Item - 2012.EX16.12
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Executive Committee on February 13, 2012. The Executive Committee has referred this item to an official or other body without making a decision. Consult the text of the decision for further information on the referral.
EX16.12 - Redirecting Bag Fees Back into City Programs
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Referred
Committee Decision
The Executive Committee:
1. requested the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee on April 16, 2012 on incentives for businesses to donate their collection of the 5 cent plastic bag fee towards the protection of the City's tree canopy.
2. directed that any incentive include a tax receipt to match the voluntary contribution and visible public recognition by the City of Toronto.
Origin
Summary
On December 2008, City Council enacted a bylaw requiring all retailers located in the City of Toronto to charge customers a 5 cent per bag fee in an effort to decrease the amount of discarded plastic bags in our landfills. The bylaw went into effect on June 2009 with the hopeful intent that retailers reinvest the proceedings to environmental and community related initiatives.
Despite initial opposition, the bag fee was readily accepted by the public as previous voluntary bag fees already existed among some major retailers. Charging for bags is not relegated to Toronto but seen nationally and internationally. Consumers acknowledge that the plastic bags are harmful to our ecology and should be used less in favour of reusable bags.
Given the City's systemic budget challenges and the public outcry to protect popular municipal programs, the City determine if collected bag fees could be voluntary incorporated under the aegis of the City's Toronto's Office of Partnerships. Many businesses that I have spoken to support the idea that the bag tax be specifically allocated into a meaningful municipal program, such as Forestry operations.
They support restoring the urban tree canopy that has been recently decimated by the Emerald Ash Borer (there are 860,000 ash trees impacted in Toronto) and other invasive species harmful to our local tree inventory. Businesses support the idea that their respective bag tax proceeds be directed to a tree canopy program recognized by the City in the form of a visible window display.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2012/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-44993.pdf
Communications
Speakers
Keegan Henry-Mathieu, Toronto Youth Cabinet
Councillor Shelley Carroll
Councillor Doug Ford
Motions
That the City Manager report to the Executive Committee on April 16, 2012 on options to remove the plastic bag fee by-law.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Feb-13-2012
Result: Lost | Majority Required - Motion 1 - Councillor Ainslie - Amend Item (additional) |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 3 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Rob Ford (Chair), Doug Holyday |
Total members that voted No: 7 | Members that voted No are Michelle Berardinetti, Norman Kelly, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson |
Total members that were Absent: 3 | Members that were absent are Mike Del Grande, Giorgio Mammoliti, David Shiner |
That the Executive Committee:
1. request the City Manager to report to the Executive Committee on April 16, 2012 on incentives for businesses to donate their collection of the 5 cent plastic bag fee towards the protection of the City's tree canopy.
2. direct that any incentive include a tax receipt to match the voluntary contribution and visible public recognition by the City of Toronto.
Vote (Amend Item) Feb-13-2012
Result: Carried | Majority Required - Motion 1 - Councillor Berardinettii - Amend Item |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 8 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Michelle Berardinetti, Norman Kelly, Peter Milczyn, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Cesar Palacio, Jaye Robinson, Michael Thompson |
Total members that voted No: 2 | Members that voted No are Rob Ford (Chair), Doug Holyday |
Total members that were Absent: 3 | Members that were absent are Mike Del Grande, Giorgio Mammoliti, David Shiner |