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←Toronto City Council · 2019-02-26 · 2019.MM3.13

The filed record

Establishing a Ravine Protection Conservancy - by Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow

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The decision

2019-02-26 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on February 26, 2019, adopted the following: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Director of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and any other relevant City staff, to report the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the feasibility and possible advantages of establishing a Ravine Protection Conservancy to better enable public engagement and facilitate public and private donations

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to raise the capital costs necessary to deal with ecological threats in order to rehabilitate and preserve Toronto's Ravines.

The vote

Adopt Item · Carried, 25-1

For (25)Ana Bailão, Anthony Perruzza, Brad Bradford, Cynthia Lai, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata, Gary Crawford, Gord Perks, James Pasternak, Jaye Robinson, Jennifer McKelvie, Jim Karygiannis, Joe Cressy, John Filion, John Tory, Josh Matlow, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Mark Grimes, Michael Ford, Michael Thompson, Mike Colle, Mike Layton, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday
Against (1)Shelley Carroll
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On the agenda

As the city filed it

Toronto's Ravine System is one of the world's largest urban ecosystems and covers nearly 17 percent of our City at an area of over 11,000 hectares. It is a primary source of habitat for Toronto's terrestrial biodiversity, provides tremendous economic benefit to the City and is internationally renowned as one of Toronto's most unique and defining features. A recent scientific study from the University of Toronto's Faculty of Forestry has demonstrated the immense ecological decline Toronto's Ravine System has endured over previous decades, concluding that wide-spread, science-based action must be taken immediately.

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In 2017, the City of Toronto released its Toronto Ravine Strategy, detailing steps the City will take over both the short- and long-term to combat the ecological decline of Toronto's Ravine System. The Parks, Forest and Recreation Division, leading the Toronto Ravine Strategy, is due to report to City Council at an undetermined date in 2019 with an update to the rollout of the plan. Due to the dire and imminent threats facing our ravines, more action must be taken immediately to combat the ecological decline to native species and biodiversity. New York City established the Natural Areas Conservancy, a framework that aims to increase public awareness and engagement of conservation efforts, work with existing public and private organizations to develop programs and attract public and private donations to restore, conserve and grow the green spaces of New York City. This is a model that Toronto must explore immediately. This is an urgent Motion because of the imminent threat of invasive species to the Toronto Ravine system. Additionally, City funds will be required to address this issue and this Motion should be considered in advance of the March 7 City Council session for Toronto's 2019 Budget.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Josh Matlow, recommends that: 1. City Council request the City Manager, in consultation with the Director of Parks, Forestry and Recreation and any other relevant City staff, to report the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the feasibility and possible advantages of establishing a Ravine Protection Conservancy to better enable public engagement and facilitate public

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and private donations to raise the capital costs necessary to deal with ecological threats in order to rehabilitate and preserve Toronto's Ravines.

    On the record

    The item as the City filed it

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