Muskoka Lakes Township — Councillor — Ward B / Ward 2
1. What actions have you personally taken to support a greener, more sustainable climate?
For past 30 years I have put considerable time and effort into protecting, nurturing and cultivating natures “ribbon of life”. I am committed to preserving the quality of the water in Muskoka because I understand the well-being of everything we appreciate is clearly dependent on it. If the environment and water quality deteriorates so does tourism, property values, local job opportunities and personal incomes.
At the July 2021 Planning Committee Meeting, I mentioned Climate Action Muskoka‘s “low cost/no cost” ideas that would help to reduce the impact of Climate Change. I asked the Committee members to immediately establish a Township Working Group, with representation from the Township, climate change leaders, scientists and other stakeholders. The group would develop and recommend “quick hit” initiatives to begin curtailing Green House Gases as early as 2022. Committee decided to postpone any action pending CAO Climate Action Report.
2. What opportunities for climate leadership at the municipal level (e.g. greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs)) would you champion in one or more of these areas: Buildings | Housing | Land use (sprawl) | Transportation | Other
- Scrutinizing relevant decisions with a climate change lens
- Encourage the use of zero carbon building materials.
- Develop/encourage the building of electric vehicle charging infrastructure
- Promote charging capacity as part of every new residential and institutional build
- Institute tree-planting initiative on public land and provide the necessary care and develop policy to encourage tree-planting on private lands to increase carbon draw down from the atmosphere.
3. A long-term problem requires a long-term solution. What is your 100-year plan? If elected, what would be your first action?
With Climate Change we must no longer continue to say we are doing our best – we must succeed in doing what’s necessary.
My first action will be to persuade Council peers to include funds in the 2023 Budget, to implement in 2023, “low cost/no cost” “quick hit” climate change initiatives.