What are the Mayoral Candidates Plans for the Environmental Future of Thunder Bay?
What are the Mayoral Candidates' Plans for the Environmental Future of Thunder Bay?
EcoSuperior reached out to all mayoral candidates with three questions about climate action, environmental sustainability, and collaboration with local environmental organizations.
We received responses from Moe Comuzzi and Volker Kromm, and we're sharing their answers to help residents learn more about the approaches each candidate would take on these important issues.
EcoSuperior does not endorse any mayoral candidates. Our goal is to provide information on environmental issues that matter to our community and help residents make informed decisions.
We encourage you to read their responses and consider what they have to say about Thunder Bay's environmental future.
Moe Comuzzi
1. What specific actions would you support as Mayor to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Thunder Bay adapt to climate change?
I believe we need to continue balancing environmental responsibility with the infrastructure, housing and economic growth Thunder Bay needs.
The City's Net Zero Strategy should be a living resource that guides decisions rather than a document that sits on a shelf. Climate mitigation and resilience should be considered when we build and replace roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, municipal buildings and other major assets.
As our municipal fleet, transit buses and equipment reach the end of their useful lives, I support transitioning to electric and other lower emission technologies where they are operationally practical, reliable in our northern climate and provide good long term value for taxpayers. This should be a planned transition tied to normal fleet replacement, not replacing functioning assets simply for the sake of doing so.
We should also continue improving the energy efficiency of City facilities and consider greener building standards and technologies when constructing or renewing municipal infrastructure.
Adaptation is equally important. Thunder Bay needs roads, drainage, stormwater systems, buildings and other infrastructure designed for the climate conditions we expect in the decades ahead. Building resilience today can reduce emergency repairs and much larger costs tomorrow.
I would also aggressively pursue provincial and federal climate and infrastructure funding so these necessary investments do not fall entirely on local property taxpayers.
2. What would you prioritize to make Thunder Bay a more sustainable, healthy and environmentally resilient community for residents?
For me, sustainability is about how we build and grow Thunder Bay.
I support implementing the Smart Growth Action Plan and continuing to align growth with our Net Zero and climate adaptation strategies. Responsible growth means considering economic, environmental and social impacts together.
We need to protect the natural environment and freshwater resources that make Thunder Bay special while also creating housing, attracting investment and renewing the infrastructure residents depend on.
I would prioritize resilient roads, water and stormwater infrastructure, energy efficient municipal buildings, responsible land use, accessible green spaces, active transportation connections and neighbourhoods where people can more easily access housing, services, recreation and transportation.
I also believe we need to maintain what we already own. Sustainability includes extending the life of infrastructure, coordinating projects so we are not repeatedly digging up the same streets, reducing waste and considering the full lifecycle cost of what we build.
Climate resilience should become a normal part of infrastructure planning, not a separate conversation that happens after a project has already been designed.
Thunder Bay can grow and protect our environment at the same time. Good planning allows us to do both.
3. How would you strengthen the City of Thunder Bay's collaboration with environmental organizations to jointly develop and deliver programs that advance the City's environmental and climate priorities?
The City does not have to do everything itself.
Organizations like EcoSuperior bring expertise, experience, community relationships and innovative ideas to the table. I see tremendous value in partnerships that allow the City, environmental organizations, businesses, Indigenous partners, educational institutions and residents to work toward shared goals.
As Mayor, I would support bringing those partners into conversations early, particularly when we are implementing the Net Zero Strategy, climate adaptation initiatives and other environmental priorities.
Meaningful consultation does not mean endless consultation. It means listening to people with knowledge and experience, identifying practical solutions and then making decisions.
I would also look for opportunities where community organizations can help deliver education, waste reduction, energy conservation, active transportation, environmental stewardship and other programs more effectively than the City could working alone.
Those partnerships should have clear objectives and measurable results. We should understand what we are trying to accomplish, what it costs and whether it is working.
My approach to sustainability is practical. Protect our environment. Build climate resilient infrastructure. Reduce emissions where it makes operational and financial sense. Use innovation and technology. Pursue provincial and federal funding. Work with people who have expertise. And continue growing Thunder Bay responsibly.
Environmental sustainability and economic growth do not have to compete with each other.
If we plan well, they can strengthen each other and help us build a healthier, more resilient and prosperous Thunder Bay for generations to come.
Volker Kromm
I have been asking this question. City middle managers have offered hope that included continued electrification of city vehicles, diesel equipment conversions to energy efficient alternatives. Solutions are complicated and involve our collective commitment to renewable energy: wind, solar, geo-thermal, bio-hydrogen plants, etc, and simply energy efficient replacements. Industries, at our doorstep are preparing to invest into the resource sector, which will impact our carbon footprint reduction efforts. They will need to join our community targets.
Investments in new equipment are costly and need to be phased in: buses sized to passenger loads, conversion to hydrogen(or other) in the case of “monster” equipment. It also comes down to greening our streets and parks. I have heard presentations about naturalization of public spaces including streetscapes, and how nature helps clean our environment. It is also cost effective, which means incurring fewer equipment costs. The city can only do so much. We need to partner with industry to share the burden. That conversation should have started years ago. As a municipality our best hope to influence or partner with industry, Provincial, Federal and First Nation, and neighbouring municipalities begins with dialogue / marketing, and leading by example. This team includes environmental groups.
2. What would you prioritize to make Thunder Bay a more sustainable, healthy, and environmentally resilient community for residents?
We should tackle the low-hanging fruit to change our environmental culture. It will be a core group that will inspire others to get involved in our environmental movement. Start with easy access trails, that are safe. Green streetscapes, our parks, possibly reward businesses that demonstrate a shift to “green”. Education is helpful, but we need leadership to stand together to commit to a sustainable community. In my travels, I have seen how some communities make being “clean, green, and beautiful” a priority. Let's learn from others. I have had a few visionaries tell me that “Thunder Bay needs to believe in itself and the future”. Start small by planting the seeds of small changes. Over the next 10 years we are destined for major developments. The core group, needs to evolve into a passionate majority, that insists on responsible development. It starts with the leadership at city hall. Choose wisely. Be prepared for a paradigm shift, which can be exciting.
3. How would you strengthen the City of Thunder Bay's collaboration with environmental organizations to jointly develop and deliver programs that advance the City's environmental and climate priorities?
This is the easiest question to answer. Forming collaborative partnerships with either environmental or healthcare or urban planning or food security groups or ……., requires a commitment to share the responsibility. We need multi-disciplinary steering groups / forums / advisory councils that are committed to researching, planning, budgeting, and implementation. These new teams require both the authority and the responsibility for outcomes. Partnerships fail because of either governance omissions, or continuity. If we commit to change, we are in for the long haul.
I have one request. The next council will receive ample orientation on municipal governance. I suggest that we include team building sessions, which will include the environmental basics, that green groups possess. All of the other municipal sector groups will also need “orientation”. Safety, policing, urban planning, labour relations, economics, and budgeting are skills that can be taught. Get involved!
