Item - 2024.IE10.4
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on February 6, 2024 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Infrastructure and Environment Committee on January 9, 2024 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on February 6, 2024.
IE10.4 - Endangered Species Habitat Replacement on Public Lands
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on February 6 and 7, 2024, adopted the following:
1. City Council direct the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with other Divisions and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as appropriate, to review and report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee, by the third quarter of 2024, on applicable policies concerning the use of City property to create replacement habitat for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, with such report:
a. taking into account the Province’s failure to adequately protect species at risk, as documented by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in the 2017 Environmental Protection Report, titled Good Choices, Bad Choices; and
b. identifying any potential policy or planning process improvements which may assist in providing a net gain for the affected species, including requiring at least two high quality replacement habitats for each existing habitat destroyed.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-241772.pdf
Communications (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-174851.pdf
(January 4, 2024) E-mail from Diana Turchin, Bird Friendly City Toronto (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-174854.pdf
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Clyde Robinson (IE.Supp)
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Karen Yukich, Protect NatureTO (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175133.pdf
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Leslie Gooding (IE.Supp)
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Ellen Schwartzel, Toronto Field Naturalists (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175184.pdf
(January 9, 2024) Submission from Lenka Holubec (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175198.pdf
Communications (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend the Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendation by adding the words “and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority” after the words “in consultation with other Divisions” so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council direct the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with other Divisions and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority as appropriate, to review and report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee, by the third quarter of 2024, on applicable policies concerning the use of City property to create replacement habitat for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, with such report:
a. taking into account the province’s failure to adequately protect species at risk, as documented by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in the 2017 Environmental Protection Report, titled Good Choices, Bad Choices; and
b. identifying any potential policy or planning process improvements which may assist in providing a net gain for the affected species, including requiring at least two high quality replacement habitats for each existing habitat destroyed.
IE10.4 - Endangered Species Habitat Replacement on Public Lands
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:
1. City Council direct the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with other Divisions as appropriate, to review and report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee, by the third quarter of 2024, on applicable policies concerning the use of City property to create replacement habitat for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, with such report:
a. taking into account the province’s failure to adequately protect species at risk, as documented by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in the 2017 Environmental Protection Report, titled Good Choices, Bad Choices; and
b. identifying any potential policy or planning process improvements which may assist in providing a net gain for the affected species, including requiring at least two high quality replacement habitats for each existing habitat destroyed.
Origin
Summary
Under the provincial Endangered Species Act, those who wish to damage or destroy the habitat of an endangered species must construct replacement habitat. Such "replacement" habitats typically have a poor success rate in supporting continued breeding success of the endangered species. The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario therefore recommended that at least two high quality replacement habitats should be constructed before permitting destruction of the original habitat.
Developers intending to destroy endangered species habitat often wish to save money by constructing their replacement habitats in parks or other City property, to avoid having to purchase replacement habitat lands. The City should not permit public property to be used for this purpose unless at least two high quality replacement habitats are constructed for each existing habitat destroyed.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-241772.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-174851.pdf
(January 4, 2024) E-mail from Diana Turchin, Bird Friendly City Toronto (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-174854.pdf
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Clyde Robinson (IE.Supp)
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Karen Yukich, Protect NatureTO (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175133.pdf
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Leslie Gooding (IE.Supp)
(January 8, 2024) E-mail from Ellen Schwartzel, Toronto Field Naturalists (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175184.pdf
(January 9, 2024) Submission from Lenka Holubec (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ie/comm/communicationfile-175198.pdf
Speakers
Motions
That recommendation 1 be deleted and replaced with the following:
1. City Council direct the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the Acting General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, in consultation with other Divisions as appropriate, to review and report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee, by the third quarter of 2024, on applicable policies concerning the use of City property to create replacement habitat for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act, 2007, with such report:
a. taking into account the province’s failure to adequately protect species at risk, as documented by the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario in the 2017 Environmental Protection Report, titled Good Choices, Bad Choices; and
b. identifying any potential policy or planning process improvements which may assist in providing a net gain for the affected species, including requiring at least two high quality replacement habitats for each existing habitat destroyed.