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ARTICLE · 25 DECEMBER 2008

Toronto Joins Rush to Regulate “Toxic” Chemicals

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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On December 3, 2008, the City of Toronto became the first municipal jurisdiction within Canada to require businesses to disclose their release and use of chemicals.

CanadaEnergy and Natural Resources
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
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Copyright 2008, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP

Originally published in Blakes Bulletin on Environmental Law, December 2008

On December 3, 2008, the City of Toronto became the first municipal jurisdiction within Canada to require businesses to disclose their release and use of chemicals. The disclosure requirement, also known as a community right to know by-law, goes into effect on January 1, 2010.

The by-law is akin to the federal National Pollutant Release Inventory, which required 8,500 businesses in 2007 to report on the emission of chemical substances in the course of business operations. However, only 3% of businesses located in Toronto are captured by the federal legislation, as the focus of that law is on large businesses releasing large amounts of chemicals. The City of Toronto by-law will affect businesses of all sizes, and will impose mandatory disclosure requirements on upwards of 5,000 to 7,000 businesses, not only for the emission, but also for the

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