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Anti-Idling Bylaw Update
I was looking at Nicole MacIntyre’s blog entry on the Anti-Idling by-law debate (click here to view the article.
Yesterday at Committee I had to re-enforce this point because I don’t want it to get lost in this debate – I will only support an anti-idling by-law if we can get cost recovery (meaning we recover 100% of the costs via. fines).
Currently the proposal is to spend $115,000/year to hire a by-law enforcement officer, provide a vehicle and other necessary materials. The by-law enforcement officer would issue fines to those that are in violation of the by-law.
Yesterday Councillor Duvall brought up a statistic based on the City of Toronto’s anti-idling initiative, in five years Toronto has only collected on average just over $5000/yr in fines. We agreed to host a Special Committee meeting in the near future to hear from the public on this issue but I would like to see what your thoughts are on this…
As I recall this was debated and put to bed by previous council… PERIOD!!! There is nothing to talk about. It is not sustainable idealistic idea of the new Mayor. Fred move on!!!!
This bylaw is essential as it is clear the money spent on education has been wasted. Even city vehicles continue to idle. We must stop taking costly half-measures that do not work and make a true effort. This is not a money issue but a health issue. Though harder to trace than the cost of the officer’s wages, there is a terrible health cost to not cleaning up our air. And our most vulnerable are the first to fall. Also, if we removed every bylaw that did not kick back sufficient funds to have it, we might as well sweep most of them off the books. Then again, given the Council’s stances on building permits and rodeo laws, it is obvious that short term financial gain trumps justice as well as safety, health and the environment. But with the costs from lawsuits, health bills, and damage to the environment we are paying far more. The bylaw will not stop everything but it is certainly a huge step in the Right Direction….for a change.