Climate Caucus

06/16/2026

👏 Maple Ridge has approved a $190,000 energy retrofit pilot program to help homeowners improve energy-efficiency and prepare for extreme heat 👏

The new Residential Resiliency Energy Retrofit Pilot Program provides:
⚡access to energy home assessments,
⚡specific guidance on retrofit options,
⚡support navigating available provincial and federal rebates and incentives, and
⚡training for local trades to build local capacity for retrofit work.

*And* this program targets those most at-risk to the effects of overheating, poor indoor air quality, and other climate-related impacts by using mapping data to target investments in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

This is exactly the kind of support residents need to undertake retrofits that will keep them safe during extreme heat, and improve affordability by cutting their energy bills.

Congratulations to Maple Ridge’s council for implementing this initiative: Jenny Tan, Mayor Dan Ruimy, Korleen Carreras Maple Ridge City Councillor, Onyeka Dozie, Judy Dueck, Sunny Schiller Maple Ridge City Councillor.

Learn More: https://www.mapleridge.ca/news/maple-ridge-approves-190000-pilot-program-help-homeowners-improve-energy-efficiency-and

heat

Image June 11, 2026Maple Ridge, B.C., June 11, 2026 – Maple Ridge Council has approved up to $190,000 in provincial climate grant funding to launch a two-year Residential Resiliency Energy Retrofit Pilot Program that will help homeowners improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ...

06/15/2026

Are you up to date on the offerings of organizations working to advance municipal sustainability and climate projects in the Prairies?

Let us get you acquainted.

At our next Prairies Chapter, we will be joined by Dany Robidoux, Executive Director of Eco-West / Éco-Ouest, and Mike Mellross, Vice President of Ecotrust Canada to discover how these organizations are supporting municipalities in planning and implementing sustainability projects across sectors. The Municipal Climate Change Action Centre will also join us to share capacity-building and leadership development opportunities available to Alberta’s local elected leaders.

If you’re a local elected leader working in the prairies this is a call you won’t want to miss. We will introduce you to invaluable contacts that can support your community to launch a new climate initiative, access funding or technical expertise, and turn plans into action.

📅Join us: Monday, June 22 at 12pm MT
Learn more: https://climatecaucus.ca/event/scaling-local-climate-solutions/

Many thanks to our facilitator, Regina councillor Shanon Zachidniak, for hosting this discussion.

06/12/2026

June’s lineup of calls for local elected leaders tackles some of the most pressing issues facing communities today: creating more inclusive councils, accelerating building decarbonization, strengthening resilience to climate impacts, and navigating a rapidly changing political landscape.

Don’t miss our final calls in June, before a break from events in July and August.

🔹 Women’s Caucus: Building Inclusive & Welcoming Councils
Tuesday June 16 | A facilitated peer conversation on creating more welcoming council environments and supporting more women to consider running for office.
🔗 https://climatecaucus.ca/event/womens-caucus-building-inclusive-welcoming-councils-2/

🔹 Ontario Chapter: Accelerating Low-Carbon Municipal Buildings
Wednesday June 17 | A virtual Municipal Low-Carbon Buildings Tour showcasing leading municipal projects, emerging best practices, and practical approaches to advancing building decarbonization.
🔗 https://climatecaucus.ca/event/accelerating-low-carbon-municipal-buildings/

🔹 National Call: Understanding Climate Polarization in Canada: Causes, Misconceptions, and Pathways Forward
Friday June 19 | Public debates around climate action are often framed as deeply polarized — but what actually drives these divisions in Canada, and how can local leaders respond more effectively? Join Professor Emily Huddart for a conversation on the causes of climate polarization and pathways forward.
🔗https://climatecaucus.ca/event/understanding-climate-polarization-in-canada-causes-misconceptions-and-pathways-forward/

🔹 Atlantic Chapter: Leading Community Building Retrofits for Cost Savings and Resilience
Monday June 22 | Learn how Pictou County is cutting energy costs and strengthening community infrastructure through deep retrofits of essential public buildings with Councillor Andy Thompson.
🔗https://climatecaucus.ca/event/leading-community-building-retrofits-for-cost-savings-and-resilience/

🔹 Prairies Chapter: Scaling Local Climate Solutions
Monday June 22 | Explore the practical supports available to Prairie municipalities through the LC3 and Eco-West networks, and learn how scalable solutions, partnerships, and project development support can help elected officials advance local climate priorities.
🔗 https://climatecaucus.ca/event/scaling-local-climate-solutions/

🔹 BC Chapter: Extreme Heat in Rental Housing — Lessons from New Westminster’s Indoor Cooling By-law
Friday June 26 | Join Councillor Tasha Henderson to learn how New Westminster is leading with Canada’s first indoor maximum temperature by-law for rental housing.
🔗https://climatecaucus.ca/event/extreme-heat-in-rental-housing-lessons-from-new-westminsters-indoor-cooling-by-law/

Learn more and register: climatecaucus.ca/events

06/11/2026

Already this year, 1 in 5 Canadians have been impacted by climate disasters across 53 cities and towns. These numbers are set only to worsen as we brace for another summer of extreme heat, drought and wildfires.

The Elbows Up for Climate campaign is keeping track of the ongoing devastation climate change is causing our communities with our interactive Climate Impacts Map that will be regularly updated throughout the year: https://elbowsupforclimate.ca/climate-impacts-2026/

In 2025, this research made headlines when we found that a staggering 1 in 4 Canadians living in more than 220 communities were impacted by climate disasters, including wildfires, flooding, drought, toxic air quality and extreme heat.

Enough is enough… We need nation-building, not nation-burning policies.

