Toronto, Ontario, March 31, 2026 — David Miller, co-chair of Roll Up Your Sleeves for Climate — a campaign that brings together more than 280 mayors and city councilors calling for ambitious and bold federal climate policies — issued the following statement regarding the Ontario government’s attack on the Ecological Development Standards.
“The new Ontario Housing Construction and Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Act ( Bill 98 ) is a step backward that will make it more difficult for Ontarians to access safe, affordable, and climate-resilient housing. By attempting to take away municipalities’ power to adopt green building standards, the government is seriously encroaching on municipal jurisdiction and shooting itself in the foot by jeopardizing the future of our communities.”
Green building standards ensure that buildings are constructed correctly the first time. Cutting corners on new construction leads to a cycle of higher energy bills, increased risks during heat waves and floods, and costly renovations down the road — costs that will ultimately be borne by residents.
Nearly 20 years ago, Toronto adopted its green building standards to deliver high-performance, affordable buildings; in 2010, they became mandatory. I was proud to serve as mayor of a city at the forefront of this innovation, and to see 15 municipalities across Ontario follow suit—progress that is now under threat.
The decision to eliminate these proven tools is a matter of policy—not strategy. This is all the more evident at a time when other governments are responding to energy poverty by strengthening building standards rather than weakening them. In the UK, new homes will be built with solar panels and heat pumps, recognizing that climate-friendly housing is essential infrastructure for a stable and affordable future.
M. Ford and his government must put an end to this unjustified abuse of power. Undermining the authority of municipalities regarding environmental planning standards only complicates the protection of our citizens from the energy price shocks, extreme heat, and flooding they are experiencing on an increasing scale.
-30-
To learn more:
About LET’S ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES FOR THE CLIMATE ( elbowsupforclimate.ca )
Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves for Climate is a campaign uniting over 280 mayors and city councilors who are convinced of the importance of investing in national climate projects to protect our country from the twin threats of tariffs and climate change. The Climate Caucus ( climatecaucus.ca ) acts as the campaign’s anchor partner: a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization working at the intersection of local democracy and climate policy, supporting hundreds of local elected officials across Canada.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact: Katie Harper, katie.harper@springboardinc.ca