AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE (AQTF)

ANNOUNCEMENT:  There was an announcement on August 17, 2011 by then-Environment Minister John Wilkinson concerning the implementation of Dr. David Balsillie's SW GTA Air Quality Task Force Action Plan which was released at the end of June 2010.  Press Release (Aug, 17, 2011): Ontario announces Pilot Project in Oakville-Clarkson. 

MIRANET Environment Subcommittee reps attended -- report and pics pending.  NOTE: This 2010 article is being reloaded from the archive and updated in light of this new development.

NOTE: Activity on the pilot project was suspended during the recent provincial election campaign, and Environment Minister John Wilkinson lost his seat in the election on October 6, 2011. 
The community awaits confirmation that the pilot project will proceed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MISSISSAUGA COUNCIL RESPONSE: On September 15, 2010, Council will consider the Corporate Report prepared in response to the AQTF Action Plan (per below). MIRANET will post the full corporate report if it can be made available electronically. Meanwhile, p6 of the Council Agenda (PDF) -- Item #8/R-7, lists the two recommendations before Council:

1. That the Honourable John Wilkinson, Minister of the Environment, be requested to provide the government’s response to the Southwest GTA Oakville-Clarkson Airshed Action Plan (Action Plan) as soon as possible.

2. That the City of Mississauga call upon the Government of the Province of Ontario and the Minister of the Environment to consider the recommendations of the Action Plan in reviewing any application for a certificate of approval or any other approval required for any industrial activity in the Oakville-Clarkson Airshed.

AIR QUALITY TASK FORCE: REPORT AND ACTION PLAN is released: June 25, 2010.
Click here to view the complete Report (132p PDF).  The TOP FIVE of the 35 Recommendations, Press Releases and Media appear below.

RECOMMENDATION 1
Develop and implement a new form of governance and an AMS
[Airshed Management System] in the OCA [Oakville-Clarkson Airshed]
to effectively manage cumulative impacts.

RECOMMENDATION 2
Development of supportive and required policies and regulations
for the Airshed Management System should be a priority.

RECOMMENDATION 3
The province should develop an Inter-Ministry Action Team, consisting of senior staff from the Ministries of the Environment, Transportation, Health and Long-Term Care, Municipal Affairs and Housing, and
Energy and Infrastructure to coordinate provincial policy development
in order to implement the Air Quality Action Plan.

RECOMMENDATION 4
All applications for Certificates of Approval for new or modified industrial activities, which will increase emissions within the airshed, must be considered in light of the current capacity of the airshed.
This recommendation would also apply to the issuance of a
Certificate of Approval for the power plant.

RECOMMENDATION 5
The Ministry of the Environment should set a provincial standard for emissions of primary PM2.5. Other ministries with mandates that affect air quality should also work cooperatively with
MOE on development of other air standards.
--------------------------------------------------------------

North Oakville Today article (June 30, 2010): New airshed report points to action. Excerpt: "The Action Plan on the Oakville-Clarkson Airshed prepared by Dr. David Balsillie was released last Thursday, and it outlined the need to take action, rather than conduct more scientific studies. ... 'Because there is not room in the air shed for more emissions, if the power plant were to get its certificate of approval it would require offsets,' said Balsille. 'An opposite amount [of emissions] needs to be removed from the air shed before they get their certificate from the Ministry of the Environment.'"

Oakville Beaver editorial (June 29, 2010): What does it take? Excerpt: "What does it take to get the Ministry of Environment’s attention? What does it take to make Premier Dalton McGuinty and his government to admit that the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) made a mistake when it selected TransCanada’s proposed 900-megawatt gas-fueled power plant on Royal Windsor Drive as the lottery winner of the Southwest GTA Replacement Power Plant sweepstakes. ... we have to wonder whether the recently released report by the South West GTA Air Quality Task Force and its 30 recommendations will finally get the attention of the government. ... If adopted, the recommendations would seem to put an end to any plans of building a gas-fired power plant in the Oakville-Clarkson airshed. However, although the air quality task force was formed by the minister of environment last fall, there is no requirement to make the recommendations binding. The Province can simply ignore the findings of its own task force and continue business as usual with its head planted firmly in the sand. We can only hope that the Province will finally see the light, admit its mistake, and follow the advice of its own task force."

