Toronto Mayor David MillerDella Rollins
Toronto Mayor David Miller has had a busy week in Copenhagen. As chairman of the C40, a group of the world's largest cities committed to tackling climate change, he played a central role in the Climate Summit for Mayors, a parallel conference to the UN climate summit.
On behalf of Toronto, he joined 13 other mayors in committing to make their cities more electric vehicle-friendly in collaboration with four manufacturers and the Clinton Climate Initiative.
He also accepted two "Fossil of the Day" awards on behalf of Canada. The prize is awarded by a coalition of 400 non-governmental organizations to countries viewed as blocking progress at the climate summit.
"Like most Canadians, I'm embarrassed. I'm embarrassed that our government continues to be one of the biggest obstacles to reaching agreement," Mr. Miller said before accepting the award.
Mr. Miller joined us live from Copenhagen Thursday at 9 a.m. ET for an online chat about Canada, climate change and the role of cities.
Click on the 'play' button in the grey box below to replay the conversation or read the transcript below:
Mr. Miller immigrated to Canada from England with his mother in 1967 and moved to Toronto in 1981. He received a degree in economics from Harvard University, a law degree from the University of Toronto and served as a partner at a Toronto law firm before winning a seat as Metro councillor in 1994.
He was elected to council of the newly amalgamated City of Toronto in 1997. In 2003, he won the race for the mayor's office and was re-elected in 2006. Earlier this year, he surprised many by announcing that he will not seek a third term in the 2010 municipal elections.
Mr. Miller is married to lawyer Jill Arthur and they have two children.
Transcript
8:56 Globe and Mail: We will begin our live chat shortly. Mr. Miller is a few minutes behind, but is en route to his hotel to take part in the discussion. In the meantime, readers can submit questions in advance. Thanks for your patience.
9:09 Globe and Mail: Welcome Mayor Miller. Thank you for joining us. We have much to talk about and I'm sure we'll get plenty of questions, but I think it would be only fair to start by giving you a chance to respond to a Globe editorial that ran earlier this week. The editorial suggested, among other things, that your criticism of Canada's climate change policies was "hypocritical" and will only harden the stance of the Conservative government. (For an opposing view, see Catherine Porter's column Why can't Harper be more like Miller? in today's Toronto Star). How do you respond?
9:11 [Comment From Mayor David MillerMayor David Miller: ]
I preferred the Star's position.... The Globe reported on November 21 that three quarters of Canadians are embarrassed that Ottawa hasn't taken international lead on cutting greenhouse gases. I am not alone.
9:12 Globe and Mail: We have lots of questions already, so I'll turn it over to our readers.
9:12 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
David: great stuff. The question is not who is the greenest but which city or mayor has the most to teach Toronto? Secondly, what can we learn and apply the quickest?
9:15 Mayor David Miller: There are lots of examples to Learn from - obviously, Copenhagen on bikes and wind, but Calgary might surprise people. All of its municipal electricity will come from wind by 2012. And Sao Paulo is amazing on methane recapture.
9:15 [Comment From Tom CheungTom Cheung: ]
Good morning, Mayor Miller. Could you comment on what you learned regarding technologies used to combat climate change from your recent visit to the town of Malmo, Sweden? Thanks.
9:18 Mayor David Miller: Malmo was terrific. They are revitalizing their port (sound familiar) and in the revitalzation are using a complete approach to sustainability. The have a solar heat capture in the summer that warms water which is stored and used to heat in the winter, and vice versa in the winter. It was also the only time I have done interviews in two countries within an hour....
9:18 [Comment From Laura SturkLaura Sturk: ]
In London (England), traffic has been reduced and streets are being dedicated to pedestrians. What changes are being made in Toronto to improve human mobility and decrease the need for cars on downtown streets? Can there be more piazas and pedestrian streets?
9:21 How hopeful are you that world leaders will reach an agreement at Copenhagen by Friday's deadline?
9:22 Mayor David Miller: Yes, we can do more for pedestrians and bikes. It is an example of where sustainability, liveability, and prosperity all com together - density allows sustainable practices, building the density creates employment and wealth, and great public spaces encourage both. I have concentrated on public transit investments, like Transit City, because Toronto had fallen so far behind. we are on the right track now with the biggest increase in bus service in history, replacement of the bus and streetcar fleets, new subway cars, and the start of construction on 120 km of light rail.
