Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat – On Thursday December 4, Toronto’s Infrastructure & Environment Committee (IEC) will vote on a motion from Councillor Dianne Saxe that could reshape the city’s electricity future. Environmental Defence, Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE), Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) and ClimateFast have requested to delegate (speak) to the Committee in support of the motion.
The motion (2025.IE26.14) calls on the city to reject the province’s electricity plan and direct Toronto Hydro to develop a locally driven, clean-energy plan that phases out the Portlands Energy Centre (PEC)—Toronto’s #1 source of smog-forming pollution and a major climate emitter—by 2035.
Councillor Saxe’s proposal calls for an electricity plan built on advanced energy efficiency, renewable energy and battery storage to meet Toronto’s needs while cutting pollution and lowering energy bills. This motion would help strengthen energy security by reducing dependence on imported U.S. gas and enriched uranium.
WHAT: IEC debate and vote on motion 2025.IE26.14 — directing the city to develop a clean-energy alternative to the provincial plan and phase out the Portlands gas plant by 2035.
WHEN: Thursday, December 4, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Available to comment before and after the agenda item.
WHERE: Committee Room 1, Toronto City Hall. 100 Queen St. W., Toronto.
WHO:
- Emily Hunter, Senior Program Manager, Environmental Defence
- Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance
- Dr. Mili Roy, Co-Chair of the Ontario Regional Committee of CAPE, Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)
- David Robertson, Toronto East Residents for Renewable Energy (TERRE)
- Lyn Adamson, Co-Chair, ClimateFast and Ontario Climate Emergency Campaign
BACKGROUND
- In June 2024, City Council requested the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) develop a plan to phase out the Portlands Energy Centre by 2035 (except for rare emergencies) to help meet the city’s climate commitments.
- The province’s draft regional electricity plan would keep PEC running for decades and double down on gas and expensive nuclear expansion.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
– 30 –
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Tamara Latinovic, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca
