Time is of the essence! Use our tool to send a letter to the Mayor and Council. Ask them to vote against ‘Recommendation D’ on Tuesday.

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Dear Mayor & Council, On Tuesday the city manager is bringing a report to council with four recommendations, among which is an unexpected request for a 12 month delay in the implementation of amendments to the Building By-law, as set out in sections 19 through 42 of By-law No.12692.  The new manager is concerned that development and buildings licensing staff don’t have the resources they need to clear the city’s permitting backlog. However, granting this delay would put a core component of Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Plan at risk and sends a terrible message about how seriously Vancouver is taking its climate action commitments.  I’ve also heard industry associations don’t think there’s an adequate supply of equipment to meet this bylaw’s intention — that all new homes are heated with emissions-free technology starting in January. This is incorrect.   I’m writing to ask you not to approve recommendation D in the city manager’s report.   Mandatory zero emission building construction guidelines are critical. They are the strongest signal that Vancouver is serious about lowering its emissions and represent an important milestone in government action to address the climate crisis. And despite industry pushback, any economist can tell you that supply won’t exist without demand. This bylaw provides the signal to industry that Vancouver is open for cleantech business investment. This is the future, let’s not miss our opportunity to lead.  I understand that making a city work efficiently is a manager's job. However, this week’s record temperatures remind us why the markers this council set with its Climate Emergency Plan are so important: Not only to Vancouverites, but to cities and towns across Canada who will follow our lead.  Vancouver can afford to hire more staff to help with permitting backlogs. What we can’t afford is to delay action on climate. Please vote against recommendation D and defend Vancouver’s position as Canada’s climate leader.

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Tell Vancouver councillors to defend Canada’s best climate plan!

On Tuesday, June 8, a task force led by city manager Paul Mochrie is bringing an unexpected agenda item to Vancouver’s city council — he and his development permit staff will be asking city councillors to roll back a core component of Vancouver’s Climate Emergency Plan in order to expedite building permits.

Last year the city delivered a groundbreaking Climate Emergency Plan that included legislation banning the installation of gas heating systems in new buildings. Vancouver will be the first government in Canada to do this.

However, now the plan to phase out gas is at risk. Staff in the city’s development department want to make life easier for real estate investors. Additionally, they appear to be appeasing the gas industry who is against a ban on their product and wants to continue to profit under the status quo.

Your council chose the best available policy tools that Vancouver planners developed and embedded them in bylaws to lower carbon pollution from buildings across the city. Don’t let the new manager put the entire climate emergency plan at risk with an unnecessary 12 month delay on banning gas in new buildings.