Mississauga News article (June 25, 2010): Airshed report calls for change. Excerpt: "Ward 2 Councillor Pat Mullin ... and Mayor Hazel McCallion met with task force chair Dr. David Balsillie last week to discuss their concerns. Mullin said they also want no further certificates of approval to be issued until emissions in the airshed are reduced. The task force, created last September, unveiled its report containing more than 30 recommendations to reduce vehicular, industrial and residential emissions. One of the recommendations was for the Ministry of the Environment to set a provincial standard for air emissions. Mullin said that's important because it, 'shouldn't be done in piecemeal fashion; it should be done province-wide.' ... The report states that ... municipal and regional governments, local industry and residents will all have to participate to make it happen."

Oakville Beaver article (June 25, 2010): Air quality task force releases report: Recommends banning new sources of air pollution. Excerpt: "The South West GTA Air Quality Task Force has recommended that no new major sources of pollution be developed in the already taxed Oakville-Clarkson Airshed. ... 'The Action Plan creates a unique opportunity for the Ministry of the Environment and its many potential partners to make a real difference through sustainable improvement in air quality in this airshed,' said Task Force Chair Dr. David Balsillie in his report. ... The recommendations also drew praise from Oakville Mayor Rob Burton. ... [who] agreed with the task forces recommendation regarding the proposed power plant. ... 'Dr. Balsillie’s findings confirm that it would be irresponsible to locate a power plant in the Oakville-Clarkson Airshed given the current levels of pollution that already exist in the airshed.'"

Town of Oakville news release (June 25, 2010): Town welcomes report of Balsillie Task Force on Oakville-Clarkson Airshed. Excerpt: "'The province appointed Dr. [David] Balsillie to identify forward-looking solutions and he has responded to this challenge,' Mayor [Rob] Burton said. 'The town agrees that a new Airshed Management System that looks at cumulative impacts of emissions and sets specific air quality improvement targets and strategies is required to achieve real improvements in local air quality. Oakville's innovative health protection air quality by-law recognizes the harmful effects of PM2.5, so we fully support Dr. Balsillie's call for a provincial standard to regulate the emission of this harmful substance.'"

Mississauga South MPP Charles Sousa, Press Release (June 25, 2010): Air Quality Task Force Delivers Comprehensive Action Plan. Excerpt: "Today, the Southwest GTA Air Quality Task Force (AQTF) released its report on the Clarkson-Oakville airshed. Mississauga South MPP Charles Sousa responded to the report by again calling for emissions reductions and standing by his position that no new emitters be built in the area. Since taking office in 2007, Sousa has supported south Mississauga residents in calling for emissions reductions and emphasizing the need to manage the cumulative effect of multiple emitters. The much anticipated report made 35 recommendations including:

• Restrictions on new sources of emissions, including the proposed power plant in Oakville;
• Improved emission standards and toughening of regulation enforcement;
• The creation of an Airshed Management System (AMS) to manage all emissions in the Oakville-Clarkson area

Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn, Press Release (June 25, 2010): Air Quality Report a Positive Step to Cleaner Air in Oakville. Excerpt: "'I would like to thank Dr. Balsillie and members of the Task Force for their solutions-oriented report that aims our community and the provincial government in the right direction towards cleaner air,' said Flynn who went on to say that the report clearly illustrates that action must be taken immediately to clean-up Oakville’s air and that maintaining the status quo is just not good enough. Dr. Balsillie and the Task Force brought forward more than 30 action-oriented recommendations with a clear implementation plan that includes a fully engaged community partnership that focuses on reducing emissions from transportation, industry and residential sources. ... One of the recommendations suggested that no new emission sources should be added to the area which Flynn noted would include the proposed TransCanada power plant stating that 'the addition of a new industrial emitter is a giant step backwards and the task force made it clear we cannot wait any longer to take action.'"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MIRANET DEPUTATION: The MIRANET Clean Air Subcommittee made a Deputation (click to view) before Mississauga City Council on April 14, 2010 regarding the power plant issue and MIRANET's participation on the provincial Air Quality Task Force Community Advisory Committee (CAC). Excerpt: "Our Clean Air Subcommittee is excited by the possibility of a Comprehensive Airshed Management System (CAMS) which would provide special oversight to any future Certificate of Approval applications and employ of a host of innovative approaches to reducing emissions in this stressed industrial area."

Air pollution is an important issue within the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed, as recognized by the Ontario government, which created the provincial Air Quality Task Force to address "how to improve local air quality in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed through the reduction of air emissions from industrial, vehicular and residential sources."
-- Source: Ontario Order in Council: Sept. 29, 2009.

