Thank for the opportunity to…

Thank for the opportunity to submit comments.

The Building Code should be revised to incorporate the Bird Collision Mitigation Strategies from CSA A460:19, including the appropriate use of visual markers, specifications for window glazing and glass railings, and building-integrated structures. Implementing bird friendly design in new buildings typically represents a negligible (< 1%) increase in overall construction cost and does not impede development. By mandating bird-friendly building construction measures, Ontario could significantly reduce this leading source of bird mortality. In so doing, it could make meaningful progress on its stated goal of protecting species and supporting conservation efforts to preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity (Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan).

The Ontario government is proposing changes to the City of Toronto Act and Planning Act through Bill 23 “More Homes Built Faster Act” 2022 that would remove the authority of municipal governments to enforce green building standards. This will result in the discontinuation of bird friendly building design guidelines that have been adopted and enforced through site plan control by numerous municipalities across Ontario, including: Ajax, Aurora, Brampton, Burlington, East Gwillimbury, Fort Erie, Guelph, King, London, Markham, Mississauga, Newmarket, Ottawa, Pickering, Richmond Hill, Toronto, Vaughan and others. The latest update to Ontario’s Building Code should include a harmonized approach to bird friendly building design under the A460:19 standard.

We trust that you will seriously consider the benefits of incorporating strategies from the CSA A460:19 standard into the next edition of Ontario’s Building Code.

Thank you.

Marc Deschamps
Director of Products and
Business Development
Walker Glass Company Ltd.
Address: 9551 Ray-Lawson Blvd, Montreal, Qc H1J 1L5 Canada
Office: 514-352-3030 ǀ Toll free: 888-320-3030 ǀ Cell: 514-688-1813