Twenty years ago in 2004 Cochrane’s Town Council at that time voted to become a member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.  This program, consisting of a five-step milestone framework that guides the municipality to take action against climate change by reducing emissions in their municipality, was launched 30 years ago in 1994 as a joint initiative of the Canadian subsidiary of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI-Canada), or Local Governments for Sustainability-Canada, together with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). The PCP program is administered by these two organizations which have been a driving force behind the adoption of climate action plans across Canada.

Cochrane is among 25 Alberta municipalities listed as being members of the PCP program. It is doubtful that the current Town Council is even aware that the Town of Cochrane is a part of the PCP program. The intent of my presentation as a delegation to Town Council, “Cochrane’s Participation in the Partners for Climate Protection
(PCP) Program – Serving Local or Global Priorities?”, is to make the current Town Council aware of the town’s participation in the program and request that one of the Councillors makes a motion to withdraw Cochrane from its participation in the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program, thereby focusing on locally-driven priorities and not be driven by global initiatives driven by entities beyond our town.

As a minimum, hopefully my presentation will draw out the councillors to declare where they stand on such an issue, which will be good to know heading into the municipal election in October 2025.  If no Councillor makes a motion to remove the town from the PCP program, then that will indicate that they are all on board with the PCP program. If a councillor makes a motion, which I hope, then we will see where they stand individually on this matter of bowing to global priorities.

COME JOIN ME

My presentation will have a greater impact if there are many supporters in attendance during my presentation. Please do your best to be there. I would appreciate your support. The Council of the Whole Meeting starts at 6:00 pm and as “Delegations” appear very early in the agenda, plan to be there early like around 5:45 pm.