High levels of complaints from residents and motorists are compelling politicians to take immediate action. Bicycle infrastructure that took years at significant cost to plan and implement, is being ripped out in weeks or months at additional tax-payer expense. Municipal election candidates are building their platforms on a promise of removing more cycling infrastructure if they are elected at the end of next month.

Yet, on the other side of the issue, are active transportation and environmental advocates, public health and traffic demand managment professionals, and city planning experts who say Ontario needs to be building more cycling infrastructure in its cities, not less.

This post is an attempt to elevate the conversation, to look at underlying issues facing cities across the Province and then ask the question, “If not bike lanes then what?

Most cities are facing similar issues that can be lumped into the following categories:

• Road capacity issues contributing to traffic congestion and parking availability,
• Public health issues related to road related injury and death due to excessive speed and aggressive driving,
• Road related air quality issues leading to greater incidence of diseases such as asthma, COPD, chronic fatique,
• Health issues related to lack of sufficient exercise leading to diseases such as Type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Health impacts due to climate – change including, excessive heat, flood risk, wind damage, and disease caused by invasive species migration, i.e. ticks,
• Quality of life environmental issues related to carbon emissions, traffic noise, road construction, salt, contributing to climate change, habitat loss, and species extinction.

All of these issues have a productivity and economic impact amounting to billions of dollars, in addition to personal pain and suffering and, deterioration of quality of life.

So here’s the thing, bike lanes contribute to addressing ALL of these issues.

Bike lanes encourage more cycling behaviour .

Bike lanes actually increase road vehicle carrying capacity leading to less road congestion not more.

Bike lanes are an effective tool for calming traffic, leading to safer roads for ALL road users

More cycling means more people get more exercise leading to better health outcomes

More cycling means fewer cars on the road meaning less congestion, less pollution, and safer roads

Installing bike lanes, leads to a safer, healthier, more connected communities, improved quality of life and helps meet our national and global responsibility to reduce environmental impacts.

On the one hand we have a significant number of people who want bike lanes removed because of a perceived loss of personal convenience, exacerbated by temporary construction issues that won’t be there in a year’s time.

On the other hand we have significant community benefit from bike lanes in the form of improved road safety, better health outcomes and environmental benefits. So my challenge to all of those people who want bike lanes removed is, what are you going to do instead to address these issues as Brampton continues on its path to 1M residents in the next few years. To avoid total gridlock as forecasted in Brampton’s Mobility Plan, how will Brampton achieve its goal by 2050 of getting 70,000 people to wake up each morning and say, “I’m choosing not to drive my car to work or school etc. today.”

On September 2nd, the Brampton Environmental Alliance had the privilege of leading a workshop for the incoming class of medical students at the Toronto Metropolitan University School of Medicine as part of their Community Day. The session was organized and facilitated by BEA board member Jashan Gill, asissted by fellow BEA board members and TMU medical students. The goal was simple but meaningful: to introduce Brampton’s future physicians to the deep connection between environmental and human health, and to show them that the conditions people live in; the air they breathe, the heat they endure, the green space they can access, all shape health long before a patient ever reaches a clinic.

The afternoon combined a presentation on the BEA’s work with a series of hands-on activities. The session grounded big ideas in local realities, from the Emerald Energy from Waste incinerator and its impact on nearby communities, to the citizen-science work of the Brampton Air Quality Network, our community-owned air monitoring project built in partnership with Algoma University.

Roughly 30 incoming medical students took part, engaging thoughtfully with questions of environmental justice, community health, and the physician’s role as an advocate. The depth of the students’ thinking was remarkable. Working through realistic, Brampton-based patient scenarios, groups connected childhood asthma to nearby industrial emissions, extreme heat to housing and isolation among seniors, and long commutes to traffic pollution and food deserts, consistently tracing health back to its environmental and social roots. In the “$1 Million Brampton Challenge,” they designed thoughtful, measurable solutions, from multilingual public transit improvements for newcomer families to air quality advocacy campaigns, each with a plan for tracking real impact.

It was a genuine reminder that these future physicians are already thinking like community advocates. Many left eager to get involved, whether through air quality data analysis, public health communication, or mentoring Brampton high school students through our Youth Environmental Health Ambassador Program. It was a powerful reminder that the next generation of doctors is ready to think beyond the clinic and into the community.

