Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Canada is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization funded solely by Canadians with a twin focus: to create the political will for a livable planet and to empower people to claim their political and personal power.
Since September 2010, our volunteers have made thousands of connections with their MPs, through letters, phone calls, and face-to-face meetings. We have shown the world how passionate citizens who are well-trained, organized by ridings, and with a good system of support can more than influence the political process. This is not misplaced pride. Canada is the first country in the world to issue climate income rebates from its carbon pricing policy, and we are the key reason it happened. Currently, we are continuing to make Canada’s carbon pricing policy stronger and better. Join us, and you will meet some of the best volunteers on the planet.
CCL Canada is a highly organized and effective organization, driven by a clear theory of change nested within four essential guideposts. Our theory of change is that by empowering everyday people to build political will for evidence-based and socially just climate policies locally, we will succeed one riding at a time because all politics is local. Our four guideposts are:
1. Track everything.
2. Be highly organized to allow volunteers to rest and avoid burnout.
3. Develop transformational relationships with everyone in the network, including their MPs.
4. Collaborate extensively with other organizations.
How we work
We are not “against” anything: we lobby for policies that will enhance and protect Canada’s carbon pricing policies, and redirect financial flows away from fossil fuels. Guided by our core values, we also support many policies that create the political will for a liveable world locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We seek to understand the big picture and are on a journey from me to we.
Check out our Volunteer Handbook (web) and (Volunteer Handbook (print)
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on improving and harmonizing Canada’s national carbon pricing policy.
These core values guide volunteers along the way:
Focus: We are focused on what we see as the single most impactful solution to climate change — a national carbon fee and dividend. We know it will not solve the problem entirely, and appreciate the work that our friends in other groups are doing. So that we can be effective, we do not let ourselves get distracted by work that does not support our core purpose. After we accomplish our goal, we will tackle the next most impactful solution.
Optimism: We believe that people are good and that democracy works. We are confident that our approach will work because we see progress. We stand for a solution, not in protest of other solutions. We don’t expect perfection from ourselves or others; this is a process, and we know that people can improve. Together, we are a community that offers one another comfort, support, and fun as we work.
Relationships: We take the most generous approach to other people as possible — appreciation, gratitude, and respect. We listen, we work to find common values, and we endeavour to understand our own biases. We are honest and firm. We know that there is a place for protest, but our approach is to build consensus — that’s what will bring enduring change. That’s why elected officials and their staff, no matter what their politics, say they are happy to see us — and mean it.
Integrity: We are prepared and do our research. We are always on time for meetings. Our approach is thoughtful & thorough. We consult experts and use data. We are open to new information; in fact we solicit opposing opinions. We refine our solutions to make them better. We follow up when we are asked. We keep on.
Personal Power: We use our voices to be heard. This simple act transforms us from spectators to engaged citizens, and it reveals the true nature of democracy to us. We are volunteer-driven — trusting volunteers to make important decisions and to create and develop things that will be valued by Citizens’ Climate Lobby.
Being Nonpartisan: Our group is open to all who are serious about solving climate change. You are welcome no matter where you live, what you wear, what you do for a living, or who you voted for in the last election. We work with elected officials and community leaders from across the political spectrum because we believe that everyone is a potential ally.
Diversity: We empower everyone in exercising their personal and political power regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability or political affiliation. We seek out, support, and elevate people whose voices may not have been fully heard.
Marshall Saunders 1939 – 2019
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Founder Marshall Saunders created an organization that is providing perhaps the most essential ingredient for solving the climate crisis: political will. Marshall exemplified the notion of being the change you wish to see in the world. Always kind, always generous, and leading with love, he took it a step further, empowering tens of thousands to be the change. He provided not just hope and inspiration, not just practical skills and training, but an opportunity for transformation.
To truly understand who we are and what we do, please do take the time to watch the videos and read about Marshall Saunders here.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada’ Story
In June 2010, Marshall Saunders met Cathy Orlando at the Nashville Summit for Climate Reality Project presenters. You can read more about Cathy’s story here.
Cathy brought CCL to Canada in September 2010 and started the first chapter in Sudbury. Soon after, CCL chapters sprung up in Toronto and Red Lake, Ontario. She has been working as the national director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby in Canada since October 2011. Her primary duties include volunteer management, all aspects of communications, fundraising, data management, keeping the organization focused, and directing all national lobbying events in Ottawa. In September 2017, Cathy took on additional duties as Director of Programs at Citizens’ Climate International.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada (CCL Canada) has been diligently working toward Canada having a carbon pricing policy where the revenue from the pollution fees is returned to citizens. This policy has two names globally: carbon fee and dividend or climate income. They have been meeting and sending out actions to volunteers on a monthly basis since September 2010.
