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a)
THAT the deputation by Ms. Christine Glenn and Ms. Jen Turla, Blue Dot York
Region be received and the following recommendations be forwarded to
Council:
i) WHEREAS the Town of Newmarket understands that
people are part of the environment, and that a healthy environment is
inextricably linked to the well-being of our community;
ii) NOW THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY
RESOLVED THAT the Town of Newmarket finds and declares that:
1. All people have the right to live in a healthy environment,
including:
·
The right to breathe clean air
·
The right to drink
clean water
·
The right to
consume safe food
·
The right to access
nature
·
The right to know
about pollutants and contaminants released into the local environment
·
The right to
participate in decision-making that will affect the environment
The Town of Newmarket has the responsibility, within its
jurisdiction, to respect, protect, fulfill and promote these rights.
2. The Town of
Newmarket shall apply the precautionary principle: where threats of serious
or irreversible damage to human health or the environment exist, the Town shall
take cost effective measures to prevent the degradation of the environment
and protect the health of its citizens. Lack of full scientific certainty
shall not be viewed as sufficient reason for the Town to postpone such
measures.
3. The Town of Newmarket shall apply full cost accounting; when evaluating
reasonably foreseeable costs of proposed actions and alternatives, the Town
will consider costs to human health and the environment.
4. The
Town of Newmarket shall specify objectives, targets and timelines and
actions that the Town of Newmarket will take, within its jurisdiction, to
fulfill residents’ right to a healthy environment, including priority
actions to:
a.
Ensure
infrastructure and development projects protect the environment, including
air quality;
b.
Address
climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing
adaptation measures;
c.
Responsibly
increase density;
d.
Prioritize
walking, cycling and public transit as preferred modes of transportation;
e.
Reduce
solid waste and promote recycling and composting;
f.
Establish
and maintain accessible green spaces in all residential neighbourhoods.
The Town shall review the objectives, targets, timelines and actions
every five (5) years, and evaluate progress towards fulfilling this
declaration and consult with residents as part of this process.
iii) BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
THAT the Town shall
send a letter to the provincial government calling for a public review of
the Ontario Environmental Bill of Rights in order to improve the Act and to
include recognition that all people have the right to live in a healthy
environment. The Town will also send a letter to the federal government
calling for the development of federal legislation that recognizes that all
people have the right to live in a healthy environment.
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