9:22 Marcus Gee from the Globe here, Mayor Miller. Thanks again for joining us. Don't you think it is a bit unfair for Toronto to pose as a green champion when in fact it is the federal government, not the city, that has to make the hard decisions about whether to sign on to climate-change controls that might damage the economy and cost Canadians jobs?
9:26 Mayor David Miller: no. We are a green champion. All the cities here are. And Federal and Provincial policies could assist in this process. It is factually false to say good environmental policies cost jobs. First of all, smart policies, like Mayor's Tower Renewal and transit create jobs and wealth; secondly, if we wait for a criss to deal with carbon the effect on the economy will be much worse. thirdly, you are assuming climate change is free. It isn't - look at the storm damage in Toronto over the past five years when we have had two, possibly three, 50 year storms- or New Orleans.
9:27 Globe and Mail: Globe reader Luke Savage left this question for you in the comments thread:
Mayor Miller, while climate activists grow increasingly infuriated by the Federal government's position on the environment, some still question the science underlying climate change. What is your response to this? Many thanks!
9:28 Mayor David Miller: There are no doubts about the basic science. We had a presentation from the university of Copenhagen yesterday that confirmed, if anything, the risks are worse than thought before.
Thursday December 17, 2009 9:28 Mayor David Miller
9:28 [Comment From Tom CheungTom Cheung: ]
Thanks a lot for your reply, Mayor Miller. Your answer was very informative.
9:28 [Comment From Andrew McCammonAndrew McCammon: ]
How do you assess the prospects of movement toward an agreement/
9:30 Mayor David Miller: That is tough. The news is all negative, but it is hard to believe there will not be something. If there isn't an agreement, the G20 in Toronto will be interesting....
9:30 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Mayor Miller, it is great that you are in Copenhagen, but so are many other Canadian leaders. In fact, many countries have sent multiple individuals over there to discuss climate change. Is this productive? Would Canada have been better off having an internal climate summit, ideally involving all interested leaders, and then presenting a united front to the world?
9:34 Mayor David Miller: That is an interesting idea. We are not alone though - 1,000 Mayors in the USA signed Kyoto when Pres. Bush would not. Mayors have a duty to build their cities for the future, and take concrete actions to do so, which is perhaps why we act more readily and immediately on environmental issues. In the 15 years since Kyoto, nations have talked - look what Toronto has undertaken in the last 6 alone. 1100 building retrofits, for example. Other Mayors from around the world say the same thing.
9:34 [Comment From Jamie LaidlawJamie Laidlaw: ]
I disagree with Marcus and agree with Mayor Bloomberg that people want action locally where there is jurisdictional responsibility. Marcus, we long ago gave up waiting for the almighty Federal Government to condone our actions or initiate our direction. Morality requires action and responsibility.
9:34 [Comment From Benjamin HattarBenjamin Hattar: ]
We're super proud of you Mr. Miller for standing up for the World Climate against the Industrialists... Do you have Carbon Emission standards for businesses setting up in your city Toronto?
9:36 Mayor David Miller: Not in that exact form. We have standards for many things that help reduce carbon - like a green building standard, green roofs, water efficiency, etc. - areas where we have jurisdiction. New condos must buy transit passes for their residents for exmple.
9:37 [Comment From Bryan GrantBryan Grant: ]
I've heard news that Toronto Hydro is working on a biodigester project. ( rotting waste to energy) My first experience with this technology was in regards to farms. Stormfisher industry is taking organic waste from grocery stores in London Ont and doing the same. What opportunities are realistic for Toronto to create more energy from our garbage. Is it an effort within municipal control to initiate?
9:37 Mayor David Miller: Yes. Huge opportunities for methane from landfill and green bin compost - Hydro and City working on both.
9:38 [Comment From Emily MooreEmily Moore: ]
How are you planning on switching Toronto's power supply to a more renewable source?
9:41 Mayor David Miller: We passed an energy strategy a couple of weeks ago at council. Basically, start with conservation, then demand management and distributed energy through a smart grid, using renewables. Wind has great potential in the great lakes, geothermal is already commercially viable in Toronto, and solar has applications in Toronto, particularly if the regulations under the Green Energy Act have a strong feed in tariff. Our bylaw allows residential scale wind and solar as of right.
9:41 [Comment From RobRob: ]
Shall we meet at MacKenzies for a quick pint when you get back?
