The mandate for the Environmental Task Force was transferred to the Sustainability Roundtable and then to the Roundtable on the Environment. The following material is provided for archival purposes.

Terms of Reference

Introduction

Environmental issues are important to people who live and work in Toronto. They are concerned about the health effects of the chemical contamination of their air, water, soil, and food. They want to maintain and enhance the system of natural species along the waterfront, creeks and river valleys. They are concerned about management of solid waste and about global issues such as ozone depletion and climate change. The citizens of Toronto want to do something about environmental problems and they want their government to respond and show leadership. Toronto is also fortunate to have an active and committed environmental community that has been instrumental in bringing attention and getting action on a wide range of environmental issues.

The Toronto Transition Team's report, "New City, New Opportunities", comments in the section "Action on the Environment", that;
"Toronto has received growing international recognition for its efforts in creating a sustainable urban environment. A recent United Nations survey showed Toronto leading cities around the world in combating global warming at the local level. Toronto has long been hailed as a liveable city, famous for the continent's best transit system and a growing system of greenspaces along the waterfront and the river valleys."

We have much to be proud of. We have as a community responded to the challenges we face. However, the task is far from complete. Toronto's environment is under stress. Air quality is deteriorating and is having a measurable impact on public health, particularly upon children and the elderly. Water quality along the waterfront, in our rivers and creeks is impaired by periodic discharges of untreated sewage, as well as by toxic chemicals from industries and surface run off. Consumption restrictions have been placed on 9 out of 13 fish species caught on Toronto's waterfront because of levels of PCBs, mirex and mercury detected in them. Clean-up of contaminated soils is necessary to allow revitalisation of degraded lands within our urban boundaries and to reduce development pressures on greenfields. Per capita waste generation is increasing and the number of cars is growing at a faster rate than the local population.

There are examples of good practices, responses and leadership of environmental issues by all the seven municipalities which make up the new Toronto. Internationally, Toronto is seen as a leader among local governments and we have won several international awards in this regard. Yet because there is no strong community and corporate vision about the environment we have not been able to fully optimise our efforts and harness the full potential of our actions. What is good for Toronto's environment is good for the health of its citizens and makes Toronto a sound place to do business. Our environmental successes and the related health and quality of life benefits help attract investment and an educated work force to the city.

The "New City, New Opportunities" report emphasised the importance of environmental issues, the need for strategic environmental planning and management and corporate environmental expertise, as well as the value of citizen involvement. The formation of the Environmental Task Force presents a unique opportunity to develop a shared vision of environmental leadership and put into place environmental policies, structures, and processes to address and anticipate environmental problems and enhance environmental performance.

1. Duration:
   
   The Task Force is intended to be in effect for eighteen months: until the end of 1999.   It will issue reports to Toronto City Council on an ongoing basis throughout its term. A final report will include any recommendations for continuation of the Task Force or its successor.
   
   



2. Composition:
   
   The Task Force is composed of these eight City Councillors, and eight citizens with broad experience, expertise and interest in environmental issues. 
   
   A members' list and profiles provides details of appointments to the Task Force.
   
   The Councillor members are:
   
   - Mike Tzekas, Urban Environment and Development Committee, GTSB, Scarborough Community Council;
   
   - David Shiner, Works and Utilities Committee, Budget Committee, North York Community Council;
   
   - Joan King, Board of Health, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, North York Community Council;
   
   - Bill Saundercook, Works and Utilities Committee, Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, York Community Council;
   
   - Irene Jones, Urban Environment and Development Committee, Etobicoke Community Council;
   
   - Mike Prue, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, East York Community Council; and
   
   - Elizabeth Brown, Community and Neighbourhood Services Committee, Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee, Etobicoke Community Council;
   
   - Jack Layton, Works and Utilities Committee, Toronto Community Council.
   
   



3. Chairperson:
   
   The Task Force chair, Councillor Jack Layton, was appointed by Council. The Chair may designate Co-Chairs.
   
   



4. Mandate:
   
   The fundamental objective of the Environmental Task Force is to create a comprehensive Environmental Plan for the new City.
   
