Richmond Hill set to be leading town for environment


Yorkregion.com
March 25, 2015
By Kim Zarzour

The Town of Richmond Hill is set to become the second municipality in Canada to declare your right to live in a healthy environment.

Councillors passed a motion at committee Monday resolving that you have the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, consume safe food, access nature, know about pollutants in your local environment and participate in decision-making that will affect your environment.

It may not seem like an earth-moving resolution, but Ward 4 Councillor Dave West says it is an earth-saving one, a small step that he hopes will launch a groundswell nationwide.

Council chambers were filled with residents Monday evening in support of the resolution, modelled on the David Suzuki Blue Dot plan that encourages local communities to make the pledge with hopes it will inspire provinces to pass environmental bill of rights, and finally the federal government to take action.

The motion presented by West followed a presentation from resident Terry Knight, a retired outdoor and environmental educator.

Knight said she learned from the David Suzuki Blue Dot tour to Richmond Hill last October that 110 countries around the world have guaranteed healthy environments to their citizens, but was dismayed to learn Canada is not one of those.

The Blue Dot movement is seeking an amendment to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom that would provide such a guarantee, beginning with local municipalities issuing non-binding declarations.

Knight said 29 municipalities have already signed on in other provinces and in February, Hamilton became the first in Ontario to do so.

Citizens in Markham are preparing to bring a similar motion before their council, but she said Richmond Hill, with its comprehensive environmental strategy Greening the Hill, should stand in the forefront.

Serena Gandhi, 16, also spoke to the issue. A grade 10 student at Bayview Secondary School, which has won several awards for environmental action, Gandhi said 270 people in Richmond Hill have signed the Blue Dot petition - the most of anymunicipality in York Region.

“If we take a stand, more and more towns and cities will join us,” she said.

Municipalities have limited power over policy decisions about the environment, West said, but they have maximum connection to the electorate.

“We have a special obligation in Richmond Hill - we’re right on the edge of the Oak Ridges moraine ... we are the beginning of three rivers, the Don, the Rouge and the Humber which provide drinking water.

“Today is a good day that we can start to formalize our commitment to the environment and show our leadership because frankly, I think we have been quietly showing it for quite some time.”

Ward 5 Councillor Karen Cilevitz seconded the motion and urged residents to go online to sign the Blue Dot pledge, “the more names the better”, to propel the federal government to make the charter amendment.

“This is not just lip service. It is most definitely a declaration of what we intend to do and how we intend to carry it out.”

But Ward 2 Councillor Tom Muench argued the resolution is too vague.

“Quantitatively here, there’s nothing of substance,” he said.

While Muench said he supports the spirit behind the resolution, “I don’t think it’s gone nearly far enough ... I personally would like more tangible results.”

A more “quantifiable” resolution would set out achievable targets, for example it would explain how the town would reduce its carbon footprint or water consumption, or indicate how many more citizens would participate in Earth Day.

“I’m worried that this is going to be so watered down ... it would not achieve the objectives.”

But West said the town’s environmental strategy, Greening the Hill, is an important cornerstone of the motion and outlines specific goals, strategies and timelines.

If the motion is given final approval at Monday night’s full council meeting, the town promises to support the protection, enhancement and restoration of the environment by:

• Fostering education and outreach;
• Collaborating through partnerships;
• Supporting the development of connected communities
• Reporting the town’s progress towards reaching those goals.

To learn more about the Blue Dot movement, visit bluedot.ca.