Example Script

My name is…

(If you live in the councillor’s ward, make sure to mention it)
I am calling today to urge you to support the motion going before the Water, Waste, and Environment Committee on November 22nd to commission a study on phasing out natural gas use in Winnipeg.

I urge you to support this motion because…

[Choose one or two of the points below:]
As a future home buyer / homeowner…

• Consumer choice is important to me. Right now, most Winnipeggers end up choosing a home with natural gas heating by default. I would like to see greater support for people who desire other options for heating their home—especially when these other options, like geothermal, are not only cleaner but also more affordable in the long run.
  
• Phasing out natural gas would help save me on energy bills, escaping a volatile global market and the rising carbon price.
  

• I know that Council has a responsibility to plan for the future. Continuing to add new buildings that rely on natural gas at a time when the energy sector is moving in the opposite direction puts residents at financial risk, guaranteeing higher retrofit costs for homeowners in the future. 

As a parent / health professional / (anyone).....

• I am becoming more and more concerned as I read about the well-documented health risks associated with natural gas. Natural gas stoves can leak toxic chemicals that cause cancer, as well as childhood asthma—even when they are not in use. Natural gas infrastructure has also been shown to leak, polluting our neighbourhoods, schoolyards, and parks. It seems likely that we will soon consider natural gas in the same category as lead paint or asbestos!
  As someone concerned about the impact of climate change on my community and on the planet….
• Phasing out natural gas is one of the most straightforward and cost-effective actions the city can take on climate, and many other cities across Canada and the US are already further ahead than us. Since burning natural gas produces almost half of Winnipeg’s emissions, meeting our climate targets without drastically reducing natural gas use is impossible. The Province is also setting an agenda to phase out natural gas. This report would prepare the City to be a partner in the energy transition and help ensure changes fit Winnipeg's urban context.