Temperatures that would be expected in spring had people in southern Ontario wondering what happened to winter and government officials talking about their strategies for battling climate change.

Eleven degree temperatures in Toronto had people out bird watching and shedding their winter coats on Friday.

But the sight of budding plants in early January also had people thinking about what they can do to cut back on greenhouse gasses.

"I don't drive, I'm walking. I'm trying," one man told CTV's Alex Mihailovich.

While many were enjoying the mild weather, the continued warmth is causing problems for businesses that rely on snow for survival.

Ontario's largest ski resort announced 1,300 layoffs on Friday at a time when Blue Mountain should be busy.

"We're trying to make the best of things so that guests who still come to Blue will have a good time," spokesperson Kelly O'Neil told the Toronto Star. "But it's pretty tense."

The resort said they have not been able to build a good snow base for skiers. It is a first in the resort's 65-year history.

Employees were reportedly told they will not be needed for three weeks, but they could be called back early if the weather turns cold and snow can be made for the slopes.

In Toronto, Lloyd Gillham's business is suffering. The 78-year-old owner of Agincourt Auto Electric said sales of snow throwers have been far from brisk.

"We've been in Scarborough here for 40 years and I have never seen it this bad," Gillham said Friday.

Gillham added that his business has experienced bad years in the past, but nothing like this.

"We're a four-season country, really. Without them, we suffer."

Toronto's city council set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent over the next four years.

The chair of the Environment and Parks Committee said they are striving to reach the lofty target.

"It's very, very ambitious," Paula Fletcher said Friday. "I don't know of that many other cities that have set a target in that way."

Fletcher said that public transit is a top priority for city hall. They want to make taking a bus or train into Toronto's downtown core convenient and easy, which means an investment of cash.

"So money for public transit, commitment to public transit, not only by the city of Toronto but by other levels of government ... is obviously a very important issue for climate change," Fletcher said.

In Ottawa, the federal government's newly appointed Environment Minister will be shepherding along the much criticized Clean Air Act.

John Baird said Friday that he believes the act can work. He indicated that he plans to set politics aside to work with the opposition to improve the bill.

"What I want to do is work with the environmental movement," Baird said.

"What I want to do is work with members of Parliament of other parties. If we just put aside who will get the credit and focused on pushing the ball forward, I think we can do great things."

Bruce Cox, executive director of Greenpeace Canada, told the Canadian Press that he's "cautiously optimistic'' Baird will be able to effect change.

"He's an experienced politician,'' Cox said of Baird. "He's not hailing from the oil patch (like Ambrose), but comes out of heartland Ontario where (Conservatives) have to pick up seats. So we're hopeful that it's actually a policy change.''

With reports from CTV's Alex Mihailovich, Desmond Brown, Canada AM and files from The Canadian Press