Issue link: https://takingitglobal.uberflip.com/i/1131811
Municipal "While nations plan, cities act" - Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton, IPCC Keynote, March 2018. It is said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Throughout the thousands of rural, suburban, urban, and reserves in Canada, our people do not share the same view on the waste we produce; nor do many of us feel connected to the land we live, work, and play on. It is crucial to ensure the public is aware that this is a national concern regardless of where they live in Canada, and whether or not they can see the impacts of their lifestyles. According to Environmental Defence, "less than 11 percent of Canada's plastics get recycled," With education and community engagements we can bolster and reinforce the ideas that our proposed policy is behind. To change Canada we must not only change the constitution that shapes our lives but we must speak to the real people in our communities. Throughout Canada, we have cities that have taken the first steps towards true climate action such as Victoria, Montreal, and Fort McMurray who have banned the use of plastic bags. We must allow for smaller municipalities to commit to environmentally smart changes and to give them the support they require. We want to promote the success we have already made. Local communities can show support by: • Mayors supporting local initiatives • Advisory Councils (Youth advisory councils in particular) • More celebration of green efforts by youth and residents • Champion action and advocacy • Free/subsidized alternatives in schools, public buildings, etc - working with administrations to incentivize plastic reduction This proposed change all comes down to collaboration between community members, governments, and sufficient funding for environmental programs. It is important local governments support their community in that global change starts with the small. People need to know that their governments, both on the large and small scale, support the initiatives they are taking.