BVA Environment Committee

1. BVA Environment Committee 2016 Priorities, Objectives and Plans Monty McDonald Sharon Johnson

2. Environmental Health & Safety Policy • BVA is committed to fostering a Quality of Life in the community that is second to none in Canada. • Our top priority is to create awareness and encourage active involvement of community members, contractors and governments to ELIMINATE threats to safety, health and the environment in our neighbourhoods and surrounding natural habitats and through our actions influence improvements in the GTA.

3. Priority Seriatim top 4 • Air Pollution (all of sources listed below contain carcinogens and/or cause lung disease and the city is doing little to regulate emitters) • Two Cycle engines: [Leaf Blowers] • On purpose toxic street DUST: [Leaf Blowers] • Fuel Spills, banned agrichemicals use: contractors & homeowners VOC emissions • Silica dust from stone cutting operations on construction projects • Water Pollution: 1. Many downspout disconnects done incorrectly a major source of the storm sewer load • Owners & contractors dumping paint, cleaners, chemicals, washing cars to storm sewers (all illegal activities) • Dumping hazardous waste, cosmetics, pharmas down drains and toilets: sanitary sewage treatment plants cannot handle and much passes through to Lake Ontario • OUR Trees • illegal removal, prevention of storm damage, replanting • Noise Pollution: • Leaf blowers worst offender. What we accomplish on air pollution reduces noise

4. Priority Seriatim next 4 • Ravines and Parks • Illegal dumping • Erosion because of poor waterway management • Wildlife & their habitat preservation: by opposing nearby mega development threats • Invasive species • Mega Project Concerns • Line 9b reversal • Visual Pollution: litter, signs, garbage practices • Control of Animals • Dog leashing / cleanup • Cats roaming • Feeding of wild animals (not birds)

5. 2016 & Ongoing Objectives • Air Pollution • Eliminate leaf blower operations in summer months (also addresses noise pollution) • enforce contractors to comply low dust stone cutting • Water Pollution • Correct Downspout disconnect program • Eliminate contractors & residents from dumping liquids into street sewers • Educate residents on sanitary sewer water pollution practices • Tree management awareness • Legal requirements tree removal/ pruning • Regular pruning to prevent storm damage • Regeneration of lost trees from ice storm • Ravines Cleanup & Advocate to keep in natural state

6. 2016 Programs • Reduce Leaf Blower use in Summer • Continue education of residents (news letters, flyers) • Green practices Lawn Care Program • Investigate leverage from city council with other Rate Payer associations, ministries of Labour & Environment • Lobby gov’t to enforce the law with stone cutters • Reduce Pollution of street sewers • Awareness via newsletters, flyers, yellow fish painting stencils for street sewers, volunteers on environmentally responsible practices • Trees • Replacement planting initiative; streets, ravine, parkettes • Green Practices Lawn & Tree Care Program • Awareness via newsletters, flyers, volunteers on management practices & Advocacy via city council with other Rate Payers • Search for a BVA Vimy Tree location April 2017 to energize BVA residents Plant a Tree Day (City of Toronto LEAF connect $$) • Ravine Cleanup • Involve Bayview Middle School & BVA volunteers

7. 2016 Programs Continued 5. Advocate & Monitor to keep Ravines in their Natural State • Investigate leverage from city council with other Rate Payer associations, ministries of Labour & Environment • Report damage and/or abuse of natural habitat including wildlife to City of Toronto • Educate community via newsletters, website, Climate Change Org., volunteers • Earth Day Event • Organize & run with volunteers, educate the community

8. SWOT Break 1 • Strengths • Objectives are meaningful, measurable, will make a difference in quality of life • Weaknesses Attainability • Moral suasion is not working, apathetic response from most residents • Contractors could care less • Need army of Volunteers to hammer home our message & take action • We are powerless to enforce anything • Minimal backing from government (councillor, other) • Bylaw enforcement powerless as well

9. SWOT Break 2 • Opportunities • Engage other rate payers associations, many have equal concerns (we did with FONTRA Noise) • There are political forums (Enviro Segue on Council) • Go after Toronto Chief Medical Officer: resurrect Summer Leaf Blower Ban (2003 council turned it down) • John Tory needs an “ Enviro Horse” to ride • Changing regulations and laws is better use of limited committee resources than beating heads against walls • Many potential recruits for ARMY (like minded people, youth engagement, schools should participate) • Enviro Street Captains On Every Street create a manual, promote it, they will learn on the job. Focus on recruiting young people. ( model: we used to have neighborhood watch person on almost every street)

10. SWOT Break 3 • Opportunities Continued --Revitalization of Ravine Including Wildlife • Fish, Birds, Turtles, etc. Replenish fish & turtles in Don River system (team up with Phil Goodwin East Don Parkland Partners) , • Bird Feeders; perhaps throughout BVA residences but not ravine due to scavengers, bird dependence • Team up with FLAP: latest technology to protect birds colliding with picture windows: offer good pricing with BVA residents through volume purchasing . Model what BVA did for house numbers and mail boxes • Sponsor elementary school children yellow fish stenciling pavement at street drains • Threats • Same old: lawn mowing contractors don’t care, apathetic residents • Climate change deniers

11. The rate at which we advance these programs will depend on degree of involvement of volunteersBUDGET 2017Environmental Committee Budget is $1200. This includes costs for Earth / Enviro Awareness Day $500, Ravine Clean-up $200, Tree initiative / Vimy Event $300 and Enviro Street Captain manual ($200)