   The plan will provide general policy directions and specific strategies to make Toronto a leader in environmental action and include measurable targets for environmental quality and performance. In developing the Plan, the Task Force must recognize the diversity of environmental interests and develop strategies that address a broad range of environmental issues and conditions. The Task Force will identify short term actions and initiatives that will improve the environment while also achieving savings for the municipality and creating local employment. At the same time, the Task Force will develop a Plan that reflects best practices as well as internationally recognized standards which can be put into place for the new City. It is intended that the Environmental plan recommended by the Task Force will enable the new City to maintain and enhance the quality of Toronto's environment while working towards the goal of making Toronto a sustainable community. The Plan will provide the guidance for policy and programme formulation throughout the corporation and will serve as the basis for the environmental elements of the City's Official Plan and Strategic Plan. The Task Force will make use of precedents in Canada and internationally for developing its plan.
   
   The Task Force, early in its mandate, will make recommendations on legislative, managerial and political structures that will be put in place to ensure that environmental considerations are part of the very fabric of the corporation and the community. In addition the Task Force will recommend action to preserve the momentum of environmental initiatives taken in the old City of Toronto.
   
   The Task Force will need to review existing information on environmental and related health conditions, as well as relevant reports, policies, programmes, practices and by-laws from the former seven cities of Toronto. Where information gaps are identified, it may be necessary to conduct research to fill important gaps. The Task Force will also examine the roles of stakeholders in the broader community to determine how each can contribute to the improvement of the environment.
   
   The Task Force will involve citizens and stakeholders in the development of the Plan. The Plan will identify how best to co-ordinate community-based environmental initiatives being undertaken across the City. The Task Force will build on work that has already been done by the former cities and the knowledge and experience of the community-based sector.
   
   While the main focus of the Task Force will be on developing an environmental plan for the new City, it may also make recommendations to Council on matters relating to environmental issues until a final structure is adopted for consideration of environmental issues.
   
   Within this mandate the Task Force will have the following goals:
   
     (i) To create a comprehensive environmental plan for the new City, both as a corporation and as a community that will maintain and enhance the quality of Toronto's environment, and make Toronto an internationally recognized environmental leader. The plan will:
   
       (a) establish guiding principles, objectives, targets and recommendations for environmental improvement;
   
       (b) identify policies and strategies that will prevent environmental problems from occurring as well as improve the quality of the environment;
   
       (c) identify environmental principles to guide the development of other corporate and municipal plans such as the new official plan for the City: and
   
       (d) identify appropriate indicators of environmental performance that can be incorporated into State of the Environment reporting and other planning and evaluation efforts.
   
        (ii) To recommend a structure that will incorporate advanced environmental decision-making and monitoring into the political and managerial structure of the City.
   
        (iii) To take advantage of the reorganization process to incorporate environmental best practices into the by-laws and programme operations of the new city.
   
        (iv) To institute the most effective vehicles for ongoing public involvement in shaping the city's environmental policies, building upon the processes of community participation established by the former municipalities.
   
        (v) To identify and launch a series of urgent environmental initiatives to address pressing concerns such as smog, energy and water conservation, waste reduction as well as others.
   
        (vi) To develop a broad based consensus of public and political support for these environmental initiatives.
   
        (vii) To identify potential joint projects with other municipal governments and other levels of government.
   
        (viii) To establish an environmental information resource that will ensure easy public access to local environmental data.
   
   



5. Staffing and Resources:
   
   Administrative and professional staff will assist the Task Force. Staff are selected in consultation between the Chair and the Chief Administrative Officer and his designates. One staff person is assigned on a full-time basis as a team leader. In addition staff are assigned on a half time basis from the following areas:
   
   (a) Environmental Protection Office;
   (b) Healthy City Office;
   (c) Works Operations (Water and Sewer, Waste Management);
   (d) Planning and Development;
   (e) Transportation;
   (f) Toronto Hydro; and
   (g) Information Technology.
   
