ELCA canvasses at the Eglinton West and Lawrence West subway stations

On a cold and snowy Saturday afternoon (February 15, 2025), an ELCA team canvassed transit passengers at the Eglinton West and Lawrence West subway stations. They had on hand the election poster prepared by ELCA explaining the election issues of concern to ELCA, covering greenspace, buildings, transportation, and waste reduction. Note ELCA does not endorse a particular candidate or political party.

Those canvassed were generally willing to engage and share their views. There was widespread exasperation among the respondents on the delays in the opening of the Eglinton LRT. Some said they were not citizens and hence ineligible to vote. Other points raised included:

·        Greening the city with more trees

·        Protecting farmland; frustration over the Greenbelt land issue

·        Renovating buildings to make them more efficient

·        Reducing waste in the city

·        Developing the city at the human scale, and safe cycling

ELCA Election poster_11feb2025

Candidates in Eglinton-Lawrence

MICHELLE COOPER
PC Party of Ontario

NATASHA DOYLE-MERRICK
Ontario NDP

VINCE GASPARRO
Ontario Liberal Party

LEAH TYSOE
Green Party of Ontario

Additional Resources

Ontario Clean Air Alliance page on increasing renewable energy

Seniors for Climate Action Now! (SCAN!) is a pan-Canadian seniors’ climate action movement working with other climate activists to create a democratic, just, and transformative movement to
address the climate crisis.

Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE) is a coalition of East End residents and local climate justice groups working together to oppose expansion of the polluting Portlands gas plant and ensure its phase out by 2030. TERRE supports a rapid, just transition to renewable energy in Toronto and across Ontario.

A short overview of the Ontario greenbelt, its environmental significance, and the current provincial government's attempt in 2022/2023 to turn large portions of this protected public land into private gain for developers. It became the great Greenbelt Scandal, and public protest and exposure of behind-the-scenes deals led to the resignations of several MPPs and political staff and an apology by Doug Ford.