Climate Caucus

08/17/2026

Are you running in an upcoming municipal election? 🙋

Whether you're a first-time candidate or a seasoned, multi-term municipal leader, find guidance, practical resources and camaraderie at our Climate Caucus Campaign School!

Since its inception this past spring, we’ve worked with close to 100 passionate candidates, and we welcome attendance from new and returning leaders.

Bi-weekly drop-ins this September and October hosted by our Public Affairs Manager and experienced campaign leader, Alex Cool-Fergus, alongside special guests, provide ample opportunities to ask questions, test ideas, learn from others, and build lasting connections.

Join us on Tuesdays at 11am -12pm PT / 2 - 3 pm ET:
Sept 8 | Sept 22 | Oct 6 | Oct 13 | Oct 20 | Oct 27

Sign up here: https://climatecaucus.ca/campaign-school/

08/10/2026

Join the Climate Caucus team! 💚

We’re hiring a Programs and Policy Manager to oversee Climate Caucus’ research and community programs. This is a fully-remote, generative role for a highly-motivated individual with considerable experience in policy development and analysis.

Join our warm and ambitious team working at the forefront of local climate leadership in Canada, and help to hone and design initiatives for local elected leaders across the country.

View the Job Posting and how to apply: https://climatecaucus.ca/programs-policy-senior-manager/

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with final applications due by August 28.

07/29/2026

Climate Caucus members are making headlines! Local elected leaders are underscoring the need for greater municipal, provincial and federal climate solutions and safety measures in publications of note across the country.

Catch up on:
Why Jasper's 2024 Wildfire Shows the Need for Disaster Recovery Plans (Edmonton Journal) by Mayor Richard Ireland https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-jaspers-2024-wildfire-shows-need-for-disaster-recovery-plans

How Local Politicians Are Shouldering Too Much Abuse (The Tyee), with Mayor Merlin Blackwell https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/07/28/Local-Politicians-Shouldering-Too-Much-Abuse/

Planetary Health at the Forefront of Public Discourse (Canadian Nurse) by Councillor Teri Forster
https://www.canadian-nurse.com/blogs/cn-content/2026/07/20/planetary-health-forefront-public-discourse

Blame Climate Change, not Canada for Wildfire Smoke | Letters (Detroit Free Press) with former Mayor David Miller https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/readers/2026/07/25/canada-michigan-wildfire-smoke-gop/90980935007/

Michigan Republicans are blaming Canada for a haze of wildfire smoke ‒ and Freep readers aren't having it.

07/27/2026

As another heatwave and wildfire season unfolds across Canada, communities are once again experiencing the growing costs of climate change firsthand.

In National Newswatch, Climate Caucus Executive Director Zoe Grams and Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell argue that these climate impacts need to shape the federal government's priorities for Budget 2026.

Local governments are already leading on climate action, but they cannot shoulder the financial burden alone. From wildfire preparedness and resilient infrastructure to clean electricity and housing, municipalities need sustained federal partnership to protect people, strengthen local economies, and reduce future costs.

Read the full op-ed: https://nationalnewswatch.com/2026/06/26/its-too-hot-its-wildfire-season-and-its-time-to-talk-budget-2026

National Newswatch: Canada's most comprehensive site for political news and views.

07/23/2026

“We are told that we must abandon our commitments in the interest of our economy. To state the obvious, allowing our cities and towns to be burnt to the ground, flooded and repeatedly evacuated is clearly not in the interest of their residents or of their local economies.”

In an op-ed in TheFutureEconomy.ca, Elbows Up for Climate Co-chairs, Former Mayor of Toronto David Miller and Former Mayor of Montreal Valerie Plante, argue why Stephen Guilbeault's resignation must reignite the national climate conversation.

As they write, Canada cannot afford to look away while:
⭕ we fall behind on our Paris Agreement commitments;
⭕ communities experience the growing impacts of climate disasters;
⭕ the economic burden of inaction continues to rise;
⭕ the majority of the profits generated by oil and gas flows abroad; and
⭕ the vast majority of Canadians continue to support climate action.

Read the full op-ed here: https://thefutureeconomy.ca/op-eds/why-steven-guilbeaults-resignation-must-reignite-national-climate-action/

David Miller and Valerie Plante say Steven Guilbeault’s resignation renews the call for climate action and stronger leadership.

07/20/2026

As extreme heat, smoke, and wildfires grip communities across Canada, the consequences of climate inaction are escalating public health risks for communities.

Extreme heat risks are especially acute for vulnerable renters who have limited control over their housing conditions.

Local governments are stepping up to protect tenants from extreme heat with ❄️Right to Cool measures ❄️: removing barriers to air conditioning and establishing maximum indoor heat temperature standards.

Climate Caucus’ new toolkit provides up-to-date information on how councils can improve the safety of their residents who rent during extreme heat periods.

