"PCP - A Commitment to What, Exactly?"
🧱 Mini Paris Accord Series — Article 4
By Maggie Braun | KICLEI Canada
🧠 This Article at a Glance:
This fourth article in our Mini Paris Accord Series, reviews a deceptively simple clause connected to page 2 of the PCP joining resolution.
At first glance, it appears harmless — procedural housekeeping:
➡️ Review responsibilities,
➡️ Notify FCM and ICLEI,
➡️ Begin participation.
But in reality, this clause quietly commits a municipality to a sweeping, long-term climate program:
Not rooted in local mandates or core municipal services
Adopted without public debate, referendum, or legal and fiscal review
Structured around a five-step framework created by global organizations, not local communities
“BE IT RESOLVED that the municipality of ___________________________________ review the guidelines on PCP Member Benefits and Responsibilities and then communicate to FCM and ICLEI Canada its participation in the PCP program and its commitment to achieving the milestones set out in the PCP five-milestone framework.”
📋 What Councils Are Actually Committing To (Page 2):
By passing the PCP resolution, councils formally agree to:
Complete all five PCP milestones within 10 years
Align local governance with international targets like net-zero by 2050
Use ICLEI/FCM protocols to track emissions and guide infrastructure planning
Embed GHG reductions into budgets, planning, and local bylaws
Apply vendor tools and policy templates developed outside their community
This is not just a “network.” It is an implementation tool for UN climate objectives, applied through your local council.
📑 What’s in the Member Benefits & Responsibilities? (Page 2)
Found on page 2 of the resolution documents, the PCP “Member Benefits and Responsibilities” outlines what municipalities are expected to:
Move through all five milestones within 10 years
Report on progress every two years
Participate in training, workshops, and the PCP ICLEI network
Use ICLEI-approved emissions tools and protocols (like the PCP Milestone Tool) for tracking and compliance
You receive:
Letters of recognition
Access to funding through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF)
Guidance from FCM/ICLEI climate staff
🔓 The Key Detail: It’s Voluntary — and So Is Withdrawal:
“If your municipality is not able to meet the PCP program requirements, you can always leave the program and rejoin it at a later date.”
This line is crucial.
There is no legal, federal or provincial requirement to join PCP. It is entirely voluntary. And any council can vote to withdraw at any time.
⚖️ Is This Even a Municipal Responsibility?
Municipalities in Canada are creatures of the province — their authority is delegated through provincial laws like Ontario’s Municipal Act, Alberta’s Municipal Government Act, and BC’s Community Charter.
These acts assign municipalities responsibility for local priorities, including:
Roads and infrastructure
Water, waste, and utilities
Land use planning and zoning
Local transit and public safety
Parks, recreation, and community services
Municipalities are not delegated authority to:
Implement international climate frameworks
Report emissions data to global entities
Commit to carbon offset schemes or net-zero enforcement
Yet the PCP program pushes councils well outside their core mandate — into multi-year emissions tracking, policy redesign, and vendor commitments based on UN-aligned targets— and without the constitutional authority to enforce these obligations.
There is no provincial law requiring this. It’s a voluntary political alignment — one that deserves legal review, public input, and informed consent.
🗳️ The Bigger Issue: No Public Consent
Across Canada, councils are adopting the PCP resolution:
Without consulting voters
Without public hearings or referendum
Without a legal or constitutional review
Without a full cost-benefit analysis
Without disclosing that the program was co-designed by ICLEI and the United Nations
This isn’t just a feel-good commitment or minor operational change.
It’s a structural shift in how local planning, infrastructure, and budgets are directed — embedding climate compliance into every decision, often without the knowledge or consent of the public.
That’s not democracy. That’s policy by stealth.
At minimum, Canadians deserve:
Transparency about where these frameworks originate
Clear disclosure of financial and operational impacts
And the right to say yes or no to transformative programs that bypass local priorities
🛠️ What You Can Do:
🔹 Ask your councillor: Did you review the full PCP responsibilities?
🔹 Emphasize: Participation is voluntary — and withdrawal is an option
🔹 Request a legal opinion and cost-benefit analysis before adoption
🔹 Share this article with neighbours, officials, and local media
🔹 Use KICLEI’s FCM Withdrawal Toolkit to start the conversation
📎 [Download the Toolkit] → (Insert link)
👀 Next Article:
We look at how the final clause of the PCP resolution goes beyond policy — appointing one councillor and one staff member as official program contacts. These individuals become the local agents of a global initiative, guiding policy from within and shaping your community’s path without public mandate.
In local service,
Maggie Braun
KICLEI Canada
🛠 How to Get Involved
🧾 KICLEI Quick Support Request Form
KICLEI offers tailored help for Canadians engaging their council on global directives, transparency, or FCM/ICLEI concerns. We provide draft resolutions, research, media support, and strategy. Fill in the basics and we’ll follow up promptly.
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