26 Groups Urge Toronto to Reject Ontario’s Fossil Fuel Energy Plan
Toronto, located on the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat, has become the focus of a growing coalition of environmental and community advocates. A total of 26 organizations are urging Toronto City Council to oppose Ontario’s new energy strategy.
The coalition includes Environmental Defence, the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE), the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE), and Seniors for Climate Action Now! Toronto. Together, they warn that the provincial plan threatens to derail the city’s climate progress.
“The new energy plan undermines Toronto’s climate goals and traps residents in decades of fossil fuel dependency.”
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) finalized its Integrated Regional Resource Plan (IRRP) for Toronto on October 31. The plan, according to environmental experts, represents a major obstacle to achieving the city’s net-zero objectives.
Toronto City Council previously directed IESO to support the closure of the Portlands Energy Centre by 2035 and committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040 through its TransformTO initiative. However, the current plan moves in the opposite direction, prioritizing gas-fired generation over clean energy investment.
About the Coalition
- Environmental Defence
- Ontario Clean Air Alliance
- Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE)
- Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
- Seniors for Climate Action Now! Toronto
Author’s Summary: A coalition of 26 Toronto-area organizations is pressing the city to reject Ontario’s energy plan, arguing it conflicts with Toronto’s net-zero commitments and prolongs reliance on fossil fuels.