At the Town of Caledon Council Meeting on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Bolton resident Joe Grogan made a delegation to Council regarding his concerns for increased truck traffic, diesel fuel pollution, and air quality monitoring. In his presentation, titled “Air Quality and Life in Caledon” Mr. Grogan requested support from the Town for “science based data which will measure the air quality here in Caledon.”
His Presentation outlined the health concerns attributed to diesel emissions raised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Mr. Grogan provided data from Lancet Oncology, 2012 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which stated that exposure to the mixture of diesel engine exhaust and particulates “should be reduced worldwide.”
Although it was a scheduled Town of Caledon Council meeting Ward 5 Regional Councillor Annette Groves was not in attendance and Mr. Grogan expressed his concern. “I’m disappointed frankly, that Councillor Groves at the moment is not available but hopefully she will appear and make some comments.”
Mr. Grogan asked that Council respond to his presentation in such a manner as to “make public safety and protection of the natural environment a greater priority for the Town of Caledon.”
Councillors responded with praise and positivity to Mr. Grogan’s presentation, calling it “excellent”, “well researched”, and “informative.” Area Councillor Nick deBoer brought forward a motion, seconded by Area Councillor Lynn Kieran, reading: “That a meeting with the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks be requested at the AMO Conference to bring forward air quality concerns in the Town of Caledon, and to request on-going active monitoring in the areas outlined in the Presentation and that this motion and the Presentation be provided to the top ten aggregate producing municipalities in Ontario requesting support for air quality testing at the provincial level.”
The motion was passed unanimously by all present with the Clerk noting that “Councillor Groves is still absent.”
Following Mr. Grogan’s delegation, councillors were asked for their impression of his Presentation. “Regional Councillor Jennifer Innis was the first to respond with this observation: “It was evident that Mr. Grogan had spent significant time researching and preparing for his delegation to council. He was thoughtful and passionate about the need for air quality monitoring and I was pleased that my colleagues on Council agreed.”
Area Councillor Nick deBoer added, “Mr. Grogan’s delegation was very well researched and presented. The Town is committed to continue reducing the use of diesel in our own fleet as we transition to biofuels, electric and eventually hydrogen. I am pleased that my colleagues who were present unanimously supported the Motion to meet with the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks.” That meeting will take place at the Top Ten Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario Conference on August 14-17, 2022.
Area Councillor Lynn Kieran responded “As the Councillor representing significant rural and environment lands in Caledon, air quality and other impacts of growth are certainly concerning to me. That’s why I fully supported the following motion passed after Mr. Grogan’s Presentation”
The full video and audio of Mr. Grogan’s May 24th delegation and Council’s questions and comments are available online at Council Meeting – May 24, 2022 – eScribe
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