Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Canada has had a dynamic start to 2026, marked by increased advocacy, education, and impactful media engagement. This report highlights our achievements in media releases, open letters, education initiatives, research, fundraising, and ongoing programs. Our work continues to focus on driving systemic change, empowering volunteers, and advancing climate solutions in Canada. We published ten media releases in the first four months of 2026, surpassing the nine releases we produced in all of 2025. January 21, 2026: This week in Davos: Zero-Sum Thinking Is Not Strength January 28, 2026: New GST Benefit Fails to Replace Carbon Pricing Payments for Low-Income Canadians January 28, 2026: Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada Members Generate Record Support for Senate Climate Finance Letter February 10, 2026: This Valentine’s Day, Show Your Love for the Planet and Embrace the F-Words! March 18, 2026: Cool the Planet with Your Vote March 31, 2026: Canada’s Financial System Must Prepare for the Climate Storms Ahead April 2, 2026: The 1st-of-Its-Kind International Climate Conference Many Haven’t Heard Of April 15, 2026: CCL Canada Calls for Smart Relief, Not Fossil Fuel Handouts April 22, 2026: From Timbits to Transformation: How to Accelerate Canada’s Climate Action April 30, 2026: Canada’s Spring Economic Statement: Progress and Pitfalls for Climate Action In 2025, we produced five open letters. In 2026, we have already produced four: For the first time, we are providing monthly education for our network. Our journey began in December 2025: December: Senator Rosa Galvez Reintroduces a Climate Aligned Finance Private Member’s Bill January: Simon Sharpe and Five Times Faster February: Leslie Shiell: Rebate to Rate Cut: Low-Income Households Lose Out March: Philip Newell from Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) April: Motivational Interviewing with Vince Schutt We have produced two laser talk booklets in 2026: While CCL Canada is not a think tank, we take research from others and rewrite it for our network to disseminate. In 2026, we conducted two research projects and were asked to provide a post-mortem: We achieved our most successful fundraising year to date, raising over $30,000. These funds support critical operations, including conference expenses, IT system upgrades, and the part-time salaries of our Project Managers. Our National Director remains unwaged, personally absorbing the costs associated within her volunteer role. The dedication of our volunteers across Canada is remarkable. Their tireless efforts in building transformational relationships with Members of Parliament and safeguarding Canada’s sovereignty cannot be overstated. We are on track for another record-breaking year. Our volunteers have been exceptionally active in the first third of 2026, though the numbers remain preliminary as many reports are still pending. Notably, this year, the national office has stopped facilitating lobbying of provincial parliamentarians, as it became too complex and was straining the time and resources of both our volunteers and staff. We’ve been told our superpower is focus, so we’ve doubled down on it. Despite having only one paid part-time staff member (last year we had two), we are still on track for yet another record-breaking year, proof that focus truly is a superpower. Additionally, we have not yet held a federal lobbying event. These are scheduled for June and late fall, and we expect the number of lobbying activities to rise accordingly. A special blessing to the volunteers who file action reports—your work empowers politicians, funders, and fellow volunteers when they see the actions you file. Since September 2010, we have: We also host open office hours every Wednesday night: June 1-3, 2026 The first four months of 2026 have been a period of significant growth and impact for CCL Canada. From record-breaking media engagement to innovative education and research, our volunteers have demonstrated unwavering commitment to climate action. As we move forward, we remain focused on federal policies that follow the money, driving systemic change, empowering communities, and ensuring Canada plays its part in the global transition to a sustainable future. Together, we are proving that collective action that is highly focused and organized is how you create political will for a liveable world. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then the road to paradise must be paved CCL Canada: January to April 30, 2026 Report
Media Releases
“Nostalgia is not a strategy.”
For many low-income households, the enhanced GST benefit does not replace the abolished carbon pricing rebate, leaving them hundreds of dollars worse off in 2026 once the one-time top-up is excluded.
