Minutes

Environment Advisory Committee

The Corporation of the City of Brampton

Tuesday, February 09, 2021

6:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.

Council Chambers - 4th Floor, City Hall - Webex Electronic Meeting

Members Present:

• Preethi Anbalagan (Co-Chair)
• Akeem Gardner (Co-Chair)
• Harripaul Bridgemohan
• Rajbalinder Ghatoura
• Jafir Jaferi
• David Laing
• Sanjay Mathur
• Davika Misir
• Sherry-Ann Ram
• Stacey Wilson
• City Councillor D. Whillans

Members Absent:

• Tamsen Metcalfe
• Amandeep Purewal
• Vipul Shah

Staff Present:

• Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering
• Stavroula Kassaris, Policy Planner, Environment , Public Works and Engineering
• Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering
• Tammi Jackson, Legislative Coordinator

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1.

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. and adjourned at 7:31 p.m.

2.

Approval of Agenda

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC001-2021

  That the agenda for the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, be approved, as published and circulated.

  Carried

3.

Declarations of Interest under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act

Nil

4.

Previous Minutes

4.1

Minutes - Environment Advisory Committee - December 8, 2020

Note: The minutes were considered by Committee of Council on January 20, 2021 and approved by Council on January 27, 2021. The minutes were provided for Committee’s information.

5.

Presentations\Delegations

5.1

Delegation from Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, re: Municipal Resolution - Phasing Out Ontario's Gas-Fired Power Plants

Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, provided a presentation regarding the Municipal Resolution - Phasing Out Ontario's Gas-Fired Power, which included information on the following:

• Ontario's demand for electricity will increase by approximately 1% per year.
• Outlined implementation measures need to be put in place to reduce greenhouse gas pollution by additional 7.3 to 14 million tonnes per year to achieve the 2030 climate target. 
• Ways to phase out Ontario's Gas Plants:
  • Energy efficiency
  • Quebec water power
  • Wind and solar energy
• By distributing resources, jobs will be established within communities
• Quebec's hydro electricity supply can back-up wind and solar energy
• Cost comparison of Ontario electricity problems.
• Phasing out gas power plants will assist with the reductions required to achieve GHG reduction targets

Committee discussion on this matter included the following:

• Environmental impacts of expanding infrastructure.
• Clarification on the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator IESO Report
• Increased ability to import electricity from Quebec
• Cost of solar and wind power versus nuclear power
• The Goreway Power Station and the Halton Hills Generating Station Clean Energy Supply Contract with the IESO expiring in 2029 and 2030, respectively.

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC002-2021

  1. That the delegation from Jack Gibbons, Chair, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Municipal Resolution - Phasing Out Ontario's Gas-Fired Power Plants be received; and,

  
  WHEREAS the Government of Ontario is forecast to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Ontario’s natural gas-fired power plants from 3 megatonnes CO2e in 2017 to 11 megatonnnes CO2e by 2030 and to approximately 13 megatonnes CO2e by 2040, reversing more than a third of the GHG reductions that were achieved by phasing out coal-fired power plants; and,

  
  WHEREAS GHG emissions are causing temperatures to rise in Canada at more than double the rate of the rest of the world, causing impacts to municipal operations and affecting City of Brampton residents; and,

  
  WHEREAS, in June 2019, the City of Brampton declared a climate emergency; and,

  
  WHEREAS, in September 2020, the City of Brampton approved the City’s first comprehensive Community Energy and Emissions Reductions Plan (CEERP); and,

  
  WHEREAS the CEERP sets out ambitious goals, including reducing GHG emissions by 30% from 2016 levels by 2030, 50% by 2040, and at least 80% by 2050; and,

  
  WHEREAS, if the City is to meet its targets under the CEERP, the Ontario electricity grid must remain low carbon; and,

  
  NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that it is the position of the Environment Advisory Committee:

  2. .That the City of Brampton requests the Government of Ontario to place an interim cap of 2.5 megatonnes per year on GHG emissions from Ontario’s natural gas-fired power plants and develop and implement a plan to phase-out all natural gas-fired electricity generation by 2030 to ensure that Ontario meets its climate targets; and,

  
  3. That the City of Brampton request that the Government of Ontario invest in residential, business, industrial and institutional energy efficiency programs to reduce the need for additional natural gas-fired power plants; and,

  
  4. That this resolution be sent to the Minister Environment, Conservation, and Parks, the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, David Piccini, MPP, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