Looking ahead, the BEA is excited to continue building this partnership with the TMU School of Medicine, deepening opportunities for medical students to engage with our air quality work and youth programming throughout the year. Special thanks to our board members Amisha Moorjani, Chaya Chengappa, and Polly Thornham for helping make the day run smoothly, to Gunjan Sharda for her work preparing the session, and to TMU medical students Jordan Ramnarine and Helen Abay, along with the second-year Orientation Leaders, for their partnership and facilitation support. Our thanks as well to the incoming students for their energy, curiosity, and commitment to the health of our community. Welcome to Brampton, we can’t wait to work alongside you!

Seniors for Climate is hosting Dr. Katharine Hayhoe for a webinar discussing the critical importance of talking about the climate crisis. Dr. Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist whose research focuses on understanding the impacts of climate change on people and the planet. She is known for her ability to translate complex climate issues into accessible public discourse.

The webinar – Climate Conversations Matter – Let’s Get Talking – will take place Wednesday, September 9th, at 6:30pm ET. You can register by clicking the button below:

If you’re unfamiliar with Dr. Hayhoe’s work, there is an excellent video showcasing a recent CBC interview with her. She breaks down complex issues quickly and clearly, and speaks to the dire need to reduce carbon emissions to manage this growing crisis. You can watch that interview here, and we hope it will inspire some questions to ask during this week’s webinar!

You can reach out with any questions you may have at contactinfo@seniorsforclimate.org. We hope to see you next week!

This webinar will kick off Seniors for Climate events across the country this fall to engage more Canadians in the climate conversation. We have to act now, because Later is Too Late!

• Arbitrarily compress all federal decision-making for major projects into an one-year timeline, without specifying which types of “major projects” will receive this preferential treatment
• Wholly exempt major projects regulated by the Canadian Energy Regulator (i.e. international/interprovincial pipelines and electricity transmission lines) from the current legal requirement to undergo rigorous impact assessments under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA)
• Empower the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to conduct impact assessments of nuclear and uranium projects under the IAA, and to determine whether such projects would cause significant negative federal effects. This would effectively sideline the Impact Assessment Act for these types of projects, relying instead on the CNSC to carry out robust, credible, and participatory impact assessments of nuclear projects, and make final determinations about whether such projects may cause significant adverse effects that cannot be mitigated.
• Enact new legislation to establish “Federal Economic Zones” through regional assessments which would oust the requirement for project-level assessments for a broad range of “pre-approved” infrastructure and industrial development in such zones
• Eviscerate current federal permitting regimes in relation to navigation, ocean dumping, fish and fish habitat, and exempt major projects from the critically important provision in the Species at Risk Act which prohibits the federal Minister from issuing permits for activities that may jeopardize the survival or recovery of species at risk (i.e. orcas)
• Allow unspecified early construction activities for major projects to occur well before an impact assessment decision has been made to approve or reject the project.

The BEA Board approved the following position statement in response to the Government of Canada’s proposal.

My name is David Laing. I am 74 years old and have been living in Brampton Ontario for close to 50 years. I am also the President of the Brampton Environmental Alliance, and I am writing this submission both on my own behalf as well as that of the Alliance. After reviewing the “Getting Major Projects Built in Canada” discussion paper I have grave concerns about the direction being taken by the Government of Canada as outlined therein.

I have lived long enough to experience a time before there were robust environmental protection regulations in Canada, particularly in Ontario, when Lake Erie was considered to be a “dead lake” with no oxygen to support aquatic life, when Lake Ontario was so polluted that water activities such as swimming and paddleboarding in the Lake were considered unthinkable, when toxic effluent floating on the Don River was so concentrated that it actually caught fire on more than one occasion. If enacted, I fear that the proposals in this discussion paper will be taking us back to those times, of the environmental wild west in the name of economic growth. Surely there must be a better way for Canadians to address the threats to our national sovereignty than to destroy the very essence of what makes Canada great.

The purpose of having environmental regulations is to allow governments to make challenging decisions about which parts of our environment should be saved or destroyed based on scientific evidence and expert analysis. Their purpose shouldn’t be to merely slow down project implementation but to decide if a project should proceed or not. That analysis may take a year, or it may take 10 depending on project complexity and how much is known about the impact on affected eco-systems. Some projects simply shouldn’t be built because of the level of damage they will cause, no matter how much economic growth potential they promise. Do we really want to put the fate of Canada’s natural heritage assets in the hands of politicians who are almost always driven by 4- or 5-year election cycles and are prone to populist pressures? We think not.

Making decisions that cause environmental destruction must be carried out with the utmost care and with as much knowledge as possible. The stakes are very high, and the likelihood of “unintended consequences” is significant. We must be conscious of the fact that, once an ecosystem is destroyed, it is gone for decades, once a species is extinct, it is gone forever.

