This week’s hidden experts, who have big ideas about creating more green roofs, permeable parking lots and urban farms, called out the mayoral candidates for their silence on environmental issues.

So the Star reached out to those vying for the chains of office, and asked: “What are your ideas to improve the environment in Toronto?”

David Soknacki: “The number one thing I can do if elected to improve the environment is to attack transportation gridlock. The key for me — and part of what drives my support for LRT on many corridors — is speed. The Commuter Relief Line is a subway priority, but otherwise we should focus on ways to get far more transit built more quickly.

“As the former chair of the board for the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, I also saw first-hand that environmental policy is best approached as a quest for better ideas. We shouldn’t just be looking for a broader tree canopy or more power efficiency. We should also be looking for ways that the public sector can work with private and non-profit partners as an experimental leader.

“If we’re creative, we can find hundreds of spaces in this city that can serve an environmental purpose, even as it serves a more conventional urban purpose.”

Karen Stintz: “Transit is one of my biggest priorities. One of the most important things we can do for the environment is to get people off the road by continuing to build, support and expand transit.

“The city already has a program called the Better Buildings Partnership, which provides support to businesses to make their buildings more eco-friendly. Energy-efficient buildings are cheaper to operate, and help make Toronto a greener, cleaner city.

“The environment hasn’t been a priority for the current mayor, and I know that the status quo is a powerful force. It’ll take leadership, which I’m committed to providing, to get these issues back on the front burner.”

John Tory: “I will make Toronto a more livable, affordable and functional city. A big part of that is building a greener and cleaner city.

“That means creating Smart Energy Communities that will focus on leveraging our own city assets, whether they (are) natural or built. We need to integrate energy, transportation and land use planning where people live, play and work.

“Much of our city’s tree canopy was damaged in the ice storm. I will roll out a plan to replant those trees across the city. I will also re-examine the approval process for clear-cutting trees in the city. We need to ensure we thoroughly consult with local communities.”

Olivia Chow: “Transportation is our city’s biggest source of emissions, and I have unveiled two practical ideas. The first is to boost bus service by increasing rush-hour capacity by 10 per cent.

“Second, I will build above-ground rail in Scarborough. This will be finished four years faster than below-ground.”

Chow’s ideas extend beyond transport, a campaign spokesman added. “Olivia has a strong record on energy efficiency, and programs like the Better Buildings Partnership are an excellent guide.

“We also need to better prepare for extreme weather events, which will increase due to climate change. (There) are practical ways to use roofs, hydro corridors and other spaces.”

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Mayor Rob Ford: Did not respond.

(Responses have been edited for length.)

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