The recent heatwave has forced several municipal election campaigns to adjust canvassing plans to avoid going door-to-door when temperatures are hottest. At the same time, the sweltering conditions on the campaign trail have several candidates talking bluntly about London missing its 2030 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions target set out in city hall’s Climate Emergency Action Plan (CEAP). “I really don’t want any of my volunteers to pass out or to get heat stroke, so it has really impacted my ability to get out and chat with people, unfortunately,” said Skylar Franke, who is seeking re-election as the Councillor representing Ward 11. Tom Cull, who is seeking election in Ward 4, recently shifted a large door-to-door canvas to Saturday morning. “We’ve had to make quite a few adjustments. We’ve canceled a number of our canvasses, and then we’ve pushed around the timing a little bit to avoid the heat,” said Cull. In 2019 city council declared a climate emergency. By 2022, an action plan was approved by council to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, a recent report by audit firm MNP concluded that London won’t meet its 2030 interim greenhouse gas emissions target, and getting the CEAP back on track will require renewed commitment, additional funding, and provincial changes to electricity generation. “Pick out pieces from the Climate Emergency Action Plan, prioritize them, appropriately fund them, and get them off the page and into action,” Cull told CTV News. City staff had initially asked for about $45 million over four years to fully implement the CEAP, but the annual allocation to a reserve fund to combat climate change was slashed from $1 million per year to $182,000 per year. “Temperatures of 35 degrees, 40 degree humidex, it’s not normal. That’s what’s happening with climate change,” Franke said. “We’re seeing the impacts, so this is another reminder for Londoners, and for people who are engaged in government and politics, that we actually need to be doing more about climate change, because this might be the coldest summer for the rest of our lives.” Cull suggests that the CEAP should be seen as a city-building opportunity. “These are investments in a city that is building towards the future. Its bringing the jobs here that we want, attracting and keeping the talent that we want here, because climate change is a priority for young people,” he said. Also seeking election in Ward 4 are Bonnie Baleck, Mario Jozic, Stephen Orser, Randi Prunner, and Bob Wright. In addition to Franke, also registered as a candidate in Ward 11 is Harinder (Harry) Kumar. Election Day is October 26.
