June 14, 2006, Caledon Citizen
Caledon takes part in Smog Summit
Bill Rea
The mass signing of a clean-air declaration was one of the highlights of last week's Smog Summit in Toronto.
Mayor Marolyn Morrison was among those signing the Toronto and Region 2006 Intergovernmental Declaration on Clean Air.
"The Smog Summit is a terrific example of partnerships for clean air where governments work together to improve air quality," said Toronto Mayor David Miller. "I am extremely proud of the leadership role that Toronto has taken in this area."
"Partnerships" was the theme of the summit, and several of the speakers, including Miller, stressed that in their remarks. Morrison, who was representing Caledon at the summit, which was attended by elected representatives of various municipalities and regions in the GTA, told her colleagues about recent Caledon initiatives to improve air quality.
That includes Caledon becoming the first municipality in Ontario to buy green power from Bullfrog Power Inc., which offers a green and renewable source.
The mayor boasted that Caledon is the greenest town in ontario, and people here want to live up to that calling.
She added the Town has a number of other environmental objectives, and the use of Bullfrog helps. She pointed out it lessens dependence on fossil fuels. She added a reliance on renewable energy sources is important, given the frequency of smog alerts in the GTA.
Additionally, Caledon has established idle-free zones at all Town-owned facilities, and Morrison said public education and awareness are keys in reducing this activity.
Caledon Councillor Annette Groves, who was representing Peel Region at the summit, commented on how she had recently taken part in air sampling exercises, and was shocked at the results she saw. She added the samples were taken on a rainy day, and she wondered how much worse the results would have been had the weather been good.
"Airsheds don't follow municipal, provincial, national or international boundaries," Groves declared, as she too stressed the need for partnerships.
Peel has undertaken a number of initiatives, such as single-stream recycling, in an effort to make it as painless as possible for people to buy in. She also commented that leaf and yard waste collection are now every other week, thus reducing the number of trucks on the road.
Provincial Environment Minister Laurel Broten pointed out there's been a lot of emphasis on clean air, adding any groups have been working to that end.
"Clean air and climate change; these are the most critical environmental issues of our time," she remarked, adding public awareness of them is at an all-time high.
Broten said the government is passionate when it comes to protecting people's health, and air pollution and smog pose very serious challenges to that. Not only are they unpleasant, they are dangerous. She said there 5,800 premature deaths in Ontario last year from these causes.
"Who were those 5,800 people?" she asked. "They could be any one of us, or any one of our loved ones."
She also pointed out the efforts the government has been putting forth on solar and wind power, as well as investments in public transit. She said that expands choices for commuters, helps get cars off the roads and protects the air.
As well, the government is working to ensure that all gas sold in Ontario has ethanol by 2007, and $500 million is being invested over 12 years to help the ethanol industry.
Broten also said Ontario is building partnerships with a number of states in order to seek common solutions to smog.
"We're making progress," she said, "but there is more that needs to be done."
Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield commented on how traffic congestion is part of the smog problem.
She also addressed the impact on children, observing they have to breathe more than adults, and adding incidents of asthma in young people have increased.
Families deserve clean air and and a healthy environment," she said, adding the government has committed $1.3 billion this year to public transit in an effort to make it more attractive than driving. She added it will help move people, and that benefits the economy.
Other government initiatives include the creation of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, and the establishment of highoccupancy vehicle lanes on major highways. Eva Ligeti, executive director of the Clean Air Partnership, also stressed the need for collective action.
"We know from experience that no one can do this alone," she remarked, adding there was representation from American municipalities and agencies at the summit. "We really do have a great deal to learn from each other."
Ligeti said there are about 1,500 smog-related deaths in Toronto annually, and another 1,100 throughout the rest of the GTA. Those numbers are expected to increase. She added the very young and very old are most at risk.
As well, there were 48 days last summer in which smog alerts were issued.
"That's essentially the whole summer," she observed, commenting that Environment Canada is expecting another hot, dry summer this year.
