Storm Surge: Climate Resilience Becomes the New Mayoral Litmus Test
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
As Toronto recovers from a '100-year storm,' candidates are under pressure to move beyond existing plans and address the city's flooding crisis.
OPINION: The recent deluge that hammered Toronto wasn't just a weather event; it was a warning. As first reported by CBC Toronto, this storm serves as a litmus test for which mayoral candidates actually possess a viable plan to keep this city from sinking as we face an upcoming election.
According to reporting from CBC Toronto, the storm that struck on September 2 marked the wettest September 2 on record, with weather experts confirming that a month's worth of rain fell in just a few hours. City of Toronto officials categorized the event as a “100-year storm,” though How-Sen Chong, a spokesperson for the Toronto Environmental Alliance, noted that the city has already experienced four such storms in the last 15 years. Chong warned that climate change has “supercharged” these events and that Toronto should expect more in the future.
While the city has the TransformTO long-term climate plan in place, experts suggest the current approach is insufficient. Jason Thistlethwaite, a University of Waterloo expert on the economy and climate resilience, told CBC Toronto that the city is essentially adapting by “looking at the rearview mirror” rather than anticipating where the risks are heading. Thistlethwaite highlighted a specific missed opportunity: a storm water tax. Such a charge, targeted at property owners with non-porous surfaces like large parking lots, would create a dedicated fund for stormwater management. However, the proposal has been stalled at city hall, where critics have labeled it a “rain tax” or “roof tax.”
As the October 26 election approaches, the candidates' responses to these vulnerabilities remain vague. CBC Toronto reports that no mayoral candidate has pledged to implement a storm water charge.
Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford has stated his support for existing climate plans but has criticized Mayor Olivia Chow, claiming she has failed to increase the ambition of those plans. Bradford told reporters he intends to seek funding from other levels of government for “big ticket moves,” citing the revitalization of the Don River mouth as a model.
Meanwhile, Mayor Olivia Chow's campaign has not responded to inquiries regarding the release of a specific climate plan or the projected spending for such a plan over the next four years. Chris Alexander, who currently ranks third in public opinion polling, had his campaign state via email that he “will have a commitment to this issue.”