Toronto has a reputation for being one of the cleanest cities in the world. There was a time when we lived up to that reputation - but the vigilance Torontonians used to show in keeping their city clean has waned.

The T.O. Toss is a campaign initiated by Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman to change that. Litter hurts everyone; it makes our city less attractive for residents, tourists and business investors alike.

It's not hard to reverse the trend. All it takes is for people like you to throw your litter where it belongs: In the garbage.

As Mayor Mel says, "C'mon, Toronto: Do the T.O. Toss and keep our City clean!"

Remarks by Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman at the launch of the T.O. Toss, June 18, 2001, Nathan Phillips Square.

In the 1950's, Chubby Checker taught Toronto how to do the twist.

In the 1970's, we learned to do the hustle - and in the 1990's, the Rolling Stones showed our city how to do the Harlem shuffle.

Toronto has a new dance for 2001 called the T.O. Toss - and if it's done right, our streets are going to be cleaner than you've ever seen them!

All kinds of famous Torontonians are already doing it: TV stars! Radio personalities! Sports heroes! Even me - and I can't dance!

There are only two steps to the T.O. Toss: litter leaves your hand - and lands in the garbage.

Toronto has a reputation for being one of the cleanest cities in the world - but we are not living up to that reputation!

We have to start throwing our litter in the trash!

To get people to do the T.O. Toss, we've got an ad campaign that's going to be running all summer!

It's going to be on TV! On the radio! On billboards and in newspapers!

You're not going to be able go anywhere in our City without seeing the T.O. Toss in action!

Business people will be doing it! Waiters and waitresses! School kids and teachers! Our entire City will be involved!

Now before we give you a sneak peek of this summer's ad campaign, I want to take a moment to recognize the people who made it possible.

Advertising executives, celebrities, sports personalities, television and radio stations and Toronto's newspapers all graciously donated their time and talent - but there is one person who deserves special credit.

Last February, Councillor Betty Disero and I went to see Rick Padulo of Padulo Integrated with our hats in our hands and no money in our pockets.

We asked for his help - and Rick delivered a million dollar anti-litter campaign at minimal cost to the city that's just dynamite!

Once you've had a chance to see this commercial, I think you'll agree: the T.O. Toss is hard to resist!

Everyone is going to be singing it, everyone is going to be dancing it and everyone is going to be doing it!

Everyone benefits from a clean city! The more corporate sponsors we have, the quicker our Toronto will be cleaned up - and we've got to keep our city clean.

Thank you, everyone, for helping us restore Toronto's reputation as one of the cleanest cities in the world.

Come on, Toronto: do the T.O. Toss and keep our city clean!