019-6163 Changes to the…

019-6163 Changes to the Planning Act and the City of Toronto Act Schedules 9 and 1

These changes mean municipalities cannot impose Green standards on new development. It's 2022 and Green building is needed more than ever!

There are energy-efficient questions to ask about this, but I am focussing on birds. We need a province-wide standard in the building code to protect birds. Studies estimate millions birds are killed every year in Canada colliding with window glass. Some find that hard to believe, but at least 5000 dead birds are collected every year in Toronto beside just a few office towers. Birds hit every kind of building, but recent building codes in some municipalities have helped protect birds. CSA A460:19 Bird-friendly building design has saved many birds, but this should be province wide. Ontario has a stated goal of protecting species and supporting conservation efforts to preserve our biodiversity! See "Made in Ontario Environment Plan".

Birds are essential to the ecosystem - they control insect and rodent pests, they pollinate fruit and other plants, they keep forests health by spread seeds and spores. the health of our bird population is a sign of environmental health - but the bird population of North America had declined by 1/3 since 1970. We all must do what we can!