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TEA Municipal Candidate Survey

Since 1997 the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) has evaluated mayoral and councillor candidates on their environmental commitments through our elections surveys and subsequent report cards. These report cards have received significant attention from the media, and have helped the public decide who are the most environmentally conscious candidates. This year’s survey consists of a series of yes or no questions related to our six Municipal Election Environmental Priorities.

  1. Build Transit City and Fund It
  2. Achieve 70% Waste Diversion by 2011
  3. Buy and Support Locally-Produced Green Products
  4. Build Transportation Infrastructure Everyone Can Use
  5. Implement the City's Sustainable Energy Strategy
  6. Provide Tools to Prevent Pollution

Build Transit City and Fund It

The TTC is vital to the environmental, social and economic well-being of our city. We need to maintain current TTC service levels and expand the TTC into under-serviced areas like our inner suburbs. Transit City, the 2007 plan to bring light rail transit to all parts of the city, is the best way to reach the maximum number of Torontonians by 2020. It is the only plan to have received support from City Council and the Premier.

But who should pay for the costs of running the TTC and Transit City? TTC riders already pay significantly more through the fare box than other transit riders in Canada. More fare increases aren’t an option: low income Torontonians can’t afford them and they act as disincentives for people to leave their cars at home. Selling off parts or all of the TTC will not raise the funding needed. And, as other cities have learned (eg. London, England; Auckland, New Zealand) privatizing public transit can lead to reduced service, less accountability and decisions that increase the bottom line of private owners, often at the expense of the environment.

In the past, the Province paid 50% of the TTC's operating subsidy (the cost not covered by the fare box). It's time our Provincial and Federal Governments joined TTC riders and Toronto property taxpayers in providing operating funds for this important public good.

Will you commit to maintaining current TTC service levels?  

YES/NO

Will you work to complete the Transit City Light Rail Plan by 2020 as endorsed by the TTC, Toronto City Council and Premier Dalton McGuinty in 2007? 

YES/NO

Will you work to secure a long term funding commitment with other orders of Government to share the TTC’s operating costs so that fares do not increase beyond the rate of inflation? 

YES/NO

To ensure the TTC makes decisions that will benefit the environment and are accountable to the public, will you support keeping the TTC governance and its operations public?

YES/NO

 

 

Achieve 70% Waste Diversion by 2011

Waste diversion means that resources are valued, reused, and recycled in sustainable ways. Incineration, so-called “energy from waste”, and other thermal technologies are not diversion and not sustainable. The City pledged to reach 70% waste diversion by 2010, but they only made it to 50%. The key culprit in missing the target was unacceptable delays in getting the Green Bin program into high-rise buildings. This means half of Toronto's households still don't have access to organic waste collection services and their food scraps take up precious landfill space instead of making compost! Achieving the 70% target will only happen when all Torontonians have equal access to the City's waste collection services.

Will you work to ensure that all apartments and condominiums have Green Bin organic waste collection services by 2011? 

YES/NO

Will you support building additional City-owned composting plants (ie. in addition to those already planned) to increase the capacity and long term stability of the Green Bin program in Toronto? 

YES/NO

Do you commit to oppose any incineration, energy from waste, or thermal technology proposals to manage and dispose of Toronto’s municipal solid waste? 

YES/NO

 

Buy and Support Locally-Produced Green Products


Toronto residents, businesses and governments are poised to spend billions of dollars on green products over the next decade. The City will have a significant impact on these expenditures both as a purchaser of green products (eg. Transit City, green power through Toronto Hydro, the Tower Renewal Project, local food procurement) and through policy decisions (eg. implementing the Sustainable Energy Plan). Already, we see a growing desire from Torontonians to buy locally grown food. That’s because it’s better for the environment, it’s fresher and it supports our farming neighbours in the Greenbelt and surrounding areas. This positive attitude towards buying local can also help us build a green economy.

If we do nothing, these local dollars will leave the city and country. If we act, our local dollars can be used to support local green jobs, local green businesses, and local green manufacturing. We need a city government that understands the importance of supporting local producers.