  Carried

5.2

Presentation by Karley Cianchino, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, re: Pursuing Bee City Canada Designation for the City of Brampton

Karley Cianchino, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, provided a presentation regarding Pursuing Bee City Canada Designation for the City of Brampton, which included information on the following:

• What a Bee City is
• The importance of pollinators
• Bee City Canada
• Outline of what Brampton is already doing to support pollinators
  • Community outreach and education
    • Parks Environmental Stewardship Program
    • Natural Heritage Brochure Series
    • Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP)
  • Community Programs and Events
    • Seedy Saturday and Garden Show
    • Community Garden Program
    • Backyard Garden Program
    • Community Stewardship Program
  • City Strategies, Programs and Guidelines
    • Naturalization Program
    • Don’t Mow, Let it Grow Initiative
    • One Million Trees Program
    • Jefferson, Jordan, and Jayfield Parks Revitalization Project (Eco Park Strategy)
    • Landscape Development Guidelines
    • Sustainable Community Development Guidelines and Sustainability Metrics
  • Reasons, benefits and community opportunities of becoming a Bee City
  • Bee City designation process

Committee discussion on this matter included the following. 

• Suggestions on improving the Don't Mo, Let it Grow initiative
• City staff working with ecologists and other pollinator specialists when planning restoration projects to support pollinators 
• Question as to whether the City would consider using it’s greenhouses to grow native plants
• Difficulties of sourcing sufficient volumes of native species to plant in all of the City’s garden beds
• Increasing communication with residents in areas where naturalization/restoration work is being undertaken. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC003-2021
  1. That the presentation from Karley Cianchino, Environmental Planning Student, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee of February 9, 2021 re: Pursuing Bee City Canada designation for the City of Brampton be received;

      

  2. That the Environment Advisory Committee endorse the City of Brampton pursuing the Bee City Canada designation, and recommend that Council direct City staff to submit the Bee City Canada application to designate Brampton as a Bee City.
  Carried

5.3

Delegation from Sylvia Roberts, Brampton Resident, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET).

Item 6.4 was brought forward and dealt with at this time. 

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, provided a brief overview of the Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET) and advised the Committee that staff were moving forward with establishing a Community Advisory Task Force, which would support the implementation of the Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP). Mr. Hoy also provided a brief summary the requested experience and backgrounds of potential members, and advised that applications were being accepted until February 19, 2021 and outlined the skills required for the role. 

S. Roberts, Brampton Resident, expressed concerns regarding the requirements of the applicants and the process outlined for the project. S. Roberts noted they did not feel the CEERP Plan is addressing Brampton's needs, and suggested the City support more transit oriented development.

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC004-2021

  1. That the verbal update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET) be received; and, 

   

  2. That the delegation by Sylvia Roberts, Brampton Resident, to the Environment Advisory Committee meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET), be received. 

  Carried

6.

Reports/Updates

6.1

Verbal Update from David Laing, Grow Green Network Working Group Chair, re: Status of the Grow Green Network

David Laing, Grow Green Network Working Group, Chair, provided an overview of the Status of the Grow Green network and outlined two focus areas:

• First focus area – transitioning the current Grow Green Network to a charitable not-for-profit.
• Second focus area - to provide value to the existing Grow Green Network members through, workshops, and technical presentations, as well as resource sharing.

The following motion was considered.

• EAC005-2021

  That the verbal update from David Laing, Grow Green Network Working Group Chair, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Status of the Grow Green Network, be received.

  Carried

6.2

Verbal Update from Stacey Wilson, Committee Member, re: Progress on the Grow Green Network Website Update

Stacy Wilson, Committee Member, requested an update on the progress of the Grow Green Network website. 

Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, advised that City staff received feedback from EAC members for improvement of the Grow Green webpages, and the update to the webpages was delayed as the City’s IT Services was focused on u finishing with another portfolio for the Public Works website. The Grow Green Network website update project will start March 2021. 

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC006-2021

  That the verbal update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Progress on the Grow Green Network Website Update be received.

  Carried

6.3

Verbal Update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, re: Designating September as Brampton Tree Month

Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, provided an overview of the Designating September as Brampton Tree Month and outlined the following:

• Staff will be bringing a report to Committee of Council in late March to provide an update on the One Million Trees Program, as well as a recommendation that Council designate September as Brampton Tree Month 
• Each year September has been National Forest Week and the Wednesday of that week is National Tree Day. 
• The City of Brampton typically celebrates this week and day by hosting community tree planting events during the month of September. 
• Last year, due to the COVID pandemic, the City released tree related social media posts and videos, which were well-received by the public. 
• In January 2020 Council passed a resolution to designate September as Tree month
• Future tree months will combine activities undertaken in the past, as well as provide opportunities for new ways to celebrate trees. 

