We asked the top 3 candidates running for Mayor (Chris Alexander, Brad Bradford, & Olivia Chow) where they stand on 5 key environmental issues coming next term. 

Here are the results:

Below are the survey questions with the explanations, as it was provided to these mayoral candidates:

1. Extreme Heat Protection

Climate change is bringing hotter temperatures to Toronto every summer, with heat waves escalating in severity and length. Tenants in high-rise buildings are particularly vulnerable, and have been calling for a bylaw to set a maximum temperature in rental units of 26 degrees to help them stay safe. Council has requested a draft bylaw before summer 2027.

Will you vote to implement a maximum temperature bylaw of 26 degrees to protect renters from heat emergencies next term?

Yes or no?

2. Funding trees and shade.

Trees are some of the most cost-effective tools we have to cool our streets and homes, especially in dense cities where large patches of pavement can make temperatures soar.  But local data shows that many low-income neighbourhoods are measurably hotter with less access to shade. Toronto is aiming to increase its tree canopy to 40% by 2050, but every year we fight for funding to make sure trees are planted and cared for - and that these trees don’t just end up crammed into neighbourhoods that already have more access to shade and green spaces.

Will you vote to add funding to plant trees in hot neighbourhoods with less access to shade?

Yes or no?

3. Reducing waste from single-use disposables.

TEA advocated for many years to get the City to adopt a Single-Use Reduction Bylaw to cut growing waste from plastics and other disposables, which happened in 2021. However, the second stage of this plan with impactful measures to cut single-use waste from large events and support reusables in restaurants has been delayed and needs strong champions at City Hall. 

Will you vote to get Toronto’s Single Use Strategy moving forward with new policies to cut single-use trash at big events?

Yes or no?

4. Pausing and assessing AI data centres.

AI data centres are already being proposed and built in Toronto. However, the environmental impacts of large AI data centres remain unclear, including electricity use, water consumption, fossil fuel emissions, rising local temperatures, and air and noise pollution. City Council requested that staff develop a framework to assess the impacts of these facilities on communities, the environment, and jobs, but this isn’t expected until 2027. 

Toronto should follow Oakville and Mississauga’s approach and pause new approvals for large AI data centres while the City develops and adopts a policy that guarantees strong environmental protections and community benefits, including good local jobs and community investment.

Will you vote to pause all approvals of new large AI data centres in Toronto until there is a clear City-wide framework for assessing their impacts and ensuring local benefits?

Yes or no?

5. Greening buildings.

More than half of Toronto’s carbon footprint comes from existing buildings. City staff have spent years developing new standards and programs to gradually cut emissions from large buildings and make them more energy efficient and climate resilient. These programs will be even more critical now that Premier Ford has cancelled the award-winning Toronto Green Standard and Toronto’s green roof bylaw, just as the impacts of climate change are escalating.

Will you commit to supporting new policies/programs to cut emissions from buildings and make them more energy efficient?

Yes or no?