In just ten days, a small but dedicated team of volunteers from CCL Canada collected 886 signatures from across the country on an open letter to the Senate urging swift passage of the Climate-Aligned Finance Act (CAFA, Senate Bill S-238).
Naming fossil fuels changes the conversation. It shifts responsibility from individuals to systems and turns vague goals into concrete action.
Canadians who voted for pro-climate candidates in 2025, and whose candidate was elected, may have reduced their personal greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint by an average of 13.54 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (t CO₂e) per year simply by helping elect a climate-friendly MP.
If banks are left holding stranded fossil fuel assets, it will be Canadian taxpayers who foot the bill, and that would be a colossal waste of public money.
Educating people across Canada about the Santa Marta Conference and its coalition of the willing has sparked new hope in our environmental and social justice movements.
Cutting fuel taxes reduces government revenue and subsidizes pollution, while high-income Canadians, who consume the most fuel, benefit the most.
The most effective climate solution, according to Navius Research, is industrial carbon pricing. This policy is remarkably affordable, costing the oilsands about the price of a Timbit per barrel of oil.
Tax incentives for oil and gas are a drop in the bucket compared to pipeline costs, most of which are financed by banks, not Canadian taxpayers.
Open Letters
Climate Aligned Finance Act II (Individual sign-on)
We secured sign-ons from all provinces and one territory in Canada, with a record 886 sign-ons.
We respectfully urge you to give the Climate Aligned Finance Act careful consideration and to pass it to the House of Commons in a timely manner.
Our Feedback on Strengthening Industrial Carbon Pricing and Securing Major Clean Energy Investments
This was not a sign-on letter. We published it on our website after submitting it to the Government of Canada.
Providing clear, predictable, and stable carbon pricing is essential for Canadian businesses to make the investments necessary for decarbonization.
Canada must show up for fossil free future
121 CSO sign-ons. The letter was sent to Minister Dabrusin’s office asking for Canada to engage meaningfully in the first conference for transitioning off of fossil fuels. This was a collaboration between Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada, Climate Reality Canada, and Climate Action Network Canada. We were blown away by the response of the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).We will never for sure if the letter had an impact, but Canada upped its commitment to Climate Finance in the Spring Economic Statement.Canada stands at a pivotal moment.
As Prime Minister Carney articulated in Davos, “variable geometry”—building flexible coalitions of the willing—is the only viable path forward.
Follow the money to a prosperous future (Individual sign-on)
Thank you to the 377 people who signed onto a very technical letter asking Canada to align its financial system with climate science and strengthen industrial carbon pricing or risk locking in failure.
CCL Canada Education
CAFA is designed to ensure the financial sector responds effectively to climate change.
We can decarbonize our economy five times faster! The transformation will be sector by sector, temporally coordinated, and driven by a coalition of the willing.
The carbon rebate replacement with reducing personal income tax rates resulted in more GHGs, more inequality, and a $5.5 billion increase in our deficit. Dr. Shiell produced this research with the CD Howe Institute.
Unless you have millions of dollars and the power to manipulate algorithms, getting your message about the climate crisis heard on social media is a futile battle. Instead, we must focus on local media and build real community around the climate crisis.
We’re gearing up for impactful lobbying, and we want to equip you with the skills to make your voice even more effective. Vince was so kind as to offer a workshop for our monthly educational call in April.
Laser Talk Booklets
Research
Fundraising
Ongoing Initiatives
Every Wednesday at 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET Register here
Whether you’re new to CCL or looking to step up your climate leadership, this call is your launchpad for action.
Every Wednesday at 6 pm PT / 9 pm ET Register here
We help people get published in newspapers.
Upcoming Event: Follow the Money
We are going to Ottawa to lobby our MPs. If you can’t make it to Ottawa, we also support home lobbying. We will guide you every step of the way. Learn more here. We hope you can join us.
Conclusion
with meticulous planning and communications.
Cathy Orlando
National Director of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada
CCL Canada January to April 2026 Report
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