June 8, 2006, Annex Guardian
New pollution standards on the horizon, Summit told
Susan O’Neill
The province is promising to introduce tough new standards regulating the release of harmful substances into the atmosphere, participants in the seventh annual Smog Summit heard Wednesday.
Environment Minister Laurel Broten (MPP, Etobicoke-Lakeshore) was on hand at city hall to announce that her government will begin consultations on stricter air standards for 15 high-priority substances, including lead.
"All Ontario families want to breathe cleaner, safer air," Broten told municipal leaders from across the GTA. "That is why we are moving forward with consultation on air standards for 15 more toxic substances. We need to be sure that our standards are based on the best available science."
The Liberal government is proposing to review the limits for the 15 substances based on improved scientific information and updated research on the potential health risks associated with poor air quality, the minister said.
The city is also progressing with several initiatives designed to improve the health of the environment.
Earlier this year, council approved $6 million in funding for energy retrofit work at city recreation centres in 2006 and 2007.
The retrofits are expected to result in reduced carbon dioxide emissions, reduced operating costs, facility improvements and increased energy efficiency. An estimated 20 per cent reduction in energy consumption will also produce savings of $750,000 each year.
Toronto is also investing in solar energy pilot projects at two city-operated swimming pools and two fire halls, as well as solar wall projects at Scadding Court Community Centre in downtown Toronto and a Toronto Police Service facility.
"The Smog Summit is a terrific example of partnerships for clean air where governments work together to improve air quality," said Mayor David Miller, who thanked the province for participating in the two-day event, which continued Thursday.
"Minister Broten spoke very strongly about the Ministry of the Environment's commitment to take aggressive action on poor air quality and smog," he said.
However, MPP Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth) who serves as the NDP environment and transportation critic, wasn't singing the Liberal's praises.
"We haven't been seeing any action coming out of this government and so I guess I should say I'm not surprised that all they're going to do is consult. They've been breaking significant promises around the environment pretty regularly recently," he said.
"I think they should act on their original promises. They promised to phase out the coal fire power plants in Ontario, they should go ahead and do that. They promised to have 60 per cent waste diversion by 2008. I think they should be doing that, they aren't," Tabuns added.
He continued saying, "I don't have a lot of confidence they'll actually do it, frankly. Not based on their record. No.
Meanwhile, Miller stressed the need for the three levels of government to work together on the environment.
"Air quality is not confined to any particular jurisdiction. And unless we work in partnership across the Toronto region with the provincial government and the federal government we will not succeed in ensuring the quality of our air in Toronto and across Canada," Miller said.
The federal environment minister was absent from Wednesday's summit, although Environment Canada was represented.
"We're working very closely with the federal government. Obviously we would have preferred to have a political presence, that wasn't possible, but there was a very strong presence of Environment Canada," Miller said," adding, "We're trying to build a partnership. I'm not going to be critical of the minister."
