Green Initiatives Advisory Committee

That the Committee Agenda dated May 21, 2025 be adopted as printed.

That the minutes of the April 23, 2025 meeting be adopted as printed.

That the Committee recommend Council receive the midterm report and endorse the recommended action items contained therein which are as follows:  Prioritize progress on outstanding work plan items including an anti-idling bylaw, a private tree-protection bylaw and enhancements to the town’s arboriculture program.  Triple the initial investment in the town’s successful LittaTrap pilot project through the 2026 budget process.  Direct the Chair to issue updated advocacy letters on key provincial and federal files.

Whereas road salt is a designated toxic substance under the Canadian Environmental Protection Actdue to its long-term harm to ecosystems, infrastructure and drinking water sources; and Whereas chloride levels in the Lake Simcoe watershed have risen over 500% since the 1970s, regularly exceeding federal water quality guidelines in several urban creeks, including those flowing through Bradford West Gwillimbury; and Whereas the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury is investing $2.9 million in a snow filtration facility to help reduce contaminants from winter road maintenance and has a variety of programs in place to reduce municipal road salt usage; and Whereas despite years of guidance and consultation efforts from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) and town staff, private road salt usage continues to rise, driven primarily by liability concerns faced by contractors and property owners; and Whereas businesses in the winter maintenance sector are seeing insurance and legal costs dramatically escalate to the point where many have failed, and some property owners have been unable to find winter maintenance contractors; and Whereas a liability-limiting framework—such as the one in New Hampshire—can reduce salt use by up to 40% without compromising public safety and has broad support across municipalities, environmental groups and the winter maintenance industry, as proposed by the Ontario Road Salt Coalition and Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED

That the meeting is hereby adjourned at 6:57.