Item - 2018.PE24.5
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on January 31, 2018 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Parks and Environment Committee on January 18, 2018 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on January 31, 2018.
PE24.5 - Reinforcing the Importance of the Toronto Island Habitat
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on January 31 and February 1, 2018, adopted the following:
1. City Council request the Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Federal Department of Natural Resources to consider the Toronto Islands for designation as a Bird Sanctuary, under the Migratory Birds Act, and the enacting of appropriate regulations for the protection arising from such a designation and to consult with the City of Toronto and Waterfront stakeholders on the request.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-110058.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(November 11, 2017) E-mail from Ian Cannell (PE.Main.PE24.5.2)
(November 13, 2017) E-mail from Wayne Fraser (PE.Main.PE24.5.3)
(November 15, 2017) E-mail from David Beadle (PE.Main.PE24.5.4)
(November 28, 2017) E-mail from Alfred Adamo (PE.Main.PE24.5.5)
(January 5, 2018) Submission from David Clark, Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassadors (PE.Main.PE24.5.6)
(January 11, 2018) E-mail from Erich Nolan Bertussi (PE.New.PE24.5.7)
(January 12, 2018) E-mail from Sarah Miller (PE.New.PE24.5.8)
(January 12, 2018) Letter from John Carley, Co-Chair and Garth Riley, Co-Chair, Friends of the Spit (PE.New.PE24.5.9)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-74973.pdf
(January 14, 2018) E-mail from George and Anna Prodanou and Family (PE.New.PE24.5.10)
(January 13, 2018) Submission from Norm Murr (PE.New.PE24.5.11)
(January 15, 2018) E-mail from Peter Welsh (PE.New.PE24.5.12)
(January 15, 2018) Submission from Tony Farebrother, Chair, Stewardship Committee, and Executive Member, Toronto Island Community Association (PE.New.PE24.5.13)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-75393.pdf
(January 16, 2018) Submission from Anne Purvis, Toronto Field Naturalists (PE.New.PE24.5.14)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-75548.pdf
(January 16, 2018) E-mail from Bob Tyler (PE.New.PE24.5.15)
(January 17, 2018) E-mail from Jenny Bull (PE.New.PE24.5.16)
(January 17, 2018) E-mail from John Wilson, Waterfront for All (PE.New.PE24.5.17)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-78074.pdf
Communications (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cc/comm/communicationfile-78264.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Parks and Environment Committee Recommendation 1 by adding the words "and to consult with the City of Toronto and Waterfront stakeholders on the request" so that it now reads:
1. City Council request the Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Federal Department of Natural Resources to consider the Toronto Islands for designation as a Bird Sanctuary, under the Migratory Birds Act, and the enacting of appropriate regulations for the protection arising from such a designation and to consult with the City of Toronto and Waterfront stakeholders on the request.
Vote (Amend Item) Feb-01-2018 7:23 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PE24.5 - Cressy - motion 1 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 28 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Michael Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Jim Hart, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Neethan Shan, Lucy Troisi, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 9 | Members that voted No are Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Gary Crawford, Vincent Crisanti, Justin J. Di Ciano, Mark Grimes, Cesar Palacio, David Shiner |
Total members that were Absent: 8 | Members that were absent are Frank Di Giorgio, Paula Fletcher, Michelle Holland, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Feb-01-2018 7:24 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - PE24.5 - Adopt the item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 34 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Shelley Carroll, Josh Colle, Gary Crawford, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Justin J. Di Ciano, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Mary Fragedakis, Mark Grimes, Jim Hart, Jim Karygiannis, Norman Kelly, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Neethan Shan, David Shiner, Lucy Troisi, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
Total members that voted No: 3 | Members that voted No are Christin Carmichael Greb, Michael Ford, Stephen Holyday |
Total members that were Absent: 8 | Members that were absent are Frank Di Giorgio, Paula Fletcher, Michelle Holland, Giorgio Mammoliti, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson, John Tory |
Councillor Pasternak, rising on a Point of Order, stated that Council should record its votes when making recommendations to other levels of government.
PE24.5 - Reinforcing the Importance of the Toronto Island Habitat
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council request the Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Federal Department of Natural Resources to consider the Toronto Islands for designation as a Bird Sanctuary, under the Migratory Birds Act, and the enacting of appropriate regulations for the protection arising from such a designation.
