Climate groups urge mayoral candidates to go green

Winnipeg city council candidates are being urged to commit to several green initiatives, such as exploring a maximum heat bylaw for rental units.

A 10-point People’s Climate Mandate, created by the Climate Reality Project Canada, Green Action Centre, Manitoba Eco-Network and others, urges candidates in Winnipeg’s Oct. 28 election to take action to combat climate change.

“We know that climate action often fights for attention in election discourse, especially given the many other urgent immediate issues facing our city,” said Hannah Muhajarine, campaigns manager for Climate Reality Project Canada.

A call to better protect Winnipeggers from extreme heat was highlighted as among the most urgent requests. The group wants the city to explore a maximum heat bylaw, enhance funding for cooling centres and expand hours at libraries, public pools and spray pads.

“We need maximum indoor heat bylaws, the same way we have for cold weather …With our current circumstances, heat is far more deadly than cold,” said Dr. Ann Loewen, the Manitoba chairwoman for the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, whose organization also participated.

Tenant and environmental groups have previously called for a maximum heat limit that doesn’t exceed 26 C for indoor rental units. A city bylaw already requires landlords to maintain a minimum daytime temperature of 21 C during cold weather.

“It’s very important for people, especially tenants and low-income people, to be able to be comfortable in their own homes and to have equitable access to air conditioning … That’s becoming more and more urgent every summer,” said Muhajarine.

The group also wants city council candidates to commit to: fully fund the city’s Climate Action Plan; outline how the city’s spending supports its environmental targets; increase active transportation planning; boost municipal Winnipeg Transit funding; expedite additions to the cycling and pedestrian network; explore policies to phase out natural gas use in buildings; “maintain and enhance” funding to protect trees, water and green space; and increase support for local food production.

Candidates were also asked to help ensure curbside composting is added to single-family homes by the city’s 2030 target date, then rolled out to multi-family buildings “as soon as possible.”

Muhajarine said the group would like to see Winnipeg Transit operating funds increase by 50 per cent by 2030.

To pay for the changes, she suggested the city cancel major proposed expansions to Kenaston/Route 90 and Chief Peguis Trail. Those projects are expected to cost as much as $757 million and $900 million, respectively, if the city funds them solely through debt.

Mayoral candidate Mike Vogiatzakis said he supports many of the ideas but would only implement what taxpayers can afford if he’s elected.

“I will not sign a blank cheque or support policies that make it harder for Winnipeg families to heat their homes, operate their businesses or afford to live in our city,” said Vogiatzakis.

More work on energy efficiency is needed but low-income families should be able to heat their homes with natural gas until they can replace it with an affordable alternative, he said.

Vogiatzakis said active transportation should be expanded, with consideration for drivers and parking.

He said he would consider a maximum temperature bylaw, though the city must first determine how to enforce it and how that change would affect rental rates.

Kevin Klein, who plans to register for the mayoral race this week, said he feels his own environmental record “speaks for itself.”

As a city councillor in 2019, Klein noted he championed a chemical treatment that reduces algae-promoting phosphorous flowing out of the north end sewage treatment plant.

On Wednesday, he said extreme heat is an important public safety issue but a bylaw would need to follow consultation.

“What I will commit to is convening that work early, honestly examining a maximum heat bylaw, and making sure (hours for) cooling centres, (libraries), pools and spray pads actually line up with when Winnipeggers need them most,” said Klein, in a follow-up statement.

Mayoral candidate Don Woodstock said the city’s first step must be to educate Winnipeggers on environmentally friendly practices.

“I would get more information out to people … so more people would be wanting to participate in any climate agenda I have,” said Woodstock.

In a written statement, incumbent mayoral candidate Scott Gillingham did not weigh in on the specific requests to combat climate change, noting he will soon release more details of his platform.

He said the city has made major environmental investments over the past four years, such as starting construction of the $3.1-billion north end sewage treatment plant upgrade and adding 65 zero-emission buses to Winnipeg Transit’s fleet.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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