Toronto Municipal Election 2026

Overview

Overview

The Government of Ontario is planning to meet Toronto’s electricity needs by building new high-cost nuclear reactors and ramping up the output of the Portlands gas plant on our waterfront.

This will lead to higher electricity rates and more pollution.

Fortunately, we can lower our electricity bills and clear the air by investing in much lower cost wind and solar energy.

OCAA asked candidates these two questions:

1. Should the City of Toronto and Toronto Hydro develop a plan to increase local solar electricity generation by 2.8 billion kWh per year by 2030 (the equivalent of what the Portlands gas plant produced in 2024)? This could be achieved by installing more solar panels on City-owned buildings and parking lots and by encouraging local residents, big box stores and other commercial, institutional and industrial buildings to install solar.

2. Should Toronto Hydro undertake a preliminary feasibility study on the potential locations (near shore and far offshore) and costs and benefits of a Lake Ontario offshore wind farm?

BONUS: Environmental Defence’s Renewables-Ready Toronto pledge calls on municipal candidates to champion local renewable energy, like rooftop solar and battery storage, while reducing Toronto’s reliance on polluting gas-fired electricity. See which candidates have signed the pledge and committed to a cleaner, more affordable energy future for Toronto by scrolling down the page.

Responses Overview

Parkdale-High Park Candidate Responses

Debbie King

1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes

2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes

Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.

Additional comments

Yes to both. My advocacy work with Clean Indoor Air Toronto (CIATO) has reinforced for me the importance of evidence-based action to reduce emissions, improve air quality and protect people where they live, work and learn, helping contribute to thriving communities.

The time is now for Toronto to tap into the potential of local renewable energy and energy storage to strengthen our climate resilience, lower our electricity bills and reduce reliance on the U.S..

There are already strong recommendations for how we can move in this direction—including incentivizing homeowners and small businesses to supply solar power to the grid. Many residents welcome this shift and would benefit from communication about resources like the Home Solar Accelerator to help go solar with confidence.

Leading by example with rooftop and parking lot solar on City-owned properties, I believe we can also raise the bar for commercial properties and encourage more builders to go beyond green building standards, creating a broader impact across the city.

This decisive climate action is also an important step toward improving health and social equity given that impacts of extreme weather and environmental hazards disproportionately harm low-income, racialized, and equity-deserving communities.

As we move forward with timely renewable energy plans, evidence should guide the next steps, including consideration of locations, costs, benefits and feasibility.

Diana Chan McNally

1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes

2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes

Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.

Additional comments

A key component of Diana Chan McNally’s platform is reducing emissions and increasing renewable energy generation locally. In fact, Diana is the only City Councillor Candidate running in Parkdale–High Park who names Environmental Protection and Climate Action as a platform priority.

Diana believes the City of Toronto, in partnership with Toronto Hydro, must accelerate residential and commercial adoption of local renewable energy generation, and that Ward 4, Parkdale–High Park can model leadership by piloting solar canopy projects in local Green P Parking lots. Identifying potential locations and feasibility for offshore wind farms is another way the City can demonstrate leadership, and help build the case for unlocking offshore wind power to meet our City’s energy needs.

Holly Weber

1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes

2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes

Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.

Additional comments

Steve Yuen

Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.

Additional comments

Vanessa Raponi

1. Question 1 (solar electricity): Yes

2. Question 2 (offshore wind): Yes

Renewables-Ready Toronto: This candidate has signed Environmental Defence’s pledge to advance local renewable energy and reduce reliance on gas-fired electricity.

Additional comments

In terms of increasing solar electricity generation, I would be on board with this given there is sufficient infrastructure to support it, and there is buy-in from community members. It is important for Toronto to keep up with electricity demands, build climate resilience and sovereignty, and be the modern city we claim to be. We have the opportunity to be leaders in renewable energy sources and we should take it.

There should definitely be a feasibility study on offshore wind farms on Lake Ontario. This should include thorough exploration of ecological impact, habitat impact, noise concerns, and impact to currents. Furthermore, it is important that there is a robust cost-benefit analysis to this proposal.