HomeMy WebLinkAboutADM-002-03iding the Way
REPORT
ADMINISTRATION
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: June 2, 2003
Report #: ADM-02-03 File #: CAS By-law #:
Subject: Clean Air Council
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That ADM-02-03 be received.
2. That the Mayor and the CAO be authorized to take all necessary actions to represent
the Municipality of Clarington on the GTA Clean Air Council; and to participate in clean
air initiatives.
Submitted by: Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
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Attach: Attachment 1 - Inter -Governmental Declarations of Clean Air (2002 Declaration)
Attachment 2 - Draft agenda — June 20th Roundtable
Attachment 3 - Action to Improve Air Quality 2003
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-5717
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REPORT NO.: ADM-02-03
Background
PAGE 2
The Greater Toronto Clean Air Council (GTA C.A.C.) was established through the
Intergovernmental Declaration of the Federal and Provincial governments, and the City of
Toronto in 2000. It has since expanded its membership to include various federal and
provincial agencies such as N.R. Canada, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Environment,
Utility companies and 26 of the GTA municipalities. In Durham Region, the Region, Ajax,
Pickering and Oshawa are existing members with Whitby and Clarington recently participating
as members of the C.A.C.
Clarington, by Resolution C-190-02 endorsed the resolution of the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities regarding Kyoto Protocol and that working with the GTA-C.A.C. begins to
implement some of the principles called for in the Protocol.
2. Goal of the C.A.C.
The primary goal of the C.A.C. is to reduce smog by promoting and implementing various
clean air initiatives; including the annual signing of Inter -governmental Declarations setting out
the challenge for the next annum.
3. Strategy of the C.A.C.
• Explore opportunities and best practices among all agencies
■ Encourage members to undertake local initiatives
Host Smog Summit to heighten public awareness
■ Provide GTA-wide education campaigns
4. Role of Municipalities
In support of the effort, C.A.C. municipalities are encouraged to undertake as many clean air
initiatives as possible, including but not limited to the following actions:
■ Promote local transit
• Explore and utilize green power such as wind, biogas, solar and other renewable
energy sources, e.g. solar energy for municipal facilities, bio-diesel fuel for
municipal fleet
■ Anti -idling by-law
■ Community outreach to local businesses and industries
■ Education and promotion, e.g. walk to school program
• Bicycle and pathway development as alternate transport modes
• Coop with other municipalities to purchase green power such as bio-diesel
Greening of urban area
• Promote smart growth
■ Green procurement policies
• Energy efficiency initiatives
• Smog alert response plan
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REPORT NO.: ADM-02-03 PAGE 3
5. Clarington Initiatives
Clarington has already undertaken a number of actions and initiatives that meet the objectives
of the C.A.C., including Clarington Transit, strong support for ITER, Backyard Burning Bylaw,
Valleys 2000 and other stewardship initiatives. Clarington's initiatives (see attachment #3) will
be listed as part of an appendix to the 2003 Declaration.
During the summer of 2003 an information baseline will be researched and documented of
current practices across the municipal departments. This will provide a benchmark for future
improvements that can be registered as part of the annual declarations at the Smog Summit.
In future, Clarington may wish to participate more actively in Smog Summit lead-in activities
such as the community forum being hosted June 12`" at 7p.m. at Ajax Community Centre, 75
Centennial Road.
6. Benefits to Clarington
The benefits to Clarington in becoming a member of the GTA-Clean Air Council will be:
• Piggy -back onto GTA-wide public education programmes, such as the idle -free campaign
• Information sharing for environmentally friendly procurement policies, including access to
RFP's and the option to participate in region -wide purchasing initiatives
• Continuous improvement in our knowledge base for clean -air initiatives
• Link to the GTA-Clean Air Council website
7. Actions Steps
Active participation in the effort to reduce smog but developing our own Municipal strategies
and commitments that implement as many clean air initiatives as possible based on the best
practices being compiled by the C.A.C.
Staff involvement: CAO to chair a staff working group that will draft "Smog Response and
Smog Action Plans" with assistance from the Special Project Branch of Planning Services and
staff members from other Departments.
Required:
Declaration by Clarington that it is prepared to take action for clean air quality.
Mayor to sign the 2003 Joint Intergovernmental Declaration at the Smog Summit on
June 20, 2003 (Attachment #2 — Agenda). The 2003 Declaration is currently being
drafted by the C.A.C., it will be similar to the 2002 Declaration (attachment #1).
