POWER IN NUMBERS

 And there is power in numbers, not only politically but economically too, as women are believed to control a large share of household spending in Canada.

“So when we decide, for example, what kind of stove to buy, or what kind of housing decision to make, or even what kind of consumer goods to buy, what food to feed our families, that has a major impact on the economy within Canada…. We can really wield that power to make sure that the right decisions are happening,” stated Lem.

As a doctor, Lem also suggests parents provide more of a plant-based diet not only for the health of their kids but the environment too.

But swearing off meat has been a touchy subject for some Canadians, especially in Alberta.

TAKING ACTION IN ALBERTA

It’s part of a larger public opinion puzzle that Claire Kraatz, a mother of two, is trying to navigate as she helps launch a new For Our Kids chapter in cattle country.

“I think the health impacts will be quite significant,” she said. “We see it in the summertime with all the fire last summer. [It] was weeks on end.”

Kraatz teamed up with another Alberta mom from Camrose to launch online meetings on how they can best take action.

“She and I teamed up on Twitter and decided it was time for us to do something together and try and rally the troops across the province to join us,” Kraatz said, adding she couldn’t leave all the climate action work to her two teenaged sons — one of whom has a great love for the outdoors.

Since launching in February, the first goal is to build a community of like-minded Albertans and then connect with other environmental groups in the province.