For Immediate Release: February 13, 2024 Toronto, Ont./ Traditional territories of several First Nations including the Williams Treaties First Nations, Huron-Wendat, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Chippewas, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation — Citizens from across Ontario are set to engage in a meaningful dialogue with their Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) on Monday, February 26, 2024, to address the urgent need for transforming Ontario’s energy sector. The breakfast event in the Queen’s Park dining hall was co-hosted by prominent organizations including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment – Ontario, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Fast, Climate Legacy, For Our Grandchildren, For Our Kids Toronto, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, the Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign, Seniors for Climate Action Now and the Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy, aims to foster collaboration towards sustainable solutions. Guest speakers include Evan Wiseman of The Atmospheric Fund, family physician Dr. Jane Pritchard and special youth guest Maggie Fu. On the issue of climate change, Dr. Pritchard says, “As a family physician, I am very concerned by the effects of the climate crisis on the mental health of youth and young adults who express despair about their future. They need the opportunity to engage in creating solutions.” From February 2023 to January 2024, the Earth endured 12 months of temperatures 1.5C hotter than the pre-industrial era for the first time on record and making it likely the hottest in 100,000 years. This is a warning to humanity. In addition, COP 28 in Dubai marked the terminal decline of the fossil fuel industry. Meanwhile, the Ontario government is gearing up for substantial long-term investments in home heating and electricity supply. For the second time in six months, citizens are advocating for energy and climate policies that lay the foundation for a sustainable future. The specific asks of citizen lobbyists are as follows: 1. In light of recent reports by the RBC Climate Action Institute, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, and the Sustainability Solutions Group, pause the expansion of methane-fired electricity generation, and commence winding down its use to only stand-by ‘peaker’ plants. 2. Expand and accelerate the procurement of electricity from renewable sources, while 3. Support the Ontario Energy Board’s recent decision recognizing the current energy transition, and its implications for new small volume customer methane gas connections. A fun art installation will be included in this event: Snow Persons Speak-Out. There will be centre pieces on the tables in the dining hall of Snow Persons holding placards (see below). These snow persons were made by youth and adults the Greater Sudbury Citizens’ Climate Lobby and Fridays For Future Sudbury groups. Updates for this event will follow on Tuesday, February 20 and Friday, February 23.Citizens Unite for Breakfast Dialogue with MPPs:
A Call for Transforming Ontario’s Energy Sector
– lifting the moratorium on off-shore wind power,
– negotiating increased power transfers from Quebec, and
– pursuing more conservation, demand management, and distributed energy networks.
For media inquiries, please contact: Mary Blake Rose maryblake.rose@citizensclimatelobby.org
MEDIA RELEASE: Citizens Unite for Breakfast Dialogue with MPPs: A Call for Transforming Ontario’s Energy Sector
Posted on February 13, 2024 in Media Release
