Newmarket, Aurora candidates talk about climate initiatives

Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora contacted all municipal candidates requesting interviews about Newmarket’s and Aurora’s climate-related programs and initiatives

Do you know that across Canada and around the world, local governments — towns, cities and regions —  are leading the fight against climate change? It’s true! So your vote on this month’s municipal election matters to the climate, from local to global. It can be a vote for climate.

A 2024 report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities found that ”local governments influence more than half the country’s green house gas emissions and own 60 per cent of public infrastructure. The municipal role in climate action initiatives is pivotal not only in reducing local emissions, but also in fostering a low-carbon and sustainable future.”

Since we know the importance of local government to the climate, Climate Action Newmarket-Aurora (CANA) contacted all municipal candidates requesting interviews about Newmarket’s and Aurora’s climate-related programs and initiatives. The full results are posted on the CANA website: Municipal Election 2026 | climateactionNA, organized by town, position and ward. Here are some key findings:

• Almost all the candidates took time to be interviewed, which took approximately one hour from this busy time, so clearly they want to be heard on climate issues, and to learn. We are grateful and hopeful.
  

• Most of the candidates – not just the incumbents – knew a fair bit about the towns’ climate plans, policies and initiatives.
  

• While there are many issues affecting us at this time, such as affordability, housing and infrastructure; candidates agree that climate and environment are very important, and are related to all these other issues.
  

• Most candidates we spoke with agreed on the importance of:
  

  • local efforts, which will have an impact on climate change;

  • electrification of municipal vehicle fleets and buses;

  • shifting away from fossil fuels;

  • upgrading municipal buildings for more efficient energy use and lower emissions;

  • supporting incentives for retrofits;

  • staying engaged with residents on these issues;

  • supporting thoughtful intensification of housing around public transit;

  • improving public transit, and bike and walking paths;

  • protecting and expanding the green spaces and tree canopy;

  • climate resilience (coping with it) and mitigation (reducing our part) efforts.
    

• Most also saw that improving energy efficiency with e.g. heat pumps, electric vehicles, better insulation and windows etc. will also lower operating costs, saving money for the towns and residents.

CANA would like to thank all those who have stepped forward to represent us on council and especially those candidates who found the time to meet with us on this important topic. It is very encouraging that our local representatives are prioritizing climate action, protecting our environment and making Newmarket and Aurora places we want to live and thrive.

Our future depends on having a liveable climate, so please read our report, then vote for the climate in this election.

Read this article on Newmarket Today.