Report Card Grades Candidates on Environment

new council could be greenest in history

Nov.6, 2006

Media Release

(Toronto) - Today, the Toronto Environmental Alliance released its Elect Environment Report Card for the Municipal Election on November 13th. The report card, based on incumbent voting records and candidate surveys shows that past polarization on environment at City Council may be erased on November 13th.

While a full 40% of council incumbents received failing marks for their voting records, 80% of responding candidates received an A or A+ for TEA's Elect Environment Survey.

"Based on our report card results and the fact that there are 7 open seats in Toronto, we think Torontonians could elect the greenest City Council since amalgamation," stated Katrina Miller of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

TEA polled candidates on a variety of environmental initiatives due to be debated by City Council during the next term. At the top of the list is an Air Quality Strategy to reduce smog causing pollutants 20% by 2010, as well as a bylaw to force local industries to report pollution released to Toronto's air, water and land to the public - aptly called a Community Right to Know By-law.

100 City Council Candidates, including over half of all incumbents, completed the survey and received a grade.

TEA also polled and graded Mayoral candidates, 10 of which completed the survey.

"We're pleased to award Mayor David Miller with an A for his voting record and an A+ for his formal commitment to every initiative in our election survey," commented Miller, "We are equally disappointed that Mayoral Candidate Jane Pitfield refused to respond to our survey, calling her commitment to the environment into question."

Report card results and candidate survey answers are available to voters on the website here. The report card will be distributed directly to voters through TEA's e-newsletter and its door-to-door canvass.

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For more information contact Katrina Miller or Bob Fugere: 416-596-0660.