The Clean Air Council enables municipal staff working on clean air and environmental issues in the GTA to share best management practices, gain insight into what’s happening in other jurisdictions, and develop tangible methods for municipalities to achieve the goals in the Clean Air Council Declaration.

The Region of Peel has been a member of the GTA Clean Air Council since 2001 and our involvement with the Council has been critical in moving our jurisdiction forward on actions to improve air quality. The group facilitates information sharing between all tiers of government and provides opportunities to adopt initiatives which have proven successful in other municipalities. The Council provides Peel with significant cost savings due to the coordination of clean air initiatives across the GTA.

The knowledge and services provided to our municipality, as a member of the Clean Air Council (CAC), has been invaluable. Coordination, research and events provided by the CAC have enabled us to participate in discussion and networking forums, training workshops and seminars, and advocacy on behalf of local government. In addition to helping us stay abreast of current and emerging sustainability issues and solutions, the CAC has helped us access data, contacts and other important information more efficiently and effectively. The CAC’s focus on collaboration and information sharing among municipalities has benefited Richmond Hill as we develop and deliver our own environmental programs and services and tackle the issue of climate change

Sustainability and climate change is one of the most complex topics that municipalities are faced with. The Clean Air Council keeps us up to date on best practices, lessons learned and innovative solutions but also aids in building stronger relationships amongst our peers. This is instrumental in ensuring that municipal staff are well informed and therefore able to make a meaningful difference not just in our community, but also allow us to advance larger scale action across the GTHA.

The Clean Air Council helped me get up to speed very quickly and efficiently on the air quality and environmental issues facing municipalities. It also provided a forum for getting to know the municipal staff leaders and learn from best practices and similar challenges for moving ahead. It was wonderful to be able to work as a team and have a support network that helped me move forward with actions a lot easier and faster than going it alone would have allowed me to.

We have a long history of identifying and addressing different social inequities that have an impact on the health of Toronto’s most vulnerable communities. We’re proud to partner with TCAT and excited at the long-term potential of this project to make cycling culture accessible outside of the downtown core.

Clean Air Council (CAC) provides vital support to our work on climate change. By providing opportunities to share resources, tactics, and key lessons with other municipalities and the wider community of practice, they do essential work in spreading best practices on a topic of vital importance. Without CAC, our efforts to address climate change would be significantly weakened. Their contribution to climate change work across Ontario is invaluable.

Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre is thrilled to work alongside TCAT on this important project of improving suburban cycling and addressing its barriers. We look forward to helping build bike culture in Scarborough with the goal of increasing the health of residents, while improving community equity.

It’s great being part of a network with like minded individuals collaborating to collectively take action on initiatives to reduce our impact on the environment. Having a forum to learn from one another as to process followed, lessons learned etc., is priceless.

Oakville has been able to advance initiatives working collaboratively with Council members across the GTA. Considerable achievements come through the exchange of ideas, application of innovative Clean Air Council research, and participation in ‘Communities of Practice’ to build municipal leadership for improved air quality, greenhouse gas emission reductions and enhanced awareness of our regional air quality and climate change issues. Oakville looks forward to our continuing strong and positive relationship to achieve significant accomplishments for our citizen’s health and environment.