Toronto Environmental Alliance

Group of environmental organizations releases six-point plan for city

Thu Feb 11 2010
Paul Moloney City Hall Bureau

Twelve major environmental groups led by the Toronto Environmental Alliance are urging Toronto's mayoral candidates to adopt their six-point green plan released Wednesday morning.

"These six priorities help ensure that no matter who you are, you will be living in a healthier, greener, more dynamic community in which you can affordably get to where you need to be," said Theresa McClenaghan, executive director of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.

The six points, released at a city hall news conference, are:

Build Transit City, a 120-kilometre network of light rail lines on major routes, and press provincial and federal governments to help fund the TTC's operating costs.

Divert 70 per cent of waste from landfill by 2012. The city had pledged to achieve the target by this year but failed. Environmentalists want all apartment buildings using the green bin by the end of 2011.

Buy locally made green products to employ local workers.

Encourage cycling and walking. That means implementing the Toronto bike plan by 2012 and ensuring roads accommodate bikes, pedestrians, transit vehicles and private cars.

Implement the city's goals to conserve energy.

Help businesses reduce their use of 25 toxic substances.

"Today, Canada's environmental community calls on every mayoralty candidate to endorse these six priorities," said Franz Hartmann, executive director of the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

"Canada's environmental community cares passionately about what happens in Toronto and we will be paying close attention to what candidates are promising, or not promising, to do."

As published at: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/torontomayoralrace/article/763720--go-green-mayoral-candidates-urged