Toronto Considering Toxic Substances Right-to-Know Law

On July 9, 2007, the City of Toronto Board of Health approved a recommendation from its chief medical officer of health to prepare a report on a proposed community right-to-know by-law concerning 25 toxic substances identified as priority health concerns. If passed, the by-law would require businesses to report to the City their use and emission of such substances. Thereafter, the information will be made available to the public via the Internet.

The by-law would affect businesses of all sizes, many of which are currently not required to report information under Environment Canada’s National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI). According to the recommendation put forth by the Medical Officer of Health, there are approximately 11,000 businesses in Toronto that may be using or releasing chemicals to the environment and may be affected by this by-law.