On Wednesday, June 19th Grey Highlands Council unanimously supported a motion to declare a climate crisis "to highlight and deepen the Municipality’s commitment to protecting our community, our economy, and our eco-systems."
The motion also directs staff to create a Climate Crisis Committee that includes 2 Councillors, and at least 5 community representatives that must include at least one representative from the local business community to work with stakeholders through consultation to develop a fact-based Action Plan for fighting the climate crisis in Grey Highlands.
Grey Highlands councillor Danielle Valiquette spoke at the Climate Action Team's community panel discussion about the process. Here is the text of her presentation.
"Thanks, Liz. It is an honour to be here tonight speaking with individuals looking to take deliberate action to fight climate change.
I imagine I am like most people who oscillate between feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis and feeling positive about conversations like these. I know that I certainly feel the pressure of the word “crisis”. I feel the weight and immediacy of the word.
A crisis is current, it is a point, it is now.
It is this “nowness” that demands a different approach to leadership at all levels of government including municipal.
As a mother, I worry that my children and their generation will be hit hard by the climate crisis. It is the young who will be saddled with whatever is next for our world, be it one that escapes intense and sustained damage or not.
And, like youth, municipalities will face the burden of climate change. Much of the financial responsibility associated with climate change will be on the backs of municipalities, as they literally own most of Canada’s infrastructure. For municipalities, climate change will mean a dramatic increase in costs associated with road maintenance, inland flooding, water quality, winter recreation, and bridges, all of which will be under enormous pressure thanks to warmer average temperatures.
Perhaps the most effective tool municipalities have is to plan. Most municipalities develop stormwater management plans to help control the runoff from rain and melted snow and protect our environment to reduce flooding and maintain water quality in our lakes, rivers and streams.
Municipalities need to be pragmatic and develop both a climate change strategy and a climate change action plan, which includes public transit, renewable energy projects, and waste diversion.
Municipal pressure on the provincial and federal government is needed to not only hold these levels of government accountable but also ensure that adequate funding is made available for the unknown ahead. I believe that declaring a climate crisis can help, and be a catalyst for change.
I have been asked to explain how I was successful in getting the Grey Highlands council to unanimously declare a climate crisis this past Spring. It would be a discredit to the declaration’s success not to mention the current Grey Highlands’ council. It is an amazing team of forward-thinking, progressive and pragmatic people: both staff and council.
I also must admit I used the momentum generated by the Green New Deal talks and Liz and John’s amazing movie, The Resilience. These environmentally leaning events introduced the council to an entire group of individuals that were active voters, but not at the events that the council traditionally attended.
Additionally, I had a stroke of luck because the Mayor’s Breakfast was held two days before the council meeting where my resolution was put forward. During this event, Grey Highlands previewed [re]imagine, the municipality’s rebranding strategy, which has a huge environmental focus.
For those who would like to see their municipality declare a climate crisis, I strongly suggest you get to know your by-laws. It might not be exciting but if an outsider is to bring something forward to council they need to understand the process. This is a slow-moving machine, and there many unsatisfactory stops along the way. They can be easier to take when you know they are coming.
Refer to the current strategic plan. Municipalities give a whole lot of lip service to the environment. Remind them.
Get to know your municipal and county council. This isn’t slimy. Google the members to determine who might be an ally and talk with them. It doesn’t take long in politics to learn it is much more productive to work with people, than against them.
Point out there are lots of others on your side! When Grey Highlands declared a climate crisis 40 municipalities in Canada (outside Quebec), and 240 with the province of Quebec had also declared it. Kingston believes that their declaration kick-started conversations among city officials. And the group who speared-headed the declarations in Quebec felt like it was a catalyst for change.
However, when it comes down to it politicians are largely motivated by cost (unless, of course, it is an election year), and we are always looking for money sources. Declaring a climate crisis has no direct financial costs. However, there may be financial benefits. Non-governmental, not-for-profits like Blue Dot and Blue Community offer to fund green-friendly projects for municipalities that are calling out the current situation. Furthermore, it illustrates to programs like Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program that the municipality is serious about building sustainable and reliable services in our communities while tackling climate change and its effects.
When you delegate (i.e, present to council), fill the gallery with friends, ensure there is a councillor on your side who is willing to put forward a notice of motion declaring a climate crisis; ideally, at that meeting.
My motion also included an action committee, and I felt very strongly that the mandate for this group was very different than most municipal government-citizen advisory committees, for example, your typical senior and youth advisory groups. Sadly, advisory groups can be slow, and I believe what we need is action. This committee speaks to the requirement of having All Hands on Deck.
I know that there are individuals amongst us tonight that are frustrated with the lack of action by your municipal councillors, but please do not give up. Find allies within the municipal ranks, and work with them to build relationships. Reach out to me and others for help.
Thanks for allowing me to be part of this panel this evening. It is always rejuvenating to be around those who want to help."