Will you direct the City's Economic Development Department to make it a priority to work with locally-based manufacturers to identify green manufacturing opportunities arising from the Sustainable Energy Plan, the Tower Renewal Project, Transit City and other city green initiatives? 

YES/NO

Will you support a new city procurement policy, which includes Toronto Hydro and Enwave, which gives preference to local manufacturers and local jobs for supplying green products?

YES/NO

Will you support strategies to increase local food purchasing by city agencies, including daycares, shelters and seniors homes by adopting healthier menus that serve less pre-packaged, prepared food and more fresher, local food? 

YES/NO

 

Build Transportation Infrastructure Everyone Can Use

Cycling and walking are important forms of transportation that contribute to a healthier population and reduce negative impacts on the environment. We need infrastructure built to accommodate bikes and pedestrians as well as transit vehicles and cars. In the U.S. this is happening through "Complete Streets" policies that ensure the planning and redevelopment of streets are done with all users (pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders of all ages and abilities along with cars and trucks) in mind.

While a "Complete Streets" policy is developed, key transportation infrastructure, such as bike lanes, need to be built, the Toronto Walking Strategy can be implemented, and all road users can be educated about road sharing and responsibilities.

Do you commit to supporting the development and implementation of a Complete Streets policy by 2014? 

YES/NO

Do you commit to fully implementing Toronto's Bike Plan, including the creation of bike lanes on arterial roads, by 2012? 

YES/NO

Do you commit to launching a public education campaign for all road users teaching them about their responsibilities on the road and road sharing? 

YES/NO

 

 

Implement the City's Sustainable Energy Strategy


In November 2009, the City adopted the Sustainable Energy Plan. This strategy sets important targets for energy conservation and renewable power development to help the City meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets. The strategy also outlines what steps will be taken to meet these energy use targets. Toronto Hydro will play a key role in this strategy by helping Torontonians reduce energy use and build renewable power. This role would be undermined if Toronto Hydro was privatized and operated to maximize profit for shareholders.

A key component of the strategy is designing and delivering to homes, businesses and institutions across Toronto energy retrofits and renewable energy installations. The first step requires the City to establish a partnership with Enbridge, Enwave and Toronto Hydro to deliver these energy efficiency and green power services to all Torontonians.

Will you agree to keep Toronto Hydro publicly owned? 

YES/NO

Will you direct Toronto Hydro and city staff to work with Enbridge and Enwave to get a partnership underway in 2011 that will deliver home energy retrofits across the city? 

YES/NO

Will you support the full and timely implementation of the City's Sustainable Energy Strategy, adopted by City Council in November 2009?

YES/NO

Would you support -in principle- a proposal by Toronto Hydro to develop Toronto-based offshore wind power to provide renewable power for the city? 

 

Provide Tools to Prevent Pollution

In 2008, the City passed a precedent setting pollution disclosure bylaw (the Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw) that requires thousands of businesses and industries to track and report their use of 25 toxic substances. The City began phasing in the mandatory reporting this year through its ChemTRAC program.

The next step is to help Toronto polluters - including the City of Toronto - reduce and eventually eliminate chemical pollutants covered by the bylaw that poison our water, air and land. The most effective way to reduce pollution is by developing and implementing pollution prevention plans. ChemTRAC will help small businesses who are in need of the expertise, tools, and education to help reduce costs, prevent dangerous pollution, and be good neighbours in our city.

The City of Toronto will also have to report under this bylaw because it uses and emits many of these 25 toxic substances. The City must lead by example and ensure all city agencies, boards, commissions and departments are working together to report in a coordinated fashion and to plan and implement pollution prevention strategies.

Will you support ChemTRAC’s plan to provide the necessary tools and assistance to help small businesses develop pollution prevention plans for the top 25 toxic chemicals released in Toronto? 

YES/NO

Will you support full public disclosure of ChemTRAC’s annual reports and data to ensure that communities across the city know which companies are using and emitting the top 25 toxic chemicals in Toronto? 

YES/NO

Will you direct and support all relevant City agencies, boards, commissions and departments to collaborate in the successful implementation and monitoring of the Environmental Reporting and Disclosure Bylaw and in developing and implementing pollution prevention plans? 

YES/NO