As Councillor Tasha Henderson from New Westminster, the first municipality in Canada to implement a Maximum Temperature Bylaw, shares: "This is life-saving work. We can all agree that no one should die in their homes due to extreme heat… I hope more municipalities will be bold and brave and, in the face of pushback from landlords and property owners, will prioritize the health and well-being of tenants."

Access the toolkit here:https://climatecaucus.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Right-to-Cool-Toolkit_July2026.pdf

If you are considering putting forward a Right to Cool motion to your council and would benefit from further information or support, get in touch: https://climatecaucus.ca/contact/

07/16/2026

Bien que le Canada connaisse actuellement un essor immobilier important, des logements qui rendent les occupants vulnérables à la hausse des coûts énergétiques et aux effets des changements climatiques ne peuvent pas être qualifiés d’abordables.

Le Canada est capable de mieux construire avec des meilleures normes de construction, des évaluations des risques climatiques, des rénovations en profondeur, des pompes à chaleur et de l’énergie propre.

C’est le message de la campagne portée par 300 maires et conseillers municipaux de l’ensemble du Canada, représentant plus de la moitié de tous les Canadiens. Ils demandent au gouvernement fédéral d'assurer que les nouveaux logements soient construits et rénovés pour résister aux incendies, à la flambée des prix du gaz et du fioul, à la fumée, aux vagues de chaleur ainsi qu’aux inondations qui ne sont maintenant plus des événements arrivant une fois par siècle.

Découvrez nos projets et joignez-vous à nous pour envoyer un message au Premier ministre Carney et au gouvernement fédéral : nous n’accepterons pas que les émissions du Canada augmentent, alors que nos communautés continuent d’être menacées par les incendies, les inondations, les pénuries d’eau et les tempêtes violentes : https://elbowsupforclimate.ca/logement/

07/16/2026

Canada is in a housing boom, but homes that put residents at risk from rising energy costs and climate impacts are not truly affordable.

Canada can build better with stronger building standards, climate risk assessments, deep retrofits, heat pumps, and clean energy.

That’s the message from the campaign from more than 300 councillors and mayors from across Canada, representing more than half of Canadians. They are calling for federal leadership to ensure new homes are built and retrofitted to be fire-resistant, protected from surging costs of gas and heating oil, and able to withstand the smoke, heat domes, and floods that are no longer 'once-in-a-century' events.

Read our plan and join us to send a message to the federal government: we will not accept that Canada’s emissions have to go up while communities continue to be at risk from fires, floods, water-shortages and severe storms.

https://elbowsupforclimate.ca/housing-2/

07/10/2026

As local governments advance energy efficiency measures, it’s essential that they do so in lockstep with non-profit housing providers and the communities they serve. 🏠

That’s why we’re pleased to share a new toolkit, developed in collaboration with BC Non-Profit Housing Association, to help local governments identify and mitigate potential challenges of sustainability requirements on non-profit housing.

The toolkit addresses seven challenges non-profit housing providers face, such as
💰funding limitations,
🛠️training gaps,
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 balancing tenant needs,
✍️and increased administrative burdens.

For each challenge, we provide mitigation strategies and best practice case studies, local governments can replicate to reduce the burden of sustainability measures on non-profit housing providers.

When non-profit housing providers are considered, municipal sustainability policy can reduce emissions, while protecting affordable housing.

Explore the toolkit: https://bcnpha.ca/resource/toolkit-understanding-the-impacts-of-local-sustainability-policies-on-non-profit-housing-providers-and-tenants/

07/06/2026

With the House of Commons adjourned, we’re sharing our second Climate Caucus Federal Policy Briefing …and a NEW podcast format🎙️

Our Public Affairs Manager Alex Cool-Fergus and ED Zoe Grams provide an update on everything Climate Caucus members should know about the national policy landscape leading into the summer of 2026.

This briefing covers recent announcements on the issues that matter most to municipalities—from infrastructure and adaptation to electrification — and how Climate Caucus has been amplifying municipal priorities in Ottawa.

Listen or read to learn for insights into:

👉 The NEW Build Communities Strong Fund
👉 The National Adaptation Strategy review
👉 An upcoming Climate Caucus’ Managing High-Hazard Lands Strategy
👉 Municipal implications of the Federal Electricity Strategy
👉 Municipal implications of proposed changes to the Impact Assessment Act
👉 Climate Caucus Budget 2026 recommendations
👉 The Excess Profits Tax campaign

🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6x9Bsn0pc6BeGGEwJQfqCI?si=l9i1RRhDR02dpCUSizOFkA&nd=1&dlsi=b130d2373dae4717

📄 Read the briefing note:https://climatecaucus.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/EndofSession_PolicyBriefing_Notes.pdf

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