MEDIA RELEASE: Civil Society Meeting with MPPs to Pause Expansion of Methane-Powered Electricity

Toronto ON: A coalition of groups including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Climate Fast, For Our Grandchildren, and the Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign with the support of  Jamie West, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Sudbury, are co-hosting a breakfast in the Queen’s Park Dining Hall on Tuesday, September 26 from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm.

They are asking the government to pause the expansion of methane-powered electricity in Ontario in light of three reports saying that the addition of additional methane-powered (also known as natural gas) is not needed. These three reports are from the  RBC Climate Action Institute, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, and the Sustainability Solutions Group.

Alternatively, they want the government to evaluate the role of renewable energy and storage, conservation, distributed energy resources, and municipal net-zero plans in meeting Ontario’s electricity needs.They also are asking their government to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gases in Ontario in order to reduce the harmful health effects of climate change which include increased respiratory and cardiovascular disease, injuries and premature deaths from extreme weather events, and the spread of Lyme and other infectious diseases.

“We are in a climate emergency.  Youth will be the most affected by the choices that are being made now.  We want a clean sustainable energy future – not one powered by polluting gas plants.”  Youth Speaker Zoe Keary-Matzner, of Fridays for Future TO.

“The earth just passed through the hottest three months on record. Canada is experiencing the most severe wildfire season on record. Methane-fired electricity adds fuel to the fire by escalating the climate crisis which is the single greatest human health crisis we face, and by escalating air pollution which prematurely kills 8 million people globally every year including nearly 7000 Ontarians” says Dr. Mili Roy, Co-Chair of CAPE Ontario and the Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign.

“The Ontario government is preparing investments for electricity supply for the long term. Now is the time for citizens to engage with decision-makers and advocate for energy and climate plans that create a sustainable future”  Cathy Orlando, National Director, Citizens Climate Lobby Canada

As of September 21, 2023, 30 citizens have signed up to attend the breakfast, 6 MPPs have signed up with a dozen invitations to MPPs pending response. Final numbers will be sent on Monday, September 25 in the afternoon.

For more information about this event please go here: https://canada.citizensclimatelobby.org/ontario-lobby-preparations-and-breakfast-with-our-mpps/

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