The following motion was considered.

• EAC007-2021

  That the verbal update from Zoe Milligan, Environmental Project Specialist, Public Works and Engineering, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Designating September as Brampton Tree Month be received.

  Carried

6.4

Verbal Update from Michael Hoy, Supervisor, Environmental Planning, Public Works and Engineering, re: Centre for Community Energy Transformation (CCET)

Dealt with under item 5.3 - Recommendation EAC004-2021.

7.

Sub-Committees

Nil

8.

Other New/Business

8.1

Discussion Item at the request of Rajbalinder Ghatoura and Amandeep Purewal, Committee Members, re: Establishment of a Waste Literacy Campaign

Rajbalinder Ghatoura and Amandeep Purewal, provided an overview of the proposed establishment of a Waste Literacy Campaign, its key tactics (social media content and videos on sorting waste, compostable and recyclable's).

Committee discussion on this matter included the following. 

• Salt management
• Water savings for residential and city buildings
• How the Environmental Master Plan can be used to support better management practices

8.2

Discussion Item at the request of David Laing, Committee Member, re: Recognition of Earth Day - April 22, 2021

David Laing, Committee Member, provided an overview of Recognition of Earth Day - April 22, 2021 and asked the committee for feedback with respect to how the committee could recognize this particular day. 

Stavroula Kassaris, Policy Planner, Environment , Public Works and Engineering, provided clarification that the City of Brampton in previous years recognized Earth Day through community planting events in partnership with local Conservation Authorities. Ms. Kassaris advised that in 2020 the earth day celebration was slightly different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earth Day was celebrated through the City of Brampton's social media platforms with direction given regarding how Brampton residents could recognize the day. This year’s celebrations will be determined by Provincial and Regional regulations and guidelines surrounding the pandemic. 

8.3

Discussion Item at the request of David Laing, Committee Member, re: EAC Participation in the “Smelling Pink” Spring Festival - May 7-9, 2021

David Laing, Committee Member, provided an overview of the “Smelling Pink” Spring Festival being proposed for the weekend of May 7-9, 2021 and advised that due to the COVID-19 pandemic the planning for the event had been put on hold and should the event still take place it would be on a much smaller scale. Mr. Laing asked the Committee if there was any interest of having a booth set up at the event. 

Stavroula Kassaris, Policy Planner, Environment , Public Works and Engineering, provided clarification that City staff are working with the individual organizing the event and that plans would be subject to COVID-19 precautions. Ms. Kassaris advised that the Environmental Advisory Committee is a Committee of Brampton that was required to follow subject guidelines (how many people participate, how and where to set up). 

9.

Correspondence

9.1

Correspondence provided by City Councillor Whillans, re: Atlas365 Inc. Announcement titled "Black Entrepreneurs Get Green, In A Majority White Cannabis Industry: Atlas365 Inc. Secures Oversubscribed Round for New Portfolio Company: Canurta Inc."

The subject Correspondence was provided within the agenda package and was not displayed during the meeting. Committee acknowledged the information provided within.

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC008-2021

  That the Correspondence from City Councillor Whillans, to the Environment Advisory Committee Meeting of February 9, 2021, re: Atlas365 Inc. Announcement titled "Black Entrepreneurs Get Green, In A Majority White Cannabis Industry: Atlas365 Inc. Secures Oversubscribed Round for New Portfolio Company: Canurta Inc.", be received.

  Carried

10.

Question Period

Nil

11.

Public Question Period

15 Minute Limit (regarding any decision made at this meeting)

During the meeting, the public may submit questions regarding recommendations made at the meeting via email to the City Clerk at [email protected], to be introduced during the Public Question Period section of the meeting.

Questions were asked with respect to the following: 

• Who is involved with the Bee program at the school boards level.
• Waste Literacy project- key objectives and partners for this initiative and time frame for deliverables
• Initiatives around water savings in residential and city buildings and, salt reduction program during winters

12.

Adjournment

Next Meeting: Tuesday, April 13, 2021

The following motion was considered. 

• EAC009-2021

  That the Environment Advisory Committee do now adjourn to meet again on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. or at the call of the Chair.

  Carried