In this edition:
1. Victory! Provincial Government Bans Used Oil Burning
2. Provincial NDP introduce Community Right to Know Act
3. Toronto’s New Council - Up To The Environmental Challenge?
4. Update on Toronto Public Health’s “Access to Environmental Information” Strategy
5. Upcoming CRTK Citizen’s Guide Workshop - You’re Invited!
1. Provincial Government Bans Used Oil Burning
On Thursday, January 11th, the Ontario government introduced a draft
regulation to ban the burning of used oil in space heaters. Burning used
oil releases highly toxic pollutants into our air and the ban will serve to
better protect public health and the environment. About 700 facilities such
as auto repair centres and dealerships throughout Ontario burn the
equivalent of 2.5 million oil changes for heat. They will have until June
1, 2009 to divert their used oil rather than discharging it into the
environment. No new approvals will be issued.
In the spring of 2006, TEA disclosed information on over 40 facilities in
Toronto that have the right to burn motor oil (see map attachment below)
even though the City of Toronto passed a bylaw banning the practice in 2000.
TEA’s disclosure triggered outcry from the City of Toronto and resident
groups; thank you for lending your voice and taking action on this campaign!
The ban will not only improve air quality but will also remove a potential
health threat to workers and local residents.
2. Provincial NDP introduce Community Right to Know Act
ACT REQUIRING LABELLING OF CARCINOGENS IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS PASSES SECOND
READING
In early December, the Ontario legislature took another step forward towards
making Ontario the first jurisdiction in Canada to identify carcinogens on
consumer product labels, and to give communities comprehensive information
about pollutants emitted into their environment by passing the Community
Right to Know Act, Bill 164, at second reading. Tabled by NDP Environment
Critic Peter Tabuns, this legislation has now been directed to go to the
Regulations and Private Bills committee.
Community Right to Know legislation is a fixture in jurisdictions like
California, Vermont, and the European Union, in contrast, Ontario and Canada
as whole lag far behind.
Under California’s twenty-year-old community right to know initiative,
manufacturers are required to disclose to consumers that a known or
suspected toxin is present in a product, via information labels. This
initiative has prompted businesses on several occasions to remove known or
suspected carcinogens from commercial goods.
Comprehensive pollution inventories in the United States have also helped
communities in pressing government and industry to implement strategies that
lower emissions.
A host of environmental groups and health advocates, including the Toronto
Environmental Alliance, the Canadian Environmental Law Association and the
Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control, have long called for Community Right
to Know measures and have endorsed Tabuns’ bill.
3. Toronto’s New Council - Up To The Environmental Challenge?
In November 2006, Toronto elected a new council, and among the winners were
seven new councillors. The composition of the new council marked a decided
shift towards green issues. TEA’s candidate report card shows that the Mayor
and over half of the elected council received high marks on their candidate
survey and/or their past environmental voting record. To see the survey
results go to:
http://www.torontoenvironment.org/files/2006ElectionSurvey
TEA's campaign for a Community Right to Know (CRTK) bylaw was one area of
specific interest in our survey. TEA sees this campaign as the biggest
environmental issue to engage City Council since the Pesticide bylaw debate
in 2003.
Our air and water quality suffer daily from industrial pollution, yet we
have no right to know when our community is being polluted. The City could
give us that right by adopting a CRTK bylaw to tackle pollution and
mandating companies to create pollution prevention plans, and report on
their use of dangerous toxics.
Council needs to deliver on its promise, made over six years ago, and make a
push for this bylaw early in its new term in order to win our respect. If
they do so, they will set a new precedent for pollution disclosure and
prevention in Canada. Expect the industry lobby to shake Council’s resolve.
Also expect TEA to stand firm in defence of the environment.
4. Update on Toronto Public Health’s “Access to Environmental Information”
Strategy
Toronto Public Health (TPH) recently held stakeholder consultations with
industry, community and environmental groups and they also consulted with
City Divisions to gain an understanding of the opportunities and challenges
associated with developing a publicly accessible environmental reporting
program in Toronto. A TPH report is expected out in early spring. TEA will
keep you informed of it’s release and how to get involved at City Hall.
Past reports are available at:
www.toronto.ca/health/hphe/enviro_info.htm
Along with reports, this website includes summaries of stakeholder
consultations and offers people the opportunity to contribute their opinions
via email, phone or fax.
5. Upcoming CRTK Citizen’s Guide Workshop - You’re Invited!
The guide is full of great information including an explanation of what CRTK
is, benefits of CRTK, how to access current environmental information, how
to start good neighbour campaigns, U.S. CRTK examples, what the City of
Toronto needs to do, etc...
Workshops... please sign up your community group and we’ll help organize the
meeting. The next workshop will be held on:
Date: Monday, February 12, 2007
Where: Thistletown Community Centre
925 Albion Rd. (one block east of Islington), North Etobicoke
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Snacks and beverages included.
Please RSVP to Lina Cino, lina@torontoenvironment.org or 416-596-0660.
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