The Air Quality Task Force was announced on September 30, 2009. On November 24, 2009, Dr. David Balsillie was appointed as the one-person Task Force. The final report of the Task Force, with a comprehensive Action Plan to improve air quality, is to be completed by the end of June 2010. Click here for the Backgrounder on Dr. David Balsillie.

WEATHER NETWORK SERIES: The Weather Network has produced a five-part series (March 2010): Power... At What Cost? about the Oakville Generating Station. The video stories are now online (click to view). Segments four and five feature Dr. David Balsillie of the provincial AQTF.

MIRANET is represented on the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) of the AQTF, per correspondence below:

• AQTF Letter to MIRANET dated Jan. 13, 2010.
• AQTF Letter to MIRANET dated Dec. 18, 2009.
• AQTF Letter to MIRANET dated Nov. 24, 2009.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEETINGS: Community Advisory Committee (CAC)

June 17, 2010: Meeting #6 (Final).

Agenda

May 20, 2010: Meeting #5.

Agenda

April 22, 2010: Meeting #4.

Agenda
Summary (prepared by the AQTF)

March 25, 2010: Meeting #3.

Agenda
Summary (prepared by the AQTF)

February 17, 2010: Meeting #2.

Agenda
Summary (prepared by the AQTF)
Report to the Community (prepared by MIRANET - pending)
Work Plan Timetable: Nov. 24, 2009 - June 30, 2010 (as approved)
Terms of Reference of the AQTF (as approved)
Presentation: Airshed Management Systems (10 slides)

January 20, 2010: Meeting #1.

Agenda
Summary (prepared by the AQTF)
Report to the Community (prepared by MIRANET)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REVERSE CHRONOLOGY:

Oakville Beaver article (April 16, 2010): Air Quality Task Force forming strategy to reduce air pollution. Excerpt: "With its deadline fast approaching, a member of the Southwest GTA Air Quality Task Force says the group is making progress on an action plan that, if successful, will reduce air pollution throughout the area. Cindy Toth, the Town of Oakville’s environmental policy director and a member of the task force’s Community Advisory Committee, announced Tuesday the committee has met once a month since January and discussed a wide range of options that could be put in place to reduce industrial, vehicular and residential emissions. ... Task Force Chair David Balsillie assembled the Community Advisory Committee in the hope its unique perspectives and various expertise would be useful in putting together a plan complete with emissions reductions targets and timelines and strategies for reaching those targets."

Oakville Beaver article (Jan. 22, 2010): Air Quality Task Force chair wants action - not more reports. Excerpt: "After nearly two months of consultations the South West GTA Air Quality Task Force is another step closer to developing an action plan that, if successful, will reduce air pollution throughout the area. The task force, which was formed by the Minister of the Environment to reduce industrial, vehicular and residential emissions, has assembled a Community Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from community groups and residents' associations, industry, municipalities and regional health units ... the task force is watching the power plant process carefully and is developing scenarios concerning the emissions reduction measures they will take if the power plant is built and ... also looking at the various legal instruments available in a number of jurisdictions that would support enforcement of any recommendations approved by the government. "

Provincial Air Quality Task Force, SWGTA - News Release (Jan. 15, 2010): Air Quality Task Force Establishes Community Advisory Committee. Excerpt: "The following persons, representing local community groups and residents’ associations, industry, municipalities, and regional health units have agreed to join the CAC to provide direction and advice [to the Task Force on the development of an Action Plan to address air quality issues in the SWGTA.]"

Mississauga News article (Jan. 12, 2010): "Air task force a collaborative effort". Excerpt: "The head of a task force set up by Queen’s Park to address pollution in the Clarkson airshed promises the community will have meaningful input in the process. ... That’s because one of [Dr. David] Balsillie’s first tasks is the creating of a Community Advisory Committee to assist him and provide direction to his work. The 15 members, drawn from local ratepayers’ associations, industries, and local and regional municipalities, are expected to be announced next week."

CORRECTION: Mississauga News letter to the editor, per MIRANET (Feb. 18, 2010): Not quite right. Excerpt: "The Jan. 12 article concerning the Air Quality Task Force (AQTF) contains a slight ambiguity. ... 'In terms of the process, we want the meetings to be public and the community to be aware of what’s at stake and what direction (the task force) is taking.' ... In the print edition, a secondary headline reads: 'Residents want open meetings.' The implication is that the meetings are currently closed, giving a negative connotation. MIRANET will report to the community through the website and provide links to AQTF website."