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Attachment #1
TORONTO 2002 INTER -GOVERNMENTAL DECLARATION ON CLEAN AIR
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS representatives of the City of Toronto, the Government of Ontario, and the
Government of Canada, out of concern for the risks that air pollution poses to public health
and the local economy, gathered in Toronto and signed the Toronto Inter -governmental
Declaration on Clean Air on June 21, 2000 and gathered again on the occasion of the
second Toronto Smog Summit on June 11, 2001 joined by representatives of municipal
governments in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and signed the Toronto 2001 Inter-
governmental Declaration on Clean Air;
AND WHEREAS the Inter -governmental Working Group, established to follow-up on key
issues raised and to convene ongoing annual Summits was renamed the GTA Clean Air
Council with an expanded mandate to also explore opportunities for joint initiatives between
annual Summits and liaise, through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with other
municipalities across Canada to share best practices information on smog reduction;
AND WHEREAS we the representatives of the City of Toronto, municipal and regional
governments in the GTA, the Government of Ontario, and the Government of Canada have
gathered in Toronto on June 21, 2002 on the occasion of the third Smog Summit;
RECOGNIZING that recent evidence indicates an association between exposure to smog
pollutants, increased mortality from heart disease and increased incidence of asthma in
children, and experimental studies in humans have shown that exposure to smog pollutants
constricts blood vessels;
RECOGNIZING that in 2001, the Toronto region experienced an unprecedented number of
smog advisories as well as the earliest smog advisory in its history and recognizing that
climate change may cause the number of smog incidents to increase;
RECOGNIZING that on March 18, 2002 Ontario Medical Officers of Health and other health
professionals, acknowledging the adverse health impact of air pollution, met with the Ontario
Medical Association to discuss strategies to promote concrete actions that reduce local air
emissions and encourage necessary individual and policy changes;
RECOGNIZING that during May and June 2002 at six citizen forums throughout the GTA
hundreds of citizens urged that strong action be taken by citizens, business and government to
clean the air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
RECOGNIZING that the annual Summits are a part of the on -going efforts of our respective
governments to address the air pollution problem;
EMPHASIZING the significance of this Summit in convening all orders of government,
corporations, non -governmental organizations, and members of the general public, aiming to
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better coordinate and enhance their respective initiatives to reduce the occurrence of, and
health risk from, air pollution in Toronto and the GTA;
THANKING Enbridge Consumers Gas, Toronto Hydro, the Government of Ontario, the
Government of Canada, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, and the City of Toronto for providing
financial support for the Summit;
THANKING the participants of the GTA Clean Air Council for developing the 2002
Declaration, and thanking the corporations, non -governmental organizations and members of
the general public who assisted in planning the Summit and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund,
the Clean Air Partnership and the City of Toronto for organizing the Summit;
WE DO HEREBY DECLARE:
ARTICLE 1 STATEMENT OF COMMON UNDERSTANDING
1.1 According to several recent studies, air pollution poses a serious threat to the health of
people with cardiac and respiratory illness, and to the environment. Scientists and
physicians have linked air pollution to premature deaths, illnesses and hospitalization,
each year in major Canadian cities, including the GTA. There is a cost to air pollution
related illness and a threat to local economies. Even a small increase in air pollution
increases health impacts, particularly to those who are sensitive to air pollution.
1.2 Recent evidence indicates that chronic exposure to smog is associated with both acute
and long-term health effects. The scientific literature also reflects a growing concern
over the health impacts of exposure to airborne fine particles.
1.3 Ground -level ozone is a principal constituent of smog. The formation of ozone is in part
a function of solar radiation and ambient heat. Particulate matter, the other main
contributor to smog formation, may be released directly into the air from a variety of
sources, or indirectly formed when gases from burning fossil fuels react with sunlight
and water vapour. Climate change may cause more episodes of ground -level ozone in
the GTA.
1.4 Fossil -fuel combustion is responsible for most of the air pollution originating locally,
including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides.
1.5 Compact urban form, combined with pedestrian and transit -friendly design, fosters
opportunities to shift from automobiles to alternative transportation options like walking,
cycling and transit, thereby creating the potential to reduce driving -related emissions.
1.6 There is a need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of our collective efforts to
address climate change. Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are also often
associated with reductions of other atmospheric emissions. As a result, one of the key
co -benefits associated with these actions is to reduce air pollution and the associated
health impacts.
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ARTICLE 2 CALL FOR MUNICIPAL ACTION
LOWER -TIER MUNICIPALITIES:
In 2002-2003, the Town of Ajax is prepared to take action to improve air quality as outlined in
Appendix 2.1.
In 2002-2003, the City of Brampton is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.2.
In 2002-2003, the City of Burlington is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.3.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Caledon is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.4.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Halton Hills is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.5.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Markham is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.6.
In 2002-2003, the City of Mississauga is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.7.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Newmarket is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.8.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Oakville is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.9.