Between 2010 and 2015, CCL Canada grew to 28 chapters in 70 ridings, conducted 3 national conferences, lobbied about 250 times, produced professional TV commercials, and documented 865 times their words appeared in newspapers. Between 2016 and 2017 they grew to 36 chapters covering 85 ridings, conducted 5 national conferences, lobbied 489 times, recorded 1302 appearances in newspapers, and sent 1,548 letters to parliament. In 2018, they grew to 38 chapters covering about 100 ridings, conducted 2 national conferences, 728 appearances in newspapers, and recorded 525 letters sent to parliament.
In October 2018 they were 13th time lucky lobbying on Parliament Hill. That is when they found out Canada would be enacting a climate income policy. On October 16, 2018, just prior to PM Trudeau’s announcement that it will no longer be free to pollute in Canada, now-retired Albertan Senator Grant Mitchell said to them,
“You are one of the most successful lobbying groups I have worked with because you are about to get what you lobbied for.”
CCL Canada continued to lobby for improvements to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act. In 2020, they secured 1,249 signatures on a Parliamentary Petition sponsored by MP Marc Serre that called for the revenues collected from Canada’s pollution pricing to be distributed as cheques or bank deposits. They were thrilled when the intention of the government to do exactly that was announced in December 2020.
Currently, CCL Canada has 41 active chapters and their volunteers are continuing to lobby for improvements to the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act and policies that will redirect financial flows away from fossil fuels and towards a liveable world for all. We have a national event planned for June 2-4, 2024.
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CAN Abbottsford– Abbottsford (Active)
CAN Annapolis Valley– Southwest Nova Scotia (Active)
CAN Brandon-Souris– Brandon (Active)
CAN British Columbia – At Large– All of BC outside main cities (In Progress)
CAN Burlington– Burlington ON (Active)
CAN Calgary– Calgary, AB (Active)
CAN Central Nova– Antigonish (In Progress)
CAN Chilliwack-Hope– Chilliwack (Active)
CAN Clearwater– Clearwater, BC (Active)
CAN Edmonton– Edmonton, AB (Active)
CAN Granby– Drummondville Quebec (In Progress)
CAN Greater Sudbury– Sudbury, ON (Active)
CAN Guelph– Guelph, ON (Active)
CAN Haliburton– Haliburton, ON (In Progress)
CAN Halifax– Halifax, NS (Active)
CAN Hamilton– Hamilton, ON (Active)
CAN Kenora– Kenora, ON (Active)
CAN Kingston– Kingston (In Progress)
CAN Lanark– Kingston, ON (Active)
CAN Les Cedres– Les Cedres, QC (Active)
CAN London– London, ON (Active)
CAN Manitoulin– Sheguiandah, ON (Active)
CAN Maritimes At Large– Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick (In Progress)
CAN Milton– Milton (Active)
CAN Montreal– Montreal, QC (Active)
CAN Muskoka-Parry Sound– Huntsville, ON (Active)
CAN National Capital Region– Ottawa, ON (Active)
CAN Niagara Region– Niagara Region, ON (In Progress)
CAN North Bay Ontario– North Bay, ON (Active)
CAN Oakville– Oakville (Active)
CAN Parkland– Onanole, MB (Active)
CAN Peterborough– Peterborough (Active)
CAN Regina– Regina (Active)
CAN Renfrew– Renfrew, ON (In Progress)
CAN Richmond– Richmond (In Progress)
CAN Scarborough– Scarborough (Active)
CAN St Johns– St. John’s, NL (Active)
CAN Stephenville– Stephenville Newfoundland (Active)
CAN Surrey– Surrey (Active)
CAN Thunder Bay– Neebing, ON (Active)
CAN Toronto East– Toronto (Active)
CAN Toronto West– Toronto West (Active)
CAN Toronto Yonge Street– Toronto (Active)
CAN Vancouver– Vancouver, BC (Active)
CAN Vaughan– Kleinburg, ON (Active)
CAN Victoria and Greater Region– Victoria, BC (Active)
CAN Waterloo Region– Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, ON (Active)
CAN Wellington-Halton– Erin, ON (Active)
CAN Winnipeg– Winnipeg, MB (Active)
Switzerland