The great, green dreams of Olivia Chow

The mayor of Canada's largest city has never owned a car, opting instead to bike or take transit around town. Now, one of Olivia Chow’s primary goals is to ensure Toronto’s public transit system is robust enough for anyone with a car-free lifestyle.

To accomplish this, Chow believes it is crucial to create a seamless integration of sustainable transportation modes, so people can move easily between bikes, buses, streetcars and an expanded Light Rail Transit (LRT) system.

“Often you can use bike-share to get somewhere and then use public transit, so different modes of transportation in one trip” is the ideal, she said.

It’s a goal motivated by Chow’s long-standing concern about climate change and her belief that individuals and politicians must work to lower planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).

Biking is Chow’s favourite mode of transportation. She and her late husband, former federal NDP leader Jack Layton, took their children everywhere on bicycles and spent most holidays on bicycle camping trips to promote sustainable living.

“You can't claim to take climate leadership if you do not invest in public transit,” said Chow. “In the biggest city of Canada, the economic driver of Canada, we cannot address the climate crisis and take a leadership role unless we invest in public transit. That is my biggest challenge.”

Chow, who has previously served as a member of Parliament and city councillor, greets visitors with a warm smile and a firm handshake. Her second-floor City Hall office is sparsely decorated, except for three paintings of Canadian landscapes.

Chow is the first person of colour to be elected Toronto’s mayor. In an exclusive interview with Canada's National Observer, she shared insights into her personal journey as a climate advocate, her vision for a sustainable Toronto, the dispute with Ontario Premier Doug Ford over Ontario Place and other challenges lying ahead.

The transportation sector is Toronto’s second-largest source of GHG emissions, comprising 33 per cent of the total. As 2024 approaches, Chow says her most significant challenge is to convince higher levels of government to substantially invest in public transit to amplify the city's transportation system. Public transportation is a critical way to address the imminent climate crisis, she said. Currently, the city's public transport agency, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), provides service to approximately 1.7 million daily commuters from Toronto and surrounding municipalities.

More funding is needed for subway improvements and construction of the waterfront LRT and the Eglinton East LRT, Chow said.

To purchase 55 new subway trains, the city and province have already committed $758 million each and are now waiting for matching federal funds.

An additional $630 million over three years from the province will also be promptly invested in service improvements.

Once the lines open and the city has better LRT service, there will be less traffic congestion on city roads, sometimes caused by streetcars and buses, Chow added.

Provincial transit funding is encouraging because Chow’s relationship with Ford has seemed fraught from Day 1.

Ford and achieving the city's climate goals

Ford is a long-time critic of Chow. He once said if she was elected mayor, it would be an “unmitigated disaster” for the city. The difference in their views on climate issues became evident when Toronto opposed the redevelopment of Ontario Place and the relocation of the Ontario Science Centre. Despite that clash, Chow said she needs to work with the province to achieve her climate goals. “Our hands are quite tied in terms of what we can do. We do not have the power, unlike London, England,” Chow said.

Last month, Toronto agreed to hand control of two major Toronto highways, the Gardiner Express and the Don Valley Parkway to the provincial government. The city also allowed the province to take charge of Ontario Place's redevelopment, even though the city owns a sliver of the land. The province promises that agreement will unlock $1.2 billion in new operating support for Toronto over the next three years, enabling funding for projects like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT and the Finch West LRT, increased police presence on the TTC, and support for homeless shelters and new subway cars.

Chow remains angry about the environmental impact of the Ontario Place proposals. She emphasizes the importance of public engagement and continued dialogue with those pushing for sustainable development that doesn’t compromise natural habitat.

“How do you avoid destroying the 800 trees, killing the habitat, and maintain a swimmable and clean beach without wiping out the waterfront? Well, that's in front of the provincial government,” she said. “We did not give the provincial government any land. We did not give them approval. They just took it. They introduced legislation and it just got passed.”

She’s still hopeful some compromises can be reached. Constructing the new Therme super luxury Spa will take time, Chow said. At the very least, there is a chance the parking lot could be situated away from the waterfront to free up more land.

“I think Ontario Place for All (an environmental advocacy group) needs to continue to speak out because we do live in a democracy. It is important for people to continue to speak out and talk to the provincial elected representatives.”

Housing affordability, climate change and the environment

Chow's other major challenge is Toronto’s housing affordability problem. She says it’s important to build environmentally friendly homes with lower-carbon footprints, along with enhanced connections to public transit.

Chow retrofitted her home in 2006 by installing solar panels and geothermal heating and cooling. Retrofits enhance environmental sustainability and provide financial benefits for homeowners. “By retrofitting the house, we burn less fossil fuel and pay less,” she said.

The payback period, once 15 to 20 years, is now shorter due to reduced hydro rates or natural gas, she noted. “With my geothermal unit, I don't have a furnace and don't use natural gas.”

People have various payment options, such as loan guarantees, she added. “If you use the green standard, then we can provide a loan guarantee for you. On the financing front, remember it is a very fast payback, so the upfront money is more challenging than eventual payback.”

Toronto also has the Atmospheric Fund (TAF), which functions like a foundation for people who want to retrofit their homes or build eco-friendly houses and buildings, she explained.

Making Toronto a more sustainable city

Chow’s vision for a sustainable Toronto revolves around the TransformTO initiative, which is shooting for net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The initiative calls for the expansion of electric vehicle chargers, adherence to green standards for construction, and extensive use of solar energy. These measurable objectives are regularly assessed.

Plenty of other challenges exist for Chow as she strives to reduce the city’s three primary sources of GHGs — buildings, transportation and waste.

For example, many multi-unit condominiums don’t have TriSorters, which hinders composting and recycling efforts. Condo owners must be encouraged to do their bit by retrofitting buildings and introducing composting and recycling programs, she adds.

Chow repeatedly returns to her firm belief that individuals and governments must work hard together to create cities and a world with a low-carbon footprint.

Ironically, her role as a politician is cutting into her ability to get around in an environmentally friendly way.

Since becoming mayor, Chow has had to use a car. When evening events are piled up three deep in one night, it’s impractical to reach them all by bike, she admits. But when she’s not working, she continues to practise what she preaches.

“You can't say one thing and then do something else.” This was her mantra when Layton was alive and remains so now. “It was important because, for us, the personal is political and vice versa.”

This story was produced in partnership with Journalists for Human Rights for the Afghan Journalists-in-Residence program funded by the Meta Journalism Project.