Take Action on CRTK
Dear Community Right to Know Supporters,
Your voice is urgently needed now.
We are two steps away from becoming the first city in Canada to pass a
Community Right to Know Bylaw which will be instrumental in reducing
our exposure to toxic chemicals.
Toronto Public Health (TPH) has just released a consultation document on the draft bylaw and they want your feedback. TPH is asking residents to answer 3 questions on the proposed program.
Consultation Document: found here.
It is crucial that we show our elected officials that the residents of
Toronto strongly want this bylaw. Please take the time to send your
comments to the City.
If you are tight for time, please go here for a draft list of potential answers that you can reference.
If you are really tight for time, sending an email to [email protected] with a quick line stating your strong support for the bylaw will go a very long way.
Comments on this proposal must be received by February 6th, 2008.
Please send your responses/comments to [email protected].
The Community Right to Know bylaw aims to lower our exposure to harmful
chemicals in Toronto’s environment by encouraging local businesses to
track them and find ways to reduce their use and release. The bylaw
will:
- focus on 25 key contaminants that are in Toronto’s air at levels that may pose a health risk;
- track chemicals from small and medium-sized facilities, which are not included in other reporting programs;
- encourage local businesses to find ways to reduce chemicals and begin environmental programs; and
- give Toronto residents more information about chemical use and releases in their communities.
Toronto Public Health will finalize the draft bylaw by Spring 2008, and we expect it go to council in early Summer 2008.
For more information about the Community Right to Know campaign please visit www.secrecyistoxic.ca.
Thank you for your time and support!
Toxic Secrets in your Neighbourhood - Tell us your story!
TEA WANTS YOU TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR TOXIC CONCERNS AND SAFE SOLUTIONS IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD AND SHARE YOUR STORIES WITH US!
PUT YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD ON THE MAP!
Our goal is to create an online interactive map of Toronto made up of your
submissions. This website will demonstrate the community concern about
toxic pollution and the need for full disclosure and safe solutions.
IT'S A COMMUNITY'S RIGHT TO KNOW. IT�S YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW.
The Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) is calling on the City of Toronto
to adopt a Community Right to Know bylaw that would require polluting
facilities to disclose their use, storage, and release of toxic
chemicals. Public access to this information is sorely lacking, and is
critical to preventing public health and environmental risks.
Join us in creating this database of local environmental concerns, a
powerful visual tool that confirms the need for a Community a Right to
Know bylaw.
WHAT TO DO
1. PHOTOGRAPH
Toxic Concerns:
Take a photograph of commercial, retail, and/or industrial facilities
where you have questions and concerns about how they may be affecting
your neighbourhood's environment.
Safe Solutions: Take a photograph of an environmentally friendly facility. Let's recognize businesses who have incorporated safe solutions by reducing pollution,
adopting sustainable practices, and for being a good neighbour.
2. SHARE YOUR STORIES
Alongside each photo provide the location (street address) and comments about
your concerns, questions and/or information about the safe solutions
used at the location. Please keep your comments under 100 words.
3. SUBMIT
Send your photographs to [email protected].
If you have any questions please email or call 416-596-0660.
LET'S WORK TOGETHER TO PROTECT OUR HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT!
For more information about TEA's Community Right to Know Campaign go here:
TEA's campaign for a Community Right-to-Know (CRTK) bylaw is gaining
momentum! Now is the time to add your voice in support of your right to
know about toxic chemicals in your community.
Influential environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki visited Toronto on
February 15th and, along with TEA's Co-Executive Director Katrina Miller, met
with Councillors and the Mayor to urge quick action on a CRTK bylaw. The
city promised such a bylaw seven years ago, and still hasn't delivered.
Suzuki's visit found resonance in television, print and radio media,
increasing public awareness of this bylaw to a level the City can't
ignore. It's important we keep the ball rolling if we're to get action!
You can show your support by:
- Sending a letter or email to the Mayor. A sample letter text is provided here,
featuring the points we want to stress. Feel free to use it, or draft
your own letter based on the content. To send an email, visit: http://www.toronto.ca/mayor_miller/contact.htm - Sending a letter or email to your Councillor, again using the letter provided here. To find out who your Councillor is and contact information, visit: http://app.city.toronto.on.ca/im/council/councillors.jsp
- Talking to environmentally-conscious friends and your neighbours about this page.
- Signing up for our CRTK e-mail bulletins, if you haven't already - click here
- Hosting a CRTK information meeting in your neighbourhood. For details call Lina Cino at 416-596-0660.