Rally for Kyoto this Sunday

Canadians for Kyoto have organized rallies this Sunday in Toronto, London, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary, Victoria, Ottawa and Halifax so that you can show our government you want them to recommit to the Kyoto Protocol and take action on climate change, now.

The Toronto rally is this Sunday from 12 to 2pm at Nathan Phillips Square. (Don’t forget about daylight savings time.)

The Canadian parliament recently passed Bill C-288, which gives the government 60 days to set forth a plan to meet Canada’s Kyoto obligations.

The Globe and Mail reported Friday that a group of UofT researchers ranked Canada dead last among G8 countries when it comes to reducing emissions. Canada is the only G8 country deemed to have posted a complete lack of compliance with reduction goals set at last summer’s summit. The report also noted that Canada has “no plan” to cut emissions. The original UofT release can be seen here.

Speakers at tomorrow’s rally here in Toronto include: John Bennett, Climate Action Network; Keith Stewart, WWF Canada; Jose Etcheverry, David Suzuki Foundation; and Cameron Stiff, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. Musical guests include: Richard Underhill, Madagascar Slim and “a very special platinum selling guest.”

Take the Tooker supporters will hold a special group ride, starting at 10:30 am at both Kennedy and Kipling subway stations, meeting at Bay and Bloor at 11:45 before heading over to the rally at City Hall.

There has been a lot of talk at City Hall recently on climate change. On February 20th the City’s Parks and Environment Committee, chaired by Councillor Paula Fletcher, heard from seven experts on climate change. The full report can be seen here.

As Keith Stewart already mention in a previous story on the wire, at the conference Dr. David McKeown, the City’s Medical Officer of Health, placed connected, long-distance bike lanes on key routes (even replacing a lane of traffic, or *gasp* – pun intended – parking!) at NUMBER ONE on his list of suggestions to improve air quality in this city. (See page 34 of the report.)

I would also suggest that the City immediately announce its plans to implement the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation idea for CLEAN AIR CORRIDORS on smog days. Cars would be banned on key routes during peak traffic and air quality hours, providing more space for cyclists and increased transit service. There should be at least one east-west and one north-south route. TCAT suggests possible routes as, Queen from Roncesvalles to the Beaches and Yonge from the waterfront to Lawrence.

In complete contradiction to this brilliant idea, last year, a rep from Toronto Health suggested that I should not bike on arterial routes on smog days when I asked why the City’s smog plan did not promote cycling.

So, are we really going to see some real, on-the-ground action on air quality at City Hall or is this report just more hot air? I’m not holding my breath. But, it is encouraging to note that the day after the conference at City Hall, the National Pest reported that Mayor Miller (who has been very reluctant to even discuss congestion charges) has now said he would support “region-wide” road tolls.

The input from the enviro-experts will be integrated into a City staff report, scheduled to go before the executive committee in March. A two-phase action plan is then scheduled to come out in July/July and fall 2007.

photo by Sam Javanrouh