For environmental regulations to be truly effective, they must act more like a constitutional framework, representing the fundamental values of the country and its citizens. Support for the environment cannot be viewed as a “fashion statement”, in favour today, and out of favour tomorrow or next year. We must find out from Canadians what aspects of Canada they hold truly dear. The unique aspects of this country, such as the Salish Sea Orca, the rich aquatic eco-systems of the Douglas Channel and the eco-system services provided by the peat bogs of Northern Ontario, to name but a few. Only then can we truly know what should be saved and what can be sacrificed in the name of economic growth.

Accordingly, the BEA supports CELA’s position that being to, “immediately withdraw the ill-conceived Discussion Paper proposals which, if implemented, would constitute the most significant rollback of federal environmental laws in recent decades”. Like CELA, members of the BEA do not oppose economic activity, good jobs, or sustainable resource management.

As inspiration, I recommend that the Government look to the Haida Nation with the sustainable practices they have implemented with their vast wealth of forest, fish, and minerals, and the excellent relationships they have established with the B.C. Government as well as the various extraction industries. The Haida have managed to find that delicate balance, where the environment and the economy support each other helping to ensure the health of current and future generations by not repeating the mistakes of the past. I believe that most Canadians want what we want, economic prosperity in the context of strong(er) environmental protections, ensuring that, what we hold dear about Canada, will last forever.

David Laing – President, Brampton Environmental Alliance

https://bramptonea.org 416-402-3778

What if your front yard, backyard, or boulevard could become a haven for bees, butterflies, and the plants that sustain them — right here in Brampton?

​Join us for a guided walk and talk at Dorchester Park with a representative from the Friends and Stewards of Dorchester Park — a passionate group of neighbours who have been quietly transforming this green space, one native plant at a time.

​This guided, interactive outdoor walk is designed to connect residents with real, local climate action happening right in our community. At each stop along the route, you’ll hear short talks, stories, and see firsthand demonstrations of what community-led environmental stewardship looks like on the ground.

​You’ll discover:

•  ​Which native plants and pollinators call Brampton home
• ​What the neighbours have planted and nurtured at Dorchester Park — and why it matters for local biodiversity and climate resilience
• ​Simple, practical ways you can bring this work into your own neighbourhood

​Whether you have a balcony, a backyard, or a patch of sidewalk garden, this walk will leave you inspired and equipped to take action where you live.

​The event is open to all residents, families, and youth — anyone curious about climate action in a local context is welcome.

​Light refreshments will be provided.

​A few things to know before you come:

• ​ This is a rain or shine event — dress for the weather!
• ​ Please bring your own water bottle
• ​ Pre-registration is required — space is limited to 20 attendees

Food

The meeting started with informal networking, snacks and refreshments provided by The Food Quotient

Notable Guests

The meeting was attended by several notable guests including:

• Ruby Sahota- MP Brampton North – Caledon, Secretary of State (Combatting Crime) 
• Sonia Sidhu – MP Brampton South,
• Graham McGregor – MPP Brampton North, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism
• Dr. Therese Chan – Dean Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Medicine
• Sharanjit Kaur – Chief Administration Officer TMU School of Medicine,
• Dr. Priya Chopra – Course Director TMU School of Medicine
• Dayana Gomez – Executive Director, Credit Valley Conservation Foundation

Speakers

Pam Cooper, Manager of Environmental Planning at the City of Brampton, provided an overview of City environmental plans and activities. Things to look forward to in 2026 from Brampton include:

• Grow Green Festival and Awards Ceremony – Saturday June 6th at Jim Archdekin Recreation Centre,
• Climate Change Adaptation Plan
• Invasive Species Management Plan
• Numerous Community Stewardship Events and
• A Mystery Restoration Project (details to be announced soon).

Karen Wirsig, Senior Program Manager with Environmental Defence then spoke about how her organization is continuing to challenge the Province’s plans:

• To build highway 413 when there are more effective options for moving goods and services within the GTA,
• To import fracked natural gas from the United States to meet Ontario’s energy needs when local renewable energy can be provided more reliably and at less cost,
• To support the expansion of a Brampton-based waste burning facility that will become the largest in Canada, rather than implementing policies to reduce non-recyclable packaging and encouraging proper waste separation.

Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO Brampton Board of Trade spoke about the role and responsibility of businesses to protect the environment and reduce emissions that contribute to climate change.

He said that consumers can use their purchasing power to make businesses more environmentally responsible and that, when businesses become more environmentally conscious they do so at scale which truly does have a positive global impact.

Dr. Theresa Chan, Founding Dean of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine and their Vice-President of Medical Affairs.

