McKenney promises Ottawa will be net-zero city by 2050
Mayoral candidate Catherine McKenney would bring Ottawa to net-zero emissions by 2050 through a plan for “bold climate action,” they said Thursday.
The Ottawa mayoral candidate release their climate platform, which would increase greenspace and tree canopy, reduce emissions from buildings and create a chief climate officer position to oversee the plan.
“We are going to turn Ottawa into a net-zero city by 2050,” they said on Thursday. “This is a plan that involves all of us. … We’ll make Ottawa a world leader for climate action, and the people who live here will be climate leaders too.”
McKenney’s promise from earlier this week to turn the Greenbelt into a national urban park is also part of the plan.
Based on city projections, buildings and transportation will make up about 75 per cent of emissions reductions from now until 2050, the plan said.
McKenney said they would require net-zero emissions buildings in all new construction by 2030, and incentivize retrofits of residential homes. They would also increase the city’s tree canopy to 40 per cent by 2030.
The chief climate officer, a new position, would “ensure climate and nature impacts are at the centre of every major decision the City makes,” the plan says.
McKenney’s plan would also see the city divest from fossil fuel investments and adopt a ‘buy clean’ procurement policy, becoming carbon neutral by 2040.
Rival candidate Mark Sutcliffe’s environmental plan, released last month, would also see more trees planted across Ottawa—250,000 annually.
He is also pledging 200 new EV charging stations and 100 e-bike charging stations and $100 million in retrofits over four years for city buildings.
Bob Chiarelli has not released a full environmental platform, but on his website calls for formation of a city council committee to work with Hydro Ottawa to develop “effective, practical and affordable policies and climate change and carbon reduction.”
There are 14 candidates for mayor in Ottawa's municipal election, which is Oct. 24. Special advance voting days start on Saturday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Trial begins for Winnipeg serial killer who claims he was mentally ill
The trial of a man who admits he killed four women in Winnipeg is set to begin Wednesday, and a law professor says lawyers for Jeremy Skibicki have multiple hurdles to clear for a defence of mental illness.