If the "Super" El Niño comes to pass, this will be a season like no other, with an increase in catastrophic events. There is already a murderous heat dome in Europe.

That’s why we have updated the template letters for you to send to your MP with one easy click. Scroll down the home page to "First wildfires and now drought". 

This type of action is not negligible.  MPs are feeling the pressure on several issues, in part thanks to the Community and Resilience and Resistance campaign (CRR).  See below.

In the meantime, the Canadian media have been reporting widely on the big, recent climate stories: carbon pricing, an LNG pipeline facing serious opposition; the proposed electricity grid and Guilbeault's resignation.  Keep up to date with news from our FB page and other social media. (See below.)

The PCAC will have a new page on the website with their remarkable actions and materials to date.  Read their brief on the Federal 2026-2029 Sustainable Development Strategy.

Riding events continue to grow.  Toronto, for example, now has eight ridings involved in the campaign.  Every riding where SCAN! shows up monthly has a somewhat different approach.  Several are collaborating with other organizations.  But we cannot just rely on dialogue with our MPs; we are there to put pressure on them to bring our demands to the federal government.  And they know we’re coming…  Check out the CRR page on the website to see us in action. 

Toronto

Members joined an anti-Ford protest at the end of May where about a thousand people listened to speeches and marched around Queen’s Park.  There were two speakers on climate, one of whom was a SCAN! member. Pictured above, members at a health care rally and march a few days earlier. It's all connected.  Building a movement includes creating allies and showing up for them.

Regrettably, the maximum heat by-law so hotly anticipated will not be brought forward this year, although some local councillors are tring to revive it.  Other chapters watching Toronto's progress will hopefully still feel encouraged to advocate for tenants at risk.  The story was well covered in the National Observer.

As mentioned above, the CRR campaign has expanded to an 8th riding.

They set up a table at Earthfest in downtown London. Organizers had a head count of 2,500, and they had conversations with over 120 people. Many signed a Seniors For Climate petition which was delivered to MP Arielle Kayabaga in May. Among those stopping by for a chat and signing was Canada’s foremost Climatologist, Dr. Gordon McBean.

Guelph

SCAN! Guelph co-sponsored the film, "Mission to Marsh" for Earth Week.  It is an informative and inspiring tour - a wide range of wetlands of the Americas, documented by an adventurous and charming German couple, Anni and Alex Kornelsen.  

They also posted a display on SCAN!'s climate action at one of the Guelph Public Library's branches for the month of April.

“SCAN! Guelph Climate Action:  Divest from RBC” took place in late April.  The support from passing drivers was overwhelmingly positive.  Another rally took place in late May.

A point of pride: the successful implementation of the 3rd Climate Quiz used to facilitate conversations with community members. They used the latest iteration of the quiz, up to date on the latest climate information stats, at the Farmer's Market on Earth Day.  People of all ages enjoyed the challenge, especially the chocolate bar they received for participating. Many then signed the petition against the federal Government's expansion of fossil fuels.

They met with MP Shipley in early May. 

Pictured above, their pizza party, thanks to 350.org

SCAN! Kingston has been campaigning for a maximum temperature bylaw to protect tenants from the impacts of extreme heat, for the past three years.  In April, Kingston City Council passed a pilot program to provide free air-conditioner units to low-income Kingstonians. 

Kingston and other chapters have been watching Toronto's progress including the recent delay in progress.

(Above, SCAN! member speaks to City Council) 

They developed a petition and a leaflet opposing the Liberal government’s planned expansion of LNG, and gathered close to 100 signatures on the first day. Going forward, to keep the pressure on MP Gerretsen and the Federal Liberals, they are planning to create some large graphics to increase their visibility with petitioning and leafleting. 

They are also drafting a leaflet on the Carney government’s abandonment of climate initiatives, environmental protections, and assault on democracy under Bills C-5, C-15.  It will include the latest announcements to create special Federal Economic Zones, suspend the Fisheries Act and Species at Risk Act, and to allow companies to start construction before any environmental review.

They are planning to have a table at the National Indigenous Peoples Day, on June 21.  It will focus on the LNG petition – in solidarity with Indigenous opposition to LNG. To keep pressure on MP Gerretsen, they will deliver petitions to his office and invite the press.  

SCAN! Kingston will have a table at the Kingston Climate Summit, June 3 and 4 at St. Lawrence College. The event is put on by Sustainability Kingston and is dedicated to local climate solutions.  

Earth Fest is supported by a number of participating local groups. The event will take place at Confederation Park on Saturday June 6, from 10 – 4. SCAN! Kingston will have an information table focusing on municipal issues. They have created a postcard, a map with municipal councillors, a list of 10 climate issues that people can prioritize and a list of municipal councillors who have declared their candidacy. They will deliver those post cards to City Hall.

Kingston Climate Justice Coalition, of which SCAN! Kingston is a founding member, has been working to delay a motion to expand city boundaries and to protect Kingston’s natural heritage. Their petition now has over 800 signatures. They won an extension of the deadline for public comment on the draft Official Plan for the City of Kingston. The Official Plan shapes how Kingston will grow  It contains climate and natural heritage policies that will affect their community for years to come.

As a result of this work, it now is likely that the expansion of urban boundaries that was being pushed by developers, will be delayed until after the municipal elections in October.

They participated in the No LNG demonstration at the Export Development Corporation in Ottawa. 

They held another rally with over thirty members and supporters.  The theme: “Open the door to Renewables” at the National Arts Centre.  They had props, a short video and photos, which got a lot of social media coverage. 

First, two credits: for the wildfire pic, Landon Parenteau; and for the Parliament buildings, Benoit Debaix.

SCAN!’s FB page gets a lot of traffic.  Some chapters have started a FB group or page.  For example, Toronto has a FB group.  There are also several Instagram accounts: scan_toronto, scan_ottawa, edmontonseniorsclimateaction, scankingston.  As well, many of us follow the Seniors For Climate Instagram account: climateseniors.

It is always important to amplify to get the message out.  It’s great to “like” but better to “share”.

Because of restrictions imposed by Facebook on publishing Canadian news, we are publishing the main issues of articles and referring people to the source material as well as Bluesky. 

You can follow us on Bluesky @seniorsfcan.bluesky.social; Instagram: scan.canada

Despite restrictions, we are doing our best to help people keep up to date. 

Readers of this newsletter who are not yet members are welcome to join as members any time.  Go to the web site and click on Join us".
Questions? email us: info@seniorsforclimateactionnow.org