In 2002-2003, the City of Oshawa is prepared to take action to improve air quality as outlined
in Appendix 2.10.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Richmond Hill is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.11.
In 2002-2003, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville is prepared to take action to improve air
quality as outlined in Appendix 2.12
UPPER -TIER MUNICIPALITIES:
In 2002-2003, the Region of Durham is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.13.
In 2002-2003, the Region of Halton is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 2.14.
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In 2002-2003, the Region of Peel is prepared to take action to improve air quality as outlined
in Appendix 2.15.
In 2002-2003, the Region of York is prepared to take action to improve air quality as outlined
in Appendix 2.16.
SINGLE -TIER MUNICIPALITIES:
In 2002-2003, the City of Toronto is prepared to take action to improve air quality as outlined
in Appendix 2.17.
ARTICLE 3 - CALL FOR PROVINCIAL ACTION
In 2002-2003, the Government of Ontario is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 3.
ARTICLE 4 - CALL FOR FEDERAL ACTION
In 2002-2003, the Government of Canada is prepared to take action to improve air quality as
outlined in Appendix 4.
ARTICLE 5 - CALL FOR JOINT ACTION
The GTA Clean Air Council has identified needed actions to reduce air pollution in the GTA
airshed. Governments operational in the GTA are prepared to take the following inter-
governmental actions to improve air quality:
5.1 With financial support in 2002 from the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Government
of Canada, with implementation support from other GTA municipalities, energy firms
and transit providers, and with coordinating support from the City of Toronto, the
municipalities represented on the GTA Clean Air Council will where appropriate
participate in the implementation of 20120 The Way to Clean Air, a social marketing
campaign to help householders reduce both home energy use and vehicle kilometres
travelled by 20% in each of their jurisdictions.
5.2 The municipalities represented on the GTA Clean Air Council will review their Smog
Alert Response Plans and consider including these actions, where appropriate:
1. Reduce or suspend use of gasoline or diesel -powered equipment where possible
(lawnmowers, leaf blowers, etc).
2. Reduce or suspend pesticide spraying.
3. Reduce or suspend vehicle use (alternative work arrangement, trip reductions).
4. Refuel essential vehicles early or late in day.
5. Reduce engine idling.
6. Reduce or suspend pavement resurfacing (subject to contract agreements).
7. Set warmer temperatures on air conditioning units.
8. Allow staff to dress comfortably.
9. Reduce or suspend pavement/city street sweeping.
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5.3 In addition, the members of the GTA Clean Air Council will participate in the
development, and where appropriate, implement the following actions to assist local
sources to reduce emissions of air pollutants and greenhouses gases:
In cooperation with the suppliers of gasoline products, develop a GTA-wide low -
sulphur fuel purchase standard.
2. In cooperation with Ontario Power Generation, Toronto Hydro and other
electricity producers develop GTA-wide Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to
ensure that a percentage of electricity purchased comes from renewable
sou rces.
3. Commit to anti -idling and fuel -reduction programs for their vehicle fleets.
4. Implement a GTA-wide anti -idling public education program and participate in a
review of the feasibility of anti -idling by-laws in their jurisdictions.
5. Promote in their jurisdictions voluntary programs such as Green$aver and the
Clean Air Foundation's Mow Down Pollution.
6. Participate in a GTA-CAC Air Quality Modelling Group of municipal members to
share municipal data and oversee the modelling of local air quality conditions
and smog episodes across the GTA, to portray local air quality, and to evaluate
the potential of future municipal policies, improvement measures and scenarios.
7. Develop links between GTA Council members' corporate websites, and the
websites of the GTA Clean Air Council and federal and provincial governments
promoting clean air and display their clean air declarations and annual progress
reports and for public review.
5.4 All members of the GTA Clean Air Council will communicate the Citizens' Declaration
presented at the third Smog Summit to their member organizations
5.5 Environment Canada, Health Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and
Energy will collaborate, as part of a national initiative, on the timely development and
implementation of an improved Air Quality Index (AQI) in consultation with stakeholders
to better inform the public, including those who are especially sensitive to air pollution,
of steps they can take to protect their health during air pollution episodes.
5.6 Health Canada, Environment Canada and Toronto Public Health, in consultation with
the GTA Clean Air Council, will be engaged in a major new study funded by Health
Canada to examine the combined impacts of heat and smog on summer premature
mortality as well as winter weather and air pollution on mortality.
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ARTICLE 6 - CALL FOR GTA CLEAN AIR COUNCIL ACTIONS
The GTA Clean Air Council has identified needed research and actions to reduce air pollution
in the GTA airshed. Through the GTA Clean Air Council, the members of the GTA-CAC are
prepared to take the following joint actions to improve air quality:
6.1 Analyze the Clean Air Inventory to create a GTA-wide best practices guide with a view
to having it adopted by as many GTA municipalities as possible by the next summit.
