Dear editor:

Thank you for reporting on Lord Mayor Zalepa’s response to my question at the recent Virgil village meeting. I submitted the question on behalf of Seniors for Climate in Niagara.

My question was based on observing that although the town’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan was approved in 2022, nothing much has been done to implement it. I therefore asked: “When will the Lord Mayor and Council prioritize the official plan’s targets for “environment”?

As you reported, Zalepa answered that the climate change co-ordinator position (to advance the climate action plan) has been filled as of Monday, Feb. 3 (the day of the meeting).

This was good news because the position was not funded in the 2023 budget, and although approved in the 2024 budget, it wasn’t filled until 2025. This delay demonstrates that for a full two years the town’s leadership has been content to de-prioritize action on one of the most pressing concerns of our era.

At the meeting, Zalepa went on to say that the town has 27 climate change items in various stages of completion. That sounded good, and I was curious to get a better understanding of what it meant, so I turned to Coun. Sandra O’Connor for help.

She explained: “Pages 16 to 19 of the climate change adaptation plan list six goals with a combined total of 27 actions. These, I assume, are what Zalepa was referring to. Of these actions, two are on target. As far as I know, the remainder haven’t been started.

NOTL’s strategic plan lists several other environmental initiatives that have not yet been started.

Many municipalities are working consistently to make life in their communities healthier, safer and more sustainable in the face of climate change. Meanwhile, NOTL council has deferred and delayed. At Seniors for Climate in Niagara, we look forward to a better result during the final two years of its term.