Toronto, June 19, 2008

FORTY SIX COMMUNITY & SOCIAL GROUPS SIGN ON TO COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW BYLAW

Toronto is just two weeks away from seeing a new bylaw that will force polluters to publicly report their use and release of key toxic chemicals and without a doubt, there is massive support for this public health initiative.

Forty six community, labour, health and environment organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Torontonians have signed the Community Right to Know Position Statement calling on the City to pass the pollution disclosure bylaw.  Signatories include the United Steelworkers, Ontario College of Family Physicians, The David Suzuki Foundation and twenty one neighbourhood groups from across the city. Please see attachments for a complete list.

The draft Community Right to Know bylaw is expected to be tabled at the July 3rd Board of Health meeting at City Hall. In January, city staff recommended that the bylaw require annual reporting by polluters using and releasing 25 toxic substances that are in Toronto’s air at unhealthy levels. Reported information will be made available to the public through user-friendly data-base, allowing searches by neighborhood, facility, and releases.

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For more information please call:
Lina Cino, Toxics Campaigner
Toronto Environmental Alliance
T: 416-596-0660