especially for marginalized populations, including communities of colour, Indigenous peoples, low-income households, and those in precarious housing. In the last Parliament, Green Party leader Elizabeth May introduced legislation on environmental racism, highlighting our commitment to righting the unfair exposure of these communities to pollution, hazardous waste, and climate risk.
   To protect vulnerable communities, we will invest in comprehensive adaptation strategies, including stronger flood defenses, wildfire management, and updated urban planning to reflect climate realities. We will also prioritize Indigenous and community-led initiatives, ensuring culturally appropriate and locally grounded responses.
   Our plan includes the Youth Climate Corps. This is a bold initiative providing paid employment and training to young Canadians in local environmental and climate resilience projects. Whether they’re installing energy retrofits, restoring habitats, practicing regenerative agriculture, or coordinating community emergency preparedness, young people will be on the front lines of climate action. This will build local skills to tackle climate impacts and champion innovative, low-carbon solutions.
   Our principles demand that everyone, especially those most vulnerable, be directly involved in preparing for climate change.
   Canada has abundant sun, wind, and hydro power. We will stop all new fossil fuel projects and subsidies (worth about $30 billion annually) and redirect that funding toward building a modern, nationwide power grid. Switching to 100% clean energy will create thousands of good jobs and reduce energy bills.
   Big corporations have deepened the climate crisis, and now they must help fix it. Like any national emergency, we must respond decisively. Our plan cuts pollution, boosts affordability, and invests in clean-technology research and climate adaptation. We’ll protect communities, foster good jobs, and build a thriving future for everyone. Our commitment to a Guaranteed Livable Income will ensure that no one is left behind as our economy transitions.

2. Since COVID, many businesses have shifted to remote work, substantially cutting down on daily commutes. Guided by TransformWR’s goal to “make fewer and shorter trips,” the Green Party will further expand support for telework wherever feasible, reducing our overall transportation footprint. We believe in fostering “complete communities,” sometimes called 15-minute neighbourhoods, where people can access work, schools, groceries, recreation, and other essential services without relying on long car trips.
   To realize that vision, we plan the biggest public housing construction program since the 1970s. We will use Canadian materials, create well-paying local jobs, and ensure new homes remain genuinely affordable. Infilling on underused or land-banked properties—especially those hoarded by corporations purely for investment—puts people before profit and combats speculation. We will remove unfair tax advantages for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and stop large investors from buying up single-family homes, creating self-sufficient neighbourhoods that benefit local businesses and help Canada transition to the “industries of tomorrow.”
   When travel within or beyond Waterloo Region is necessary, the Green Party will invest in clean, expanded public transit that aligns with a push for active and zero-emission mobility options. We recognize that moving to clean energy will bring big changes for some workers and communities; our Guaranteed Livable Income will ensure no one is left behind. This initiative will help Canadian families and those in vulnerable sectors weather economic transitions while we continue building an economy that truly works for people, not polluters.

3. Canada has everything we need to lead on clean energy—yet we’re falling behind. The Green Party’s plan tackles this challenge head-on, guided by strategies that align with TransformWR, Waterloo Region’s blueprint for cutting emissions and boosting local resiliency. A nationwide retrofit program for commercial and residential buildings will save energy, cut costs, and help meet our shared emissions targets. By introducing robust subsidies and incentives, we’ll upgrade existing structures to high-efficiency standards and equip them for climate, such as more frequent flooding and forest fires.
   We will invest in local, renewable power projects (including solar, wind, and water) that create thousands of high-quality jobs and connect our communities through a modern electrical grid. This dovetails with TransformWR’s call to rely less on fossil fuels: stronger rules will phase out new gas heating and move toward clean-electric heating and cooling. We’ll also spur research and innovation in climate adaptation—helping Canada develop a resilient supply chain for energy-saving building materials.
   By adopting a systems-wide view—where housing, infrastructure, and local economies work together to reduce emissions—we will safeguard both our communities and our environment as we transition to a truly clean energy future.

Bardish Chagger – Liberal Party of Canada

1. We’re going to have more policy released on climate change throughout the campaign, so I encourage you to check out liberal.ca for more details. I’ve always been very committed to ensuring all members of our community are treated equitably. I served as Minister of Diversity, Inclusion, and Youth, and before I was elected, I worked at the K-W Multicultural Centre.
   I understand deeply the need to take into account diverse needs when making policy on issues like climate change. We will make sure that any policy we make is designed to make sure all parts of our community are supported and protected.

2. Waterloo Region has seen impressive infrastructure improvements, which are encouraging our community to use our amazing LRTs, choose electric cars, and make more environmental choices in their transportation. We are starting to point the way forward for all of Canada. But, even so, there is still more to do both in Waterloo and throughout our country.
   To promote cleaner transit a Liberal Government will recapitalize the ZEV (zero-emission vehicles) subsidy program to reinstate subsidies of $5,000 to low-and middle-income households. This means that more and more Canadians will have access to these vehicles.
   We will also significantly expand Canada’s electric vehicle charging station infrastructure through green bonds and public-private financing with the Canada Growth Fund and Canada Infrastructure Bank, making it easier for people in Canada to move not only within our region, but throughout our country with zero-emission vehicles.
   See Mark Carney’s plan for change on the consumer carbon tax: https://markcarney.ca/media/2025/01/mark-carney-presents-plan-for-change-on-consumer-carbon-tax

3. A huge barrier for these retrofits is cost, we will enhance and recapitalize the Greener Homes Grant, and improve the application process, with an eye towards targeting lower income households to make sure they can access these improvements, and make their houses more efficient.
   As well we are going to use the Canada Mortgage and House Corporation and alternative financing options to provide discounts on mortgage insurance premiums to low and middle-income households that make energy efficient renovations or purchase energy efficient homes.
   We have removed the divisive consumer carbon tax, but we are still working with our industry partners to create a more stable and predictable price on carbon, which will incentivize industry to look for ways to make their infrastructure more efficient and clean. This will deliver real savings in the long-run to our companies.
   We also are going to make sure the government is a leader in this area: we pledge to phase out the use of fossil fuels in ALL federal government buildings by 2030.
   See Mark Carney’s plan for change on the consumer carbon tax: https://markcarney.ca/media/2025/01/mark-carney-presents-plan-for-change-on-consumer-carbon-tax