Pursuing compensation for the cost of climate change to the City of Toronto - by Councillor Mike Layton, seconded by Councillor Mike Colle

Extreme weather is already causing massive damage to Toronto-area infrastructure, homes, services and businesses. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the Greater Toronto Area has had six "100 Year Storms" since 2005. These storms are a direct result of climate change and the resulting flooding has come with escalating costs to both taxpayers and insurers. The Insurance Bureau of Canada estimates that for every dollar in insured damages to homes and businesses, governments must spend three dollars to repair infrastructure. Cities across North America are beginning to deal with the question of who should help pay for these climate change-related costs. Given recent research highlighting the role of oil companies' impact on climate change and their involvement in decades-long efforts to cast doubt on climate science, City Council should explore joining New York, San Francisco and other major metropolitan cities in taking major oil companies to court. Just like tobacco companies knew their products caused cancer, but hid that information from the public, major oil companies have known for decades that their products would cause climate change. As tobacco companies have been held accountable for the health care costs associated with smoking, big polluters should have to pay their fair share for building a climate-safe City.

term cost implications of climate change to City of Toronto's infrastructure and programs, and any legal avenues to pursue compensation for these costs from major greenhouse gas emitters.