Origin
Summary
City Council, on November 7, 8, and 9, 2017, referred Motion MM34.13 to the Parks and Environment Committee.
The Toronto Islands are a jewel in the heart of Canada's largest metropolis. In addition to being home to hundreds of residents, they represent a significant destination for residents and visitors from across our City, providing a way to enjoy and respect the natural environment, mere minutes from downtown. The Toronto Islands are a sanctuary for all of us.
By their very nature, they also create a significant natural habitat for many plant and animal species. Many areas of the Islands have been designated Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest by the Ministry of Natural Resources, demonstrating their high value for conservation, study, and education. Portions of Muggs Island, Hanlan's Beach, and Centre Island are also designated as Environmentally Significant Areas by the Ministry, a designation for areas of particular significance and sensitivity, and which require additional protection to preserve their environmental qualities and significance.
The Islands' location immediately adjacent to the biggest metropolis in Canada inherently creates a danger to the species that rely on this habitat for survival. We saw first-hand this past year that the climate change crisis has already begun affecting the Islands, when flooding not only closed them to the public, but endangered the habitat of their plant and animal species. In 2013, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority remarked in a letter to Toronto and East York Community Council that the Island wetlands provide feeding areas for colonial bird species, waterfowl, and rare migrants as they move through the urban environment, as well as important foraging area for many of the significant species nesting at Tommy Thompson Park, and foraging and resting for hundreds of migrating bird species.
An area can be designated as a Migratory Bird Sanctuary, under the Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. The Act allows for regulations for the protection of migratory birds, to prohibit the taking, injuring, destruction, or the molestation of their (migratory birds) nests or eggs, within any prescribed area, and for the control and management of such area. That provision forms the basis for establishing sanctuaries for migratory birds and for enacting regulations to control and administer such sanctuaries.
Given the significance of the ecosystem to the natural and migratory bird population, but also the clear dangers to the bird species native to and migrating to and from the Islands, a review for designation as a Bird Sanctuary for the Toronto Islands is a critical step in protecting this habitat.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/bgrd/backgroundfile-110058.pdf
Communications
(November 11, 2017) E-mail from Ian Cannell (PE.Main.PE24.5.2)
(November 13, 2017) E-mail from Wayne Fraser (PE.Main.PE24.5.3)
(November 15, 2017) E-mail from David Beadle (PE.Main.PE24.5.4)
(November 28, 2017) E-mail from Alfred Adamo (PE.Main.PE24.5.5)
(January 5, 2018) Submission from David Clark, Toronto Urban Fishing Ambassadors (PE.Main.PE24.5.6)
(January 11, 2018) E-mail from Erich Nolan Bertussi (PE.New.PE24.5.7)
(January 12, 2018) E-mail from Sarah Miller (PE.New.PE24.5.8)
(January 12, 2018) Letter from John Carley, Co-Chair and Garth Riley, Co-Chair, Friends of the Spit (PE.New.PE24.5.9)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-74973.pdf
(January 14, 2018) E-mail from George and Anna Prodanou and Family (PE.New.PE24.5.10)
(January 13, 2018) Submission from Norm Murr (PE.New.PE24.5.11)
(January 15, 2018) E-mail from Peter Welsh (PE.New.PE24.5.12)
(January 15, 2018) Submission from Tony Farebrother, Chair, Stewardship Committee, and Executive Member, Toronto Island Community Association (PE.New.PE24.5.13)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-75393.pdf
(January 16, 2018) Submission from Anne Purvis, Toronto Field Naturalists (PE.New.PE24.5.14)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-75548.pdf
(January 16, 2018) E-mail from Bob Tyler (PE.New.PE24.5.15)
(January 17, 2018) E-mail from Jenny Bull (PE.New.PE24.5.16)
(January 17, 2018) E-mail from John Wilson, Waterfront for All (PE.New.PE24.5.17)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/pe/comm/communicationfile-78074.pdf
Speakers
Ausma Malik
John Wilson, Waterfront for All
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker
Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam
Councillor Lucy Troisi
Councillor Joe Cressy
Motions
That City Council request the Federal Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Federal Department of Natural Resources to consider the Toronto Islands for designation as a Bird Sanctuary, under the Migratory Birds Act, and the enacting of appropriate regulations for the protection arising from such a designation.