A group of local residents say they have “a vision” for making the Town of Erin greener and they disagree that action on climate change should be left to the international community.
“We think nothing could be more dangerous,” Liz Armstrong told council last week. “We need to get action at the local level.”
Armstrong, along with fellow Climate Change Action Group members Bill Dinwoody and Steve Revell, proposed several measures that could be instituted in the municipality that could one day result in the town overtaking Caledon as the “greenest” town in Ontario.
“As green as our shamrock,” Armstrong said of what could become the town’s new slogan. In order to get there, she offered a list of “possible, visible and attainable goals,” including:
– meeting with local municipal experts to start forming a climate action plan;
– joining the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ “partners for climate change” group;
– continuing and expanding tree planting;
– building on past successes with local trails;
– making the most of walking and biking opportunities through an “active transportation” plan;
– moving towards greener energy and housing; and
– educating residents.
Calling the town “an emerald jewel in the heart of Ontario,” Dinwoody said studies show for every $1 invested in trails, local health care costs are lowered by $2.
Both Dinwoody and Revell stressed the importance of trails as well as local tree planting initiatives.
“We need to plant with a purpose,” Revell stressed.
Armstrong also suggested the town apply for a grant through the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, although several councillors said they would like to know more about the funding before submitting an application.
Councillors seemed receptive, in principal, to the ideas, though they wanted more information and were wary of duplicating work already being done at the county level. They also stressed the need to work with the town’s Environmental Advisory Committee and the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health unit.
