Newsletter,September 14, 2026
Hello Gasbusters,
We have been engaging with City staff and tracking where municipal election candidates stand on gas-powered landscaping equipment.
The October Municipal Election: Six Weeks to Make a Difference
Toronto’s municipal election is just six weeks away.
The height of the leaf blower season is here—and so is our opportunity to turn growing public concern about gas-powered leaf blowers into political action.
Gasbusters is stepping up the pressure at City Hall. But we also need to step up our support for the Councillors who are prepared to act.
Our Work at City Hall
Councillor Dianne Saxe has been one of Gasbusters’ strongest supporters at City Hall. Last November, City Council passed her motion calling on the city, businesses and residents to refrain from using highly polluting engines such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index reaches the high- to very-high-risk range of 7–10.
That was a significant victory for Gasbusters. It put the health and air-quality risks of two-stroke gas-powered equipment directly on the City’s agenda recognizing that using this noisy, highly polluting equipment is especially inappropriate when Toronto is experiencing dangerous wildfire smoke.
But we are not finished.
Our goal remains clear: Toronto needs to aggressively phase out gas-powered lawncare equipment.
Now Is the Time to Support Those who Support Us
Councillor Saxe has given up her University–Rosedale seat to Michael Layton, another strong climate advocate, and is now running in Toronto–Danforth.
She is not yet well known across the Toronto–Danforth riding.
That is where we can help.
If Councillor Saxe is re-elected, Gasbusters will have a strong ally at City Hall who understands our campaign and has already demonstrated that she is prepared to act.
Six weeks. One election. One important opportunity.
To help Gasbusters advance the campaign to end gas-powered leaf blowers in Toronto, please lend your support to Councillor Saxe’s campaign.
Volunteer to call. Knock on doors. Put up a sign. Help get out the vote. Consider donating to her campaign.
The next stage of the Gasbusters campaign will be fought at City Hall. Let’s ensure we have Councillors who support us.
Thank you,
Gasbusters Organizing Committee
www.gasbusters.ca