9:41 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Why do you think you are in a position to say Canadians are embarassed. You don't speak for all of Toronto, nevermind all of Canada
9:43 Mayor David Miller: I am embarrassed as a Canadian, and, according to this newspaper, 75% of Canadians are too. ("Canadians dismayed by Ottawa's record on Climate Change" Nov. 21, Globe and Mail) (page A17)
9:44 Globe and Mail: Our poll on the embarrassed question has 78% saying they agree with you at the moment.
9:44 [Comment From johnny bonesjohnny bones: ]
he speaks for me
9:45 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Do you think that TTC should change its fare scheme from charge by distance travelled rather than per travel to encourage density and use of public transportation? Why do you think it is not done so far?
9:45 Mayor David Miller:
Christmas shopping will have to take precedence over relaxing when I return...
9:47 Mayor David Miller: The reason TTC fares are not fare by distance is that the suburbs years ago argued - accurately - that service is way better in the core where we have streetcars, subway, etc. Regardless, once electronic media come in - a fare card like presto or bank card like nyc - and once transit city is built, it might be worth looking at it again.
9:47 [Comment From Guillaume BlaisGuillaume Blais: ]
How to do you feel the international community feels about Canada now that they have seen there are clearly municipal and provincial leaders who are trying to solve this problem? Is everything overshadowed by the federal governments apparent lack of action?
9:49 Mayor David Miller: Mostly. Toronto has an excellent reputation, has since the late 1980's on these issues, and my position as the chair of the C40 has raised the profile of our current accomplishments. People tend to look at the nation and the main City, not the Provinces.
9:50 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
78% of people who have time to sit on this site at 9Am on a work day are embarassed you mean
9:50 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Why is it that left-wingers are so backwards when it comes to the right steps for the economy? Everything is driven by the economy. To excessively burden ourselves with carbon taxing or cap and trade type systems, we will inevitably lose in the end. There may be environmental change but it would be nice for people to stop the catastrophe-babble. We are not going to explode. Humans will adapt as they have for thousands of years.
9:55 Mayor David Miller: The environment isn't free, as you pretend if there is no price on carbon, and you will pay sooner or later. As for jobs, ask the people who build our streetcars, subway cars and buses in Canada, or the builders of the over 100 tall buildings being built because of City of Toronto planning and tax policies, or the building retrofitting industry Toronto created with the BBP in the late 1980's, and they would likely say that they like their jobs.
9:55 [Comment From CraigCraig: ]
Mayor Miller, thanks for a great job so far. Do you see a future for toll roads or perhaps limiting the number of vehicles in the core, similar to cities like London, as an option moving forward?
9:57 Mayor David Miller: Possibly, but I think it has to be done regionally, and can only be done once Transit City is well underway, so that people truly have a choice to take transit. there was some legal doubt about our ability to impose a parking surcharge in built up areas with good transit access - that might have been another approach. Remember though, that 2/3 of our emissions come from buildings.
9:57 [Comment From Steve MooreSteve Moore: ]
Sounds like the person commenting on left wingers is ready to let everybody else worry about problems while he goes about his day consuming what he is entitled to
9:58 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Hi, Mr. Miller. What do you think about the possibility of special treatment for the oil sands and oil industry in canada under new federal emissions legislation? How do you think Canadians would be affected by this?
10:00 Mayor David Miller: I think we need to acknowledge, nationally that we have a problem there, and quickly develop our own strategy to deal with the emissions, or the international community will impose a solution (ie refusing to buy "dirty" fuel) that will cause us far more serious problems.
10:00 Globe and Mail: We're at the end of our alloted time. I'm sorry we couldn't get to more questions, but I will leave the live chat open if people want to debate among themselves. In the meantime, any final thoughts Mayor Miller?
10:01 Mayor David Miller: BTW I was interviewed on Edmonton radio this am. Thanks for this to the Globe and the readers.
10:02 Globe and Mail: Thank you so much for your time today Mr. Miller and have a safe trip home.
Globe readers: I'll leave this open for the next little while to keep the discussion going. Thanks to everyone for your questions.
10:03 Mayor David Miller: No, just thanks! Not a fast enough typist. i think that this sample pretty clearly shows that Canadians, and Torontonians want their governments to act. Thanks again for the dialogue.
10:03 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
I would rather go to war than permit this socialist redistribution of wealth.
10:04 [Comment From MarkMark: ]
What's the temperature going to be on New Year's day? You think you can predict the climate 50 years from now so tell me the climate two weeks from now.
