Item - 2025.IE25.13
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 12 and 13, 2025 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on October 29, 2025 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on November 12 and 13, 2025.
IE25.13 - High Pollution Days and Two Stroke Engines
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Caution: Motions are shown below. Any motions should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:
1. City Council requests that, when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), city operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever possible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-259474.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(October 24, 2025) E-mail from Shari Kenley Cravit (IE.Supp)
(October 26, 2025) E-mail from John Dimond-Gibson (IE.Supp)
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Sheila White, Friends of Farquharson (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197245.pdf
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Maureen Kapral, President, Lytton Park Residents’ Organization (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197247.pdf
(October 27, 2025) E-mail from Wynton Semple (IE.Supp)
(October 27, 2025) E-mail from Jan Noel (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Lorraine Johnson on behalf of Project Swallowtail (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197370.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Dundee Staunton, Gasbusters (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197384.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Submission from Chris Keating, Gasbusters (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197398.pdf
(October 29, 2025) Multiple Communications from 32 Individuals from October 24, 2025 9:26 a.m. to October 29, 2025 10:31 p.m. (IE.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197262.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Catherine Orion (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Louise Hidinger on behalf of Cliffcrest Butterflyway, Bendale Butterflyway, and Clean Indoor Air Toronto (IE.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197432.pdf
(October 29, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Communications (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That City Council amend Infrastructure and Environment Committee Recommendation 1 by deleting the word "possible" and replacing it with the words "practical and feasible", so that it now reads as follows:
1. City Council request that, when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), City operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever possible practical and feasible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008.
That City Council amend Infrastructure and Environment recommendation 1 by adding to the end "and request the Chief Communications Officer to coordinate the use of the City's various communication channels to get this message to businesses and residents", so that it now reads:
- City Council requests that, when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), city operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever possible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008, and request the Chief Communications Officer to coordinate the use of the City's various communication channels to get this message to businesses and residents.
IE25.13 - High Pollution Days and Two Stroke Engines
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommend that:
1. City Council requests that, when Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index is at high to very high-risk levels (7-10), city operations, businesses and residents refrain whenever possible from operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008.
Origin
Summary
Wildfires are worsening with climate breakdown. Wildfire smoke is a serious health hazard, which again this summer caused Toronto’s air quality to be one of the worst in the world. Residents were urged to stay indoors, schools cancelled outdoor activities, and hospitals braced for a surge in patents. Air quality reached Level 10 and above on the Air Quality Health Index - AQHI 7-10 the “Very High Risk" category - threatening the health of children, seniors, outdoor workers, and anyone with heart or lung conditions.
When air pollutant levels are so high, it is dangerous to the health of Torontonians to worsen the pollution by operating highly polluting engines, such as two-stroke gas-powered leaf blowers and diesel engines manufactured before 2008. On smoky days, when pollution is already at crisis levels, the last thing our children need is even dirtier air.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/bgrd/backgroundfile-259474.pdf
Communications
(October 24, 2025) E-mail from Shari Kenley Cravit (IE.Supp)
(October 26, 2025) E-mail from John Dimond-Gibson (IE.Supp)
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Sheila White, Friends of Farquharson (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197245.pdf
(October 27, 2025) Letter from Maureen Kapral, President, Lytton Park Residents’ Organization (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197247.pdf
(October 27, 2025) E-mail from Wynton Semple (IE.Supp)
(October 27, 2025) E-mail from Jan Noel (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) E-mail from Hamish Wilson (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Lorraine Johnson on behalf of Project Swallowtail (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197370.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Dundee Staunton, Gasbusters (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197384.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Submission from Chris Keating, Gasbusters (IE.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197398.pdf
(October 29, 2025) Multiple Communications from 32 Individuals from October 24, 2025 9:26 a.m. to October 29, 2025 10:31 p.m. (IE.Main)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197262.pdf
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Catherine Orion (IE.Supp)
(October 28, 2025) Letter from Louise Hidinger on behalf of Cliffcrest Butterflyway, Bendale Butterflyway, and Clean Indoor Air Toronto (IE.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/ie/comm/communicationfile-197432.pdf
(October 29, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (IE.Supp)
Speakers
Dundee Staunton, Gasbusters
Harold Smith, Gasbusters
Louise Hidinger, Cliffcrest Butterflyway, Bendale Butterflyway and Clean Indoor Air Toronto