User:Shilohbouvette/Mike Layton

Mike Layton (born Nov. 16th 1978) is a Toronto-based environmentalist and community organizer. He is currently a City Council Candidate in Trinity-Spadina (Ward 19) for Toronto's 2010 election. Layton is the son of NDP Leader and former City Councillor Jack Layton, and has been active on a variety of local, municipal, provincial and federal issues.

Professional Experience
Since 2006, Mike Layton has worked for Environmental Defence, a national environmental charity that fights to protect the environment and human health, and reduce Canada’s contributions to climate change. As Deputy Director, Mike is responsible for programs related to protecting water and promoting green energy. In this role, he has organized the Green Energy Act Alliance, a coalition of environmental groups, industry associations, farmers and labour unions, to promote renewable energy and conservation in Ontario. This work resulted in the proclamation of the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. In 2009, the Alliance won NOW Magazine’s Best Environmental Group in Toronto.

Layton was the lead researcher for Environmental Defence’s Greening Canada’s Buildings: Report Card, which developed a framework for evaluating elements of federal and provincial policies regarding the environmental impact of buildings in Canada.

Layton also acted as the coordinator of the Water Guardians Network, an association of over 35 environmental and community organizations responsible for organizing efforts to support source water protection planning efforts in Ontario. He has researched and authored numerous reports related to water including: Up to the Gills: Pollution in Great Lakes and Fish, Down the Drain: Water Conservation in the Great Lakes Basin. He was a co-author of the Green Budget Coalition’s 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 budget recommendations concerning the Great Lakes.

Education
Layton graduated from the University of Toronto with a bachelor's degree in political science and received his master's degree in Environmental Studies from York University, with a focus on urban planning. He has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Professional Accreditation for sustainable buildings.

Community Experience
Layton currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors of Freshwater Future and is the Lake Ontario Board Member for Great Lakes United, both international environmental non-governmental organizations working to protect freshwater resources. He is on the Environment Canada Great Lakes Canadian Advisory Panel negotiating to amend the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and on the Great Lakes Commission Wind Collaborative Steering Committee, advising this international organization on wind power development in the Great Lakes area.