Article content continued

A large group of people demonstrated outside city hall before the committee meeting in support of Menard’s climate-emergency push. Many of them filed into the committee meeting.

An emotional Chloe Rourke said she took a vacation day to address the committee because the issue is important to her. She said climate change isn’t a partisan issue, calling on all politicians to make it a top priority.

“It is the only priority that will matter 20 years from now,” Rourke said. “Nothing else will matter if we don’t fix this problem.”

Mia Beijer, 16, of social justice group Future Rising Ottawa warned councillors of a “climate apocalypse” on the horizon, telling them the declaration of a climate emergency is only a start.

“Please,” Beijer told councillors, “don’t kill us. Save us.”

Hubley said he doesn’t have a problem with Menard’s proposal, except for his use of “emergency.” Hubley also doesn’t like relying on a hydro dividend surplus for programs, since a dividend surplus could vary or not exist in future years.

Darouze said he agrees climate change is a global issue, but he doesn’t agree with putting “fear in the residents of the City of Ottawa.” He also questioned if a council sponsors group is necessary when there’s already an environment committee.

Mayor Jim Watson said he supports the motion because “substance” was added to the motion, which received input from Moffatt.

“What he’s listed now is great,” Watson said in his office when asked about Menard’s motion. “Most of that is already in the works and being done, but at least it adds to the substance of the motion, so I’m happy to support it.”