Discover our recommendations for how the federal government can keep communities safe while protecting our economy at www.elbowsupdofclimate.ca

Our 2026 Climate Impacts Map documents the ongoing devastation from climate impacts that communities across Canada face. It will be regularly updated

06/10/2026

BREAKING: Climate Caucus, the Elbows Up for Climate campaign, and more than 60 unions, Indigenous organizations, faith groups and civil society organizations are calling on the Prime Minister to tax the excess profits made by fossil fuel corporations and use the revenue to help Canadians.

Our open letter comes just days after polling showing that two-thirds of Canadians want to see this happen.

How much excess profit is being generated? Oil and gas companies are projected to earn roughly $90 billion in profits over the next year — or $10 million *every hour*.

An excess profits tax would generate more than $40 billion to invest in affordability, energy security and the solutions Canadians need. For municipalities, that could mean the difference between crumbling infrastructure and world-class community assets.

Taxing excess profits is practical, fair and widely supported. Read the open letter here https://350.org/ept/

06/04/2026

Make no mistake: today is pivotal.

Today, local elected leaders from across the country met to underscore the urgent need for nation-building, not nation-burning policies.

They shared the devastating climate impacts to their communities; showed that climate change is already costing Canada a staggering 1 to 5% of GDP; and underscored why the affordability crisis and climate inaction go hand in hand… and what we can do about it. Because there are achievable, bold solutions our federal government can take — solutions that create jobs and cut pollution.

The timing is pointed. With Steven Guilbeault's departure, letters from Liberal MPs citing their concerns on climate roll-backs and the Alberta MOU signalling a federal retreat from climate-forward policy, these leaders are speaking up at the very moment national debate is shifting.

The time is now to say .

Read the Joint Statement and Press Release here: https://elbowsupforclimate.ca/

And please share widely. We need more local elected leaders sharing this important message to the federal government on behalf of all our communities.

06/03/2026

Heading to FCM? Join us for these Climate Caucus events in Edmonton.

📍Elbows Up for Climate Summit
Thursday, June 4 | 8.45am
Online or in person at the Art Gallery of Alberta
Join other local elected leaders for an important day of conversations and a clarion call for climate action to be put back on the national agenda as an urgent nation-building and jobs-creating project.
Learn more: www.elbowsupforclimate.ca

📍Hot Servers, Cool Communities: A Conversation on AI Infrastructure and Local Impacts
Friday, June 5 | 2:00 - 3.30 pm
The Sherlock Holmes (Downtown)
Hosted in collaboration with Urban Climate Leadership, join us to connect and converse about data centres and local governments. No previous knowledge required.
Register Here: https://luma.com/ztcbpv4e

📍Women Elected Leaders Meet Up
Friday, June 5 | 4:00 pm
Bianco
A relaxed, friendly gathering for all climate-forward women and gender-diverse local elected officials working on climate to connect and build relationships.
RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_VxxNqJOxYvdO9DtbfMZ-sj1EUzlleoQLS-eWD7MD0fxZaA/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102296691024946044824

06/03/2026

We’re in a pivotal moment for the future of our communities.

With 14 Liberal MPs calling for a stronger climate agenda, the resignation of former Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, and new polling showing Canadians continue to expect action on affordability, resilience, and climate, the lack of attention to climate from Prime Minister Carney’s government is reaching a tipping point.

Climate impacts are already adding an estimated $8.8 billion annually to municipal infrastructure costs, while costing Canada $25–$125 billion in lost GDP each year.

That’s why tomorrow, mayors, councillors, and local leaders are coming together not just to sound the alarm, but to advance solutions: nation-building projects that can make communities safer, more affordable, and more resilient.

The stakes are enormous. So is the opportunity.

It's time to put climate back on the national agenda.

Learn more and, if you’re a local elected leader, register here: www.elbowsupforclimate.ca

Elected local leaders from across Canada are uniting to say Elbows Up for Climate. This is the moment to protect our country from the dual threats of tariffs and climate change.

06/02/2026

🚨New polling shows the vast majority of Canadians support an excess profits tax🚨

Canada's oil and gas industry is projected to earn roughly $90 billion in profits — about $10 million every hour — over the next year.

Meanwhile, households, farmers, small businesses, and municipalities are grappling with rising costs for fuel, goods, infrastructure, and essential services.

Canadians understand that when global crises generate extraordinary profits, some of that money should be used to help the people bearing the costs.

📊 66% of Canadians support an excess profits tax on oil and gas.
📊 74% of Liberal voters support it.

An excess profits tax could generate billions to help lower costs for Canadians, strengthen public services, invest in climate resilience, and support the infrastructure communities need.

Learn more here:https://climateactionnetwork.ca/wp-content/uploads/LS-x-Climate-Caucus-Windfall-Profits-Tax-Issue-Report-Liaison-Omnibus-May-2026.pdf

Climate Action Network - Réseau action climat Canada, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, 350 Canada, Stand.earth, Common Horizon / Horizon commun, Canadians for Tax Fairness

06/01/2026

There’s still time to join us online for the groundbreaking Elbows Up for Climate Summit on Thursday, June 4!

Amidst political turmoil—and inaction on climate reaching a tipping point—this closed-door, confidential gathering of climate-forward local elected leaders offers a pivotal opportunity to:
⭕ Send a clear message to Prime Minister Carney that we need nation-building, not nation-burning policies.
⭕ Connect with other leaders on challenges and solutions your community faces.
⭕ Hear from thought leaders Amber Bennett, Executive Director of Re.Climate, on climate communications and the latest public opinion research, and Seth Klein, public policy researcher and writer on the future of climate policy in Canada.

As communities face escalating climate impacts and economic pressures, local leaders play an essential role in advancing national solutions to keep our communities safe, resilient, and prosperous.

Wherever you’re joining from, your voice belongs in this conversation.

Register today: www.elbowsupforclimate.ca