10:04 [Comment From John DayJohn Day: ]
Do you believe we can take on a target of 25% below 1990 levels without economic cost if the Americans take on a much less ambitious target? After all, 85% of our trade is with them. Our companies would be at a competitive disadvantage
10:04 [Comment From KevinKevin: ]
@ Guest. What happens when we all die in our 30s or 40s from cancer, or malnutrition? What about the economy then?
10:05 [Comment From IndigoIndigo: ]
In my opinion, and in the opinion of some experts, climate change is ALREADY irreversible. Perhaps we should be spending our time and resources preparing for it and researching possible technical solutions? It seems compromising our economic stability will indeed produce no positive results no matter. Thoughts? (given that sustainability and a renewable model are obvious long-term goals)
10:05 [Comment From ToddTodd: ]
people in Toronto need to consider what is a neccessity machine, use it to prevent human pain, and what is a luxury machine, and tax those machines, separate them
10:05 [Comment From KevinKevin: ]
Why is it that right-wingers are so backwards when it comes to the right steps for the economy? Everything is driven by the economy. To excessively prop up failed institutions with tax payer money, we will eventually lose in the end. There may be environmental change but it would be nice for people to stop having to pay greedy corporations who pay their executives ludicrous amounts of money while laying off the middle class workers and end up having to be bailed out by government.
10:05 [Comment From 1ofamillionpeters1ofamillionpeters: ]
Mr. Miller, The City of Toronto has announced plans on retiring two-stroke engines. In fact the City is looking to decommission all its gas powered equipment and is encouraging homeowners to do the same. I am fearful that this policy will lead to a more equipment needlessly being thrown thrown into landfills sites. There are new "green two-stroke oils" in the marketplace that are now widely available (made from beef bi-products). I encourage the City to "reconsider" this policy initiative. In my mind it stifles the many of the innovative companies in Canada that are at the leading edge of developing biofuels.
10:06 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
The only one missing from this little love-in is Sandra Bussin.
10:06 [Comment From ToddTodd: ]
the point of view of the majority of the immigrant population in Toronto is probably not similar to someone who is shocked by the loss of forest to climate change in b.c. so there would need to be another way to impact the seriousness of this to people from countries where climate change is not a major concern
10:06 [Comment From Laura SturkLaura Sturk: ]
great conversation!
10:06 [Comment From Jamie LaidlawJamie Laidlaw: ]
Canada took forward motivated strategies in the 1970s with acid rain producing facilities. Some like INCO were able to sell the pollution abatement technology they developed to meet the new regulatory requirements. Everyone won. Don;t we need the same approach in the bitumen sands in Alberta?
10:07 [Comment From JJ: ]
wow, where did all these neo-cons come from?
10:07 [Comment From mattmatt: ]
climate and weather are two different things. inability to predict local weather has nothing to do with observing general trends in global climate
10:07 [Comment From MarkMark: ]
It wasn't right wingers clammoring for 'stimulus' it was left wing unions screaming for their out of date jobs to be saved. Harper should never have given in to them.
10:07 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Where is the huge R&D spending on bringing viable solar and wind to the market????
10:09 [Comment From MarkMark: ]
BS matt. they have the same models and are using the same predictive methods to extrapolate what the temperature is going to be. They can't acurately predict local weather just like the models saying the earth will be such and such degrees warmer in 40 years are full of crap.
10:09 [Comment From Doug FarewayDoug Fareway: ]
Shouldn't all views be represented by a national newspaper?..
10:11 [Comment From Laura SturkLaura Sturk: ]
no matter what your political stance may be, no one can deny that there is serious habitat loss, pollution does impact the environment and humans are the parasite
10:12 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
CO2 is not pollution
10:12 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Kevin, it appears you have no understanding of what a company does for the economy. Rather, you are moved by silly headlines about a small fraction of businesses. Without business, where would Canada be?
10:13 Globe and Mail: A reminder to readers just joining us: Mr. Miller has wrapped up his participation in the live chat, but we are leaving the discussion open for a few more minutes because of the high interest.
10:13 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
Humans are part of the planet just like everything else. Go off yourself first if humans are so terrible
10:13 [Comment From GuestGuest: ]
The way out of this issue is to let the pricate sector invest in research. It may take time but with the right incentives, it will produce the best results.
10:15 Globe and Mail: Thanks again to everyone who took part.