   The Task Force requires resources sufficient to cover:
   
   (i) meeting costs (mailing etc.);
   (ii) community consultation and other communication costs; and
   (iii) preparation of public documents, including the final report.
   
   These requirements should, for the most part, be accommodated from within the budgets of the departments supporting the Task Force.
   
   In addition, the Task Force will require the allocation of $65,000.00 targeted as follows, $30,000.00 to the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives to assist in completing the work initiated by the Toronto Transition Team, and $35,000.00 to cover specialized research assignments, public forums - including the two day facilitated conference outlined in the work plan, and addressing any barriers to access such as childcare.
   
   



6. Membership Selection:
   
   The Chair, in consultation with staff and community members, will select members and submit the proposed names to Council for approval.
   
   Barriers to access by potential Task Force members must be addressed, such as:
   
   (i) childcare costs for single parents; and
   (ii) accessibility of the meeting space to people of all abilities.
   
   



7. Initial Meetings:
   
   At its initial meetings the Task Force will:
   
   (i) review the Terms of Reference and the Mandate;
   
   (ii) set a schedule of meeting dates, including location;
   
   (iii) orient members as to role of the Task Force, City structure, Human Rights issues, etc.;
   
   (iv) receive an overview of some of the best environmental policies and practices of the former municipalities; and
   
   (vi) receive first presentations on the overall environmental context within which the Task Force will be making recommendations.
   
   



8. Task Force Process:
   
   The process set out here deals for the most part with development of the Environmental Master Plan. However, it should be noted that throughout the life of this Task Force it will be addressing and reporting on immediate environmental priorities for the corporation.
   
   (a) Initial Context Review and Action on High Priority Items (two months):
   
     (1) review the environmental context within which the new City finds itself;
   
     (2) review the scope of environmental initiatives within the new corporation and community that are responding to that context;
   
     (3) specify the priorities of the Task Force;
   
     (4) identify the immediate recommendations that Council must adopt to establish an environmental planning and management system for the corporation;
   
     (5) define a process for developing the first Environmental master plan for the City of Toronto;
   
     (6) review documents from the Toronto Transition Team and NEWCity Environmental Resource Panel and recommend immediate follow-up items from those two reports; and
   
     (7) seek input from existing committees working on environmental issues on their environmental priorities and concerns.
   
   (b) Information Gathering (five months):
   
     (1) literature review;
   
     (2) hearings and charettes on the best approaches to developing an environmental response framework for the new city;
   
     (3) research on most advanced environmental practices in cities around the world; and
   
     (4) release Interim Report on immediate initiatives and policies.
   
   (c) Vision (three months):
   
     (1) develop a draft framework for responding to environmental issues;
   
     (2) identify a system for monitoring the implementation and productivity of the approach that is determined; and
   
     (3) convene a two day conference of politicians, staff, stakeholders and citizens to assist in developing the vision.
   
   (d) Analysis (four months):
   
     (1) determine the policies and practices that are needed to give effect to the framework under discussion; and
   
     (2) start the process of drafting the detailed recommendations that include resource implications, measurement methods and opportunities for partnerships.
   
   (e) Draft Report (four months):
   
     (1) assign recommendations to the relevant bodies within and outside the City;
   
     (2) review the draft with the community;
   
     (3) modify the report in light of the community comments;
   
   (f) present Final Report to Council; and
   
   



9. Community consultation:
   
   Meetings will be open to the public at all points. Deputations will be invited for discussions of environmental context and consideration of any documents that will consider recommendations for consideration of Council. Conferences, public hearings, joint committees of staff and citizens on specific issues and workshops will be integrated into the workplan of the Task Force. The Task Force will also consult with the existing advisory committees. This will allow the Task Force to make best use of the expertise in the community and develop potential partnerships with stakeholders.
   
   



10. Staff Consultation:
    
    Since the work of the Task Force will have implications for almost every major area of the City's operations, the Task Force will consult broadly with senior staff in the development of recommendations. The Chair will consult with the Chief Administrative Officer on the formation of an inter-departmental reference group of staff that will assist in commenting on the recommendations.
    
    

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