6.2 With reference to the research and studies conducted by the Federation of Canadian
Municipalities and other organizations and the City of Toronto, review the implications
of emissions credit systems for local and regional governments.
6.3 In partnership with the Ontario Medical Association and the Association of Local Public
Health Agencies, establish a clearinghouse of public information materials to identify,
summarize, review and disseminate recent and emerging research on smog, air quality,
climate change and the related health and environmental impacts.
6.4 In partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Association of
Municipalities of Ontario, exchange ideas and share success of clean air initiatives with
other regions in Ontario and Canada.
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Attachment #2
June 20`h Roundtable Discussion Agenda
DRAFT for discussion
8:00 am Registration and refreshments
9:00 am Introductions and welcome from City of Toronto representative (TBA)
9:05 am Welcome from Jim Schultz, president Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.
9:10 am Keynote speaker: Ken Maybee, president Canadian Lung Association
9:20 am GTA municipal roundtable discussion: Moderator TBA
1. Joint Declaration: Eva will contact 3-4 selected municipal politicians to arrange
for them to prepare to discuss. (e.g. a large city, a smaller city, a region)
2. Topic Categories: municipalities to present on one topic category based on
review of the strongest aspect of their appendix & in alphabetical order within the
topic category. CAP will contact each of you to confirm which category we think
should be highlighted by which municipality.
Categories:
Transportation (e.g. Ajax, Newmarket, Toronto)
Energy (e.g. Durham, Peel)
Business, Industry and Government (e.g. Mississauga, York)
Natural and Built Environment etc
Education and Outreach etc
11:20 am Province of Ontario Announcements
11:35 am Federal Government Announcements
11:50 am Toronto Atmospheric Fund award to Jack Layton
12:00 am Repair Our Air Fleet Challenge award ceremony
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Attachment #3
Municipality of Clarington — Appendix 4.5
ACTIONS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY 2003
Transportation
1. Initiation of Clarington Transit
Start-up of a transit program in Clarington which links with Oshawa Transit (via GO Transit
along Hwy #2). Initially 2 buses and 2 routes were implemented; however ridership and
demand warranted a third bus being added to the system. The system included AM and PM
School Specials and has eliminated many single purpose trips.
2. Alternative Modes of Transportation
Promote transit, cycling and walking as healthy and environmentally -friendly modes of
transportation in the community.
Energy
3. ITER Canadian Host
Clarington is the selected Canadian site for ITER, a multi -national research and development
facility for fusion energy; the next generation of energy production. The Municipality has
promoted the technology and site including hosting delegations from the international partners
and ensuring that there is continued Provincial and Federal support and funding for this
project.
4. Municipal Administrative Centre
The MAC centre recently opened the third addition to our historic town hall. The most recent
addition houses the public library and administrative offices. The MAC is a unique blend of a
heritage building linked by atrium spaces with a state of the art, energy efficient office complex.
Business, Industry and Government
5. Breathe Easy
On Smog Action Days the municipality makes our community centres and recreation facilities
available to the elderly, young and people experiencing respiratory problems.
6. Environmental Convergence
Ontario Power Generation (Darlington Nuclear site) host an annual workshop on
environmental achievements and initiatives. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a
forum for the lakefront neighbours and community partners to come together and exchange
information, network and determine common goals to further the development of a wildlife and
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habitat corridor along Lake Ontario.
Natural and Built Environment
7. Stewardship Initiatives
Through assistance to and guidance of the Valleys 2000 and Samuel Wilmot C.A. groups the
municipality is promoting the naturalization and conservation of floodplain areas in the
municipality. In addition, the municipality has an active and funded acquisition strategy for
waterfront lands and other natural heritage areas. In 2003 we intend to develop a new
Clarington-wide stewardship strategy.
8. Bowmanville/Westside Marsh Wetland Complex
In partnership with St. Mary's Cement and C.L.O.C.A. the Municipality has been able to
acquire a significant portion of the Bowmanville/Westside Marsh. To accommodate the St.
Mary's quarry operation a diversion scheme for the streams feeding the marsh is being
implemented.
Education and Outreach
9. Agricultural Advisory Committee
The Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee came forward with a request to sign active
farming areas within the community to promote awareness to motorists in rural areas of
farming operations.
10.Benchmarking of Municipal Practices
Clarington is undertaking an inventory of our existing policies and operations that could reduce
air pollution. This benchmarking process will determine where improvements can be made in
future years and include an education/awareness program for municipal staff.
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