Dr. Chan spoke about the importance of working with the community in collaborations and partnerships for the betterment of health outcomes. TMU is engaging first year medical students in a community project (CAP), where teams of students collaborate with a community partner on a project that deeply affects community health. The team working with the Brampton Environmental Alliance is focusing on the health impacts of air quality in the environment.

BEA Environmental Awards

• Civic Leadership Awards
  • Rowena Santos, City and Regional Councillor Wards 1 & 5 for her work in championing various environmental causes and events throughout the city both as Councillor and as Brampton’s representative, both nationally and abroad
  • Graham McGregor, Brampton North MPP and Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism for his work advocating for funding Brampton’s wetlands restoration work
• Eco-citizen Award
  • Cindy Evans for her project leadership over the past 2 years working with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as part of the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhoods Program
• Corporate Sustainability Award
  • Medtronic Canada for its work, collaborating with community organizations to educate its employees on the importance of environmental sustainability,
• Green Organization Award
  • People Against Littering for its tireless efforts in organizing clean up events to make Brampton the first litter-free city in Canada

BEA Business Meeting

David called the business meeting to order

• Approval of 2025 AGM minutes – moved by Steve Papagiannis, carried
• Election of Board of Directors:
  • Board Executive
    • David Laing – President,
    • Steve Papagiannis – Vice-President,
    • Harry Bridgemohan, Treasurer,
    • Dayle Laing, Secretary
  • Board Members
    • Amisha Moorjani,
    • Chaya Chengappa,
    • Ghazanfar Jawaid,
    • Gunjan Sharda,
    • Polly Thornham,
    • Sumit Sharda,
    • Yarim Hinojosa,
    • Rhythm Verma,
    • Gauravi Sani,
    • Jashan Gill,
    • Rajbalinder Ghatoura
  • Moved by Polly Thornham, carried
• Treasurer’s Report presented by Harry Bridgemohan
  • Harry indicated the BEA is in a strong cash position entering into 2026 with positive prospects for the coming year
  • Motion to approve the Treasurer’s Report – Dayle Laing, carried
• President’s Report
  • David provided an overview of what environmental sustainability in Brampton looks like over the coming years and how it fits within the City’s 2040 vision document, “A cultural Mosaic”. He spoke about the role of the BEA in making that vision become a reality, acting as a strong voice for advocacy and as a catalyst bringing together, individuals, groups, corporations and institutions for the greater good of the community.
  • BEA Priorities for 2026
    • Increase impact on local government policy through projects like ClimateFast,
    • Build on strategic relationships with other environmental groups, conservation authorities, educational institutions, professional organizations, and city and regional departments
    • Participate in collaborative projects including Bramalea SNAP, TMU CAP, the City’s One-Million Trees Program, BEA loves Pollinators project, and the Credit Valley Trail
    • Continue growing BEA’s reach and impact through increased social media, tabling opportunities and educational seminars and workshops
• The meeting was adjourned at 8:26pm followed by informal networking

The Youth!

The Certificate

2025 Year end Video

Do you believe in a cleaner, healthier, more environmentally sustainable Brampton?
Imagine a city where we can protect green spaces, reduce waste, promote healthier lifestyles, and work together on environmental solutions that matter?

Look no further, it’s…

Brampton Environmental Alliance!

 We want you to be a part of this initiative.
We are a community-wide network of people and organizations with a vision for Brampton to be a place that is environmentally, socially and economically resilient for everyone.

Why you should join

• Advocacy with Impact:
  Your voice contributes to a collective effort that advocates for key environmental priorities in our city, including clean water, zero waste, sustainable transportation, climate resiliency, and local biodiversity.
• Meaningful Events and Engagement :
  BEA organizes and supports community events and educational activities, from workshops and campaigns to local environmental celebrations, that raise awareness and bring people together
• Education and Shared Resources :
  Gain access to valuable environmental knowledge, tools, volunteer opportunities, and resources that will help you make even greater contributions locally
• Collaboration and Networking :
  Connections with like-minded residents, community groups, non-profits, and environmental leaders unlock new opportunities to learn, partner, and make change happen
• Grow your Reach:
  Whether you’re an individual, student, or organization, membership helps expand your capacity to impact Brampton’s sustainability journey through collective action

Your Membership Makes a Difference ,

• Add your voice to community-wide environmental advocacy campaigns
• Participate in shaping BEA priorities and actions
• Be part of a respected city-wide network that’s focused on driving real change
• Stay informed with newsletters and educational events
• Gain opportunities to volunteer
• Contribute to an organization that is 100% volunteer led and that contributes to the community on your behalf and on behalf of Brampton’s environmental sustainability

When we work together as a community, our impact grows stronger every day! Together we can:

1. Protect natural habitats and water resources
2. Promote sustainable living and community well-being
3. Build a legacy of environmental stewardship in Brampton

This is more than membership!! It’s your chance to be a part of the movement that’s shaping our future in the place where we live, work, and play.

