David Miller to share Toronto green projects
June 20, 2008
Mayor David Miller has been asked to speak about what Torontonians are doing in the fight against climate change at two prominent gatherings of international municipal leaders. On Friday, Mayor Miller will address the third annual Mayor’s Hemispheric Forum and on Sunday, he will join President Bill Clinton and Mayors Richard Daley of Chicago and Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles in a plenary session at the 76th annual U.S. Conference of Mayors.
York’s organic waste sent below the border
June 19, 2008
York Region plans to truck 9,000 tonnes of green bin waste to New York for disposal as there are no local firms to process it. Instead of being composted, as diligent householders expect when they separate their trash, the organic waste is heading to Niagara Falls, N.Y., where it is incinerated and turned into energy, said Erin Mahoney, York’s commissioner of environmental services.
Liberals announce “green shift” plan
June 19, 2008
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is promising Canadians a raft of tax cuts and other goodies that he said will leave average taxpayers much better off despite sharply higher energy costs under the Liberals’ revolutionary “green shift” energy plan. Dion launched the green policy at a campaign-style event in a packed Parliament Hill committee room this morning.
Next phase of green bin collection delayed
June 18, 2008
Toronto will not meet its target of starting green bin collection in large apartment buildings on July 1. In fact, it may be July 2009 before organic waste collection starts in multi-unit buildings, home to 500,000 households in the city, says Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker, chair of Toronto’s works committee.
Proposed food labelling rules draw criticism
June 16, 2008
Trying to consume more local goods? Product labelling guidelines don’t make it any easier. New rules governing food labelling are already facing criticism from experts who say they don’t go far enough and will still leave consumers in the dark. Although the federal government’s proposed changes to labelling rules will force companies to indicate that a product contains foreign ingredients, they still would not have to tell consumers where the goods came from or how much of the product is foreign.
Government rethinks natural health bill
June 14, 2008
Health Minister Tony Clement agreed to key demands of the natural health products industry after the sector launched a grassroots campaign against restrictions on homeopathic medicines and herbal remedies in new legislation. When amendments to the Food and Drugs Act were proposed in April, natural medicines were lumped in with pharmaceutical drugs, raising concerns they would be subject to the same type of oversight. The government is now proposing to insert a definition of natural health products into the Food and Drugs Act to recognize them as distinct from foods and drugs under the law.
Markham partners with local food group
June 5, 2008
Markham is making moves to ensure that more of its food is locally produced. Staking its claim as the first Canadian municipality to take such steps, the region has established a partnership with Local Food Plus, a non-profit organization that brings farmers and consumers to the table to share in the benefits of environmentally and socially responsible food production.
Bike lane battle
June 5, 2008
A battle over installing a new bike lane on Annette Street in the city’s west end illustrates why Toronto’s ambitious cycling plan has proceeded at such a painfully slow pace. The plan to take out a lane of traffic and add dedicated bike lanes pitted cyclists against merchants yesterday.
David Miller named chair of climate change committee
June 4, 2008
In recognition of Toronto’s role as a world-leading environmental city, Mayor David Miller was today appointed chair of the influential C40 Group of major international cities committed to tackling climate change. The C40 cities have pledged to work together to share best practices and to take action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In order to achieve this, the group entered into a partnership arrangement with the Clinton Climate Initiative in 2006 to develop programs that would that would help cities drive forward action.
Got a great green idea for Toronto? Let City Hall help!
June 3, 2008
The City of Toronto is accepting applications from neighbourhood and community groups for funds to help with projects that reduce emissions, clean our air and protect our climate. A total of $9.5 million will be available over the next five years as part of the city’s Live Green Toronto program, a five-year, $20-million initiative to support community-based actions that green Toronto.