November 30, 2009: All four members of the MIRANET Clean Air Subcommittee met with Dr. David Balsillie, the one-person Task Force, and Jim OMara, the MOE Project Director. Dr. Balsillie confirmed that the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed is the focus of the Task Force mandate. MIRANET emphasized the need for accountability, in process and in outcomes, to the Airshed community.

The following RA reps comprise the MIRANET Clean Air Subcommittee:

Mike Douglas, President - Sheridan Homelands RA (SHORA)
Brian Holtham, Director - Credit Reserve Association (CRA)
Ivan Sack, President - Whiteoaks Lorne Park CA (WLPCA)
Dorothy Tomiuk, MIRANET Spokesperson

NOTE: On July 10, 2009, the MIRANET Clean Air Subcommittee submitted a proposal (as requested) to Greg Sones, Director, Central Region, Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE), entitled: Reconstitution of the Clarkson Airshed Study Advisory Committee (CASAC). Many of the recommendations still pertain to the new Community Advisory Committee (CAC) which will assist the Task Force.

Ontario Ministry of the Environment, News Release (Nov. 24, 2009): "Improving Air Quality In The Southwest Greater Toronto Area: McGuinty Government Sets Up Task Force Led By Dr. David Balsillie". Excerpt: "Dr. David Balsillie will lead the development of a comprehensive action plan to reduce emissions from local industry, traffic, residences, and transboundary sources to improve air quality in the Southwest Greater Toronto Area (GTA). ... The one-person task force is part of the Ontario government's plan to reduce emissions and industrial energy use in the Southwest GTA. The task force plan will build on the Clarkson Airshed Study." Includes Backgrounder on Dr. David Balsillie.

The Task Force is described in the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) News Release (Sept. 30, 2009): Clean Air Strategy and Replacement Power Supply for Southwest GTA

November 9, 2009: The following communication was received by MIRANET from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE), concerning the status of the provincial Task Force to be established to improve air quality in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed:

"Until very recently I was seconded to another organization outside of the Ministry of the Environment (MOE). That arrangement has ended, and I have returned from it to MOE to take on the role of Project Director for the Task Force. In effect, I will be the link between MOE and the one-person Task Force, and I will be working closely with that person on moving the process forward which I expect will involve extensive stakeholder/community engagement. The one-person Task Force has not been appointed [which will take place via an Order-in-Council]. Although I cannot give you any indication of precise timing of the appointment, I share your interest in wanting to get on with the job at hand." -- Jim OMara, Project Director, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, SW GTA Air Quality Task Force

Additional information is also available at the MOE's Clarkson Air website.

NOTE: The OPA has published Southwest GTA Replacement Power Plant Backgrounder which provides more details about "Clean Air Measures" including the Holcim Task Force comprised of OPA, The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MEI) and Holcim (formerly St. Lawrence Cement).

The recent Council resolutions from Mississauga, Halton, Oakville and Peel all address the issue of the Task Force.

Mayor Hazel McCallion sent a Letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty on Oct. 15, 2009 along with the copy of the Mississauga Council Resolution: Oct. 14, 2009.

Excerpt from the Mississauga Resolution: "The City of Mississauga calls upon the Government of the Province of Ontario, the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the Minister of the Environment, to assure the residents of the City of Mississauga that the City will be provided with representation on the Provincial Task Force and that the Provincial Government will ensure that the necessary environmental, health and engineering experts are retained by the Province to provide the necessary expertise required by the Task Force to carry out its mandate of developing and presenting a comprehensive action plan for improving air quality in the southwest GTA;"

September 30, 2009: The formation of the Task Force has been announced by the Ontario government in conjunction with the selection of the TransCanada proposal: Oakville Generating Station (OGS), to be sited in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed. TransCanada was awarded the OPA contract to build and operate a 900MW gas-fired power plant. Press release:
Clean Air Strategy and Replacement Power Supply for Southwest GTA.

September 29, 2009: An Ontario Order in Council created the provincial Task Force with the mandate of developing an action plan to improve the air quality in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed.

For previous items see MIRANET article:
Clarkson Airshed Study Advisory Committee (CASAC) Chronology