 Join today!

The Brampton Environmental Alliance is pleased to invite
members and guests to the
Annual General Meeting.

When: Monday March 2, 2026
6:00-8:30pm
Where: Unifor Local 1285 Hall,
1 – 23 Regan Road
Brampton ON L7A 1B2

Members will elect the 2026 BEA Board and help the Alliance determine its priorities for 2026 and beyond. The action-packed agenda will cover topics of interest including:

• Monitoring Brampton’s Air Quality (impact of the Emerald expansion),
• Environmental Priorities – a city of Brampton perspective
• Environmental Sustainability – A Brampton business perspective
• On the Campaign Trail – Making the environment an 2026 municipal election issue

We are pleased to welcome the following guest speakers:

• Pam Cooper – Manager, Environmental Planning, City of Brampton
• Karen Wirsig – Environmental Defence
• Jaipaul Massey Singh – CEO, Brampton Board of Trade

Register to receive agenda updates
The meeting is free and open to EVERYONE whether a BEA member or not.
(Only BEA members are allowed to vote on BEA business matters).

Space is limited. Register now to reserve your seat

You will be automatically added to the list to receive agenda updates and newsletters

According to the Canadian Climate Institute, “Climate-related damages increase the average household’s cost of living by $700 each year, in the form of higher grocery bills due to supply-chain disruptions, rising home insurance premiums and tax hikes to pay for disaster recovery and infrastructure repairs“. That figure is expected to rise to over $2,000 annually by 2050.

An Insurance Bureau of Canada report cited in the Globe and Mail January 13, 2025, tallied insured damage from severe weather events at $8.5-billion, shattering the previous $6-billion record set in 2016 when a wildfire burned much of Fort McMurray to the ground. The Globe goes onto report that, “the 2024 tally was triple the losses recorded in 2023, and 12 times the annual average of $701-million in the decade between 2001 and 2010“.

These costs are expected to continue rising significantly over the coming decades even as the quality of life for the average Canadian deteriorates. Many homes in risk-prone areas will be deemed uninsurable at any cost. Declining air quality and increased number of 30 degree plus days will combine to keep Canadians indoors more frequently, depriving us of much needed recreation time in nature.

When we are allowed to go outside in the future, the plants and animals that we experience will be very different from today. That is the key finding of a 2024 study conducted by University of Toronto postdoctoral researcher, Alessandro Filazzola and Marc Johnston the former director of UoT’s Centre for Urban Environments. 

Analyzing the climate change effects on more than 2,000 animal species in the 60 most populated cities in Canada, the research pair predicts every city in the study will experience substantial urban species losses. Toronto, for example, could see up to 195 species disappear by the end of this century. The study notes that as urban ecosystems continue to transform due to global warming, shifts in our urban wildlife will have implications for our cultural identity and our mental health. As Professor Johnson says, “We know that having more green space and natural areas around us is very important for our well-being. If we lose nature, and the animals associated with it, it can negatively affect our psychological health.” 

So, in light of these high stakes, what has the Brampton Environmental Alliance done in 2025 to protect our local environment?

In closing let me say that the BEA couldn’t engage in any of these activities without your support both moral and financial. When representatives from the BEA speak to civic leaders about environmental issues and priorities it’s critical that we represent the views of thousands of Brampton residents who are concerned about environmental sustainability but who are limited in their ability to be involved. We still want and need to hear from you.

You can provide feedback in several ways. The simplest is to send us an email and let us know how we are doing. Tell us what you like or what you want to see changed. You can also tag us through social media on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.

Save the date to attend our annual general member meeting the evening of March 2nd, 2026. We’d love to meet you in person. Agenda and other details will be published soon.

Finally, we know times are tough but, if you can, please consider joining the BEA as a paid member. Our annual dues are very reasonable and these fees allow us to pay for things like our website, insurance and other administrative expenses.

Of course these projects and activities won’t solve the climate crisis or address the problems noted above by themselves. And there is always more that we should be doing. But it’s a start. It’s something positive. And maybe, just maybe, it will be the catalyst to encourage others. For sure it’s better than doing nothing besides hoping things will somehow work themselves out. They won’t. It’s up to use to help ourselves and each other. That’s our intention for 2026. Please join us in whatever way you are able.

Wishing all of you all the best for a happy, healthy, and environmentally sustainable 2026!