posting
05-20-2008, 02:45 PM
The following motion will be considered by Kingston City Council at its meeting to be held on May 20, 2008.
-- Kingston Electors
Moved by Councillor Foster
Seconded by Councillor Gerretsen
WHEREAS the Ontario Building Code (the Code) regulates the standard of construction of buildings in Ontario; and,
WHEREAS municipalities may not demand a standard of building construction that exceeds those standards set out in the Code; and,
WHEREAS climate change is the greatest challenge that we humans have to face; and,
WHEREAS human greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are causing climate change to accelerate at an alarming and unprecedented rate; and,
WHEREAS the operation of buildings contributes to over 40% of our GHG emissions; and,
WHEREAS the City of Kingston is a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners in Climate Protection and is committed to reducing community greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2014;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Kingston strongly encourage the Ontario Government to amend the Ontario Building Code to significantly increase the minimum requirement for energy and water efficiency within new buildings, and do so as soon as possible and before the increased requirements that come
into effect in 2011;
- and further -
THAT the Council of the City of Kingston strongly encourage the Ontario Government to amend relevant legislation to indicate that the Code is the minimum standard for energy and water efficiency to which builders must adhere, but that municipalities may pass by-laws that require efficiency standards that exceed the Code so that community GHG
emissions may be reduced;
- and further -
THAT this motion be forwarded to the Ontario Minister of the Environment, the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to all municipalities in Ontario with a population of 50,000 or more to seek their support, and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to lobby on our behalf.
-- Kingston Electors
Moved by Councillor Foster
Seconded by Councillor Gerretsen
WHEREAS the Ontario Building Code (the Code) regulates the standard of construction of buildings in Ontario; and,
WHEREAS municipalities may not demand a standard of building construction that exceeds those standards set out in the Code; and,
WHEREAS climate change is the greatest challenge that we humans have to face; and,
WHEREAS human greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are causing climate change to accelerate at an alarming and unprecedented rate; and,
WHEREAS the operation of buildings contributes to over 40% of our GHG emissions; and,
WHEREAS the City of Kingston is a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Partners in Climate Protection and is committed to reducing community greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2014;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Kingston strongly encourage the Ontario Government to amend the Ontario Building Code to significantly increase the minimum requirement for energy and water efficiency within new buildings, and do so as soon as possible and before the increased requirements that come
into effect in 2011;
- and further -
THAT the Council of the City of Kingston strongly encourage the Ontario Government to amend relevant legislation to indicate that the Code is the minimum standard for energy and water efficiency to which builders must adhere, but that municipalities may pass by-laws that require efficiency standards that exceed the Code so that community GHG
emissions may be reduced;
- and further -
THAT this motion be forwarded to the Ontario Minister of the Environment, the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to all municipalities in Ontario with a population of 50,000 or more to seek their support, and to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario to lobby on our behalf.