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Item 2 of the Newmarket
Environmental Advisory Committee Minutes of March 2, 2016 regarding the
Blue Dot Movement.
The
Operational Leadership Team recommends:
a)
THAT the following matter be received.
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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