Thunder Bay Environmental Advocates Push for Green Building Standards Amid Housing Growth
As Thunder Bay, Ont., looks to expand its housing stock, environmental advocates are calling on the city to adopt green development standards (GDS) for new construction—guidelines aimed at improving energy efficiency and moving toward net-zero emissions.
The Thunder Bay Climate Transition Collaborative will present its proposal to city councillors on Monday. The group, made up of members from multiple climate-focused organizations, is working in partnership with the city’s sustainability co-ordinator and was supported by the Tamarack Institute in Waterloo to develop the plan.
“There’s a gradual progression toward net-zero through these targets,” said John Stephenson, a long-time architect and co-chair of the collaborative. “The impact developers will see is primarily in how they design their projects.”
Green development standards have already been introduced in over a dozen municipalities across Ontario, each adapted to local needs, Stephenson noted. He emphasized that the proposal is realistic and aligns with goals the city has already established.
Climate Emergency to Concrete Action
Thunder Bay declared a climate emergency in 2020, followed by the approval of a comprehensive net-zero strategy in 2021. That strategy sets ambitious targets for the building sector:
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90% of new construction to meet net-zero standards by 2030
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100% of homes built before 1980 retrofitted by 2030
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80% of commercial buildings retrofitted by 2030
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All municipal buildings to achieve net-zero status by 2035
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100% of homes built after 1980 retrofitted by 2040
To help homeowners meet these benchmarks, the city is developing a retrofit loan program, said Danielle Thom, Thunder Bay’s climate action specialist.
“Green development standards would definitely help us get there with new housing,” Thom said. “But it’s just one piece of the puzzle.”
She emphasized that GDS implementation will require broad engagement across sectors, especially to address affordability concerns and ensure sustainable solutions don’t become barriers to development.
“It’s really a balance between making life livable for people now and for future generations.”
Health and Environment Go Hand-in-Hand
Dr. Margaret Woods, a retired family physician and co-chair of the collaborative, views the push for green standards through a public health lens. A member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Woods warns of the growing health impacts of climate change, including heatwaves, wildfire smoke, and air pollution.
Health Canada estimates that air pollution leads to 6,600 premature deaths annually in Ontario. Woods believes adopting green building practices could significantly reduce these risks.
“If you have a healthy environment, typically you have a healthy community,” she said.
Timeline and Outlook
Stephenson and Woods hope to see a formal GDS plan in place within 12 to 18 months. Thom, however, anticipates a longer timeline—possibly up to three years of public engagement followed by an implementation phase.
Despite the challenges, all parties agree that the time to act is now.
“We recognize the city has a lot on its plate,” said Stephenson. “But green development standards don’t compete with other priorities—they support them.”
Thom added that the conversation around GDS is just beginning and urged residents and developers not to be discouraged.
“This talk isn’t bad and it shouldn’t be scary,” she said. “It’s about opening up the conversation and asking, ‘How can we get there?’”
