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WHEREAS, on April 24, 2019, City Council declared a Climate Emergency for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting the economy, ecosystems, and community from climate change; and
WHEREAS the link between greenhouse gas emissions, including those from vehicles, and climate change, and heat island effects is well researched and evident; and
WHEREAS Environment Canada estimates air pollution from vehicle emissions contribute to 15,000 premature deaths each year in Canada through emission exhaust comprised of nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxides, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter which can irritate the nose and throat, and cause long-term damage like asthma, decreased lung function, cardiac disease, and cancer; and
WHEREAS idling in areas such as school zones, bus stops, and community centers places vulnerable populations at risk from an air pollution; and
WHEREAS the intent of Ottawa’s current anti-idling by-law (Idling Control By-law No. 2007-266) was to provide education and warnings and enforce for repeat offenders; and
WHEREAS the Idling Control By-law No. 2007-266 is rarely enforced, written with many exemptions and out of date in comparison to other mid-size cities; and
WHEREAS Ottawa experienced a three-week-long occupation in winter 2022 which resulted in residents walking through and breathing in vehicle exhaust fumes at a level significantly higher than the average for Ottawa, with more ‘freedom convoy’ related protests expected to continue through the summer; and
WHEREAS in February of 2022 emergency measures were enacted that gave By-law and Regulatory Services the authority to enforce no-idling rules at -15 and above in the occupied zone of the City for the duration of the emergency period and/or to sunset at 2 months, and raised the fine for idling from $100 to $1000 for this same time period; and
WHEREAS the By-law Review Framework specified that the City’s by-law should be reviewed and updated every ten years, and the anti-idling By-law No. 2007-266 was last updated 15 years ago, in 2007; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with the Council-approved By-law Review Framework, it is anticipated that the 2023-2026 By-law Review Work Plan will be brought forward for Council’s consideration and approval early in the new Term of Council, to identify by-law reviews to be undertaken during the Term;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Standing Committee on Environmental Protection, Water and Waste Management recommend Council direct Public Policy Development Services in Emergency and Protective Services to include a comprehensive by-law review of By-law No. 2007-266 for Council consideration as part of the 2023-2026 By-law Review Work Plan to be approved by Council in 2023, and that this review shall include consideration of the following components:
- Temperature thresholds, considering the increasing heat waves due to climate change as per the National Capital Climate Projections and our Climate Resiliency Strategy and a comparison to other major Canadian cities;
- Fines and time thresholds in relation to other major Canadian cities;
- Exemptions which currently include 12 categories of vehicles that are not subject to the by-law;
- Improved definitions of terms such as “idle”, “mobile workshop”, “normal farm practice”, “private transit vehicles”, and “vehicle” to ensure accuracy and enforceability;
- Enforcement, providing clarity on how citizens can report non-compliant idling to the City for investigation and a review of complaints, associated actions and effectiveness;
- Integration and updating of the Vehicle and Equipment Idling Policy dated June 2002, Number FS01, updated February 2021.