Two-Stroke Engine Small Equipment: Steps to Pursue a Ban

Subject to City Council direction and resourcing, and following consultation with residents and businesses, a second report would be brought forward to provide a detailed plan to establish, implement, enforce and encourage compliance with a ban, including a proposed bylaw. Previous reports brought to City Council have described the impact of two-stroke engine leaf blowers on climate, air quality and health, and noise. This report provides a compendium of the City's past decisions and activities on the topic of two-stroke engine equipment. Separately, staff have determined that each of the three approaches of climate, health and noise have not individually provided a sufficient rationale for action to be taken to ban the use of two-stroke engines. Furthermore, based on the information reviewed to date, staff have not identified a sufficient rationale from whatever combined or cumulative adverse impacts to climate and human health may exist to recommend a ban at this time. However, City Council may decide to take a precautionary approach with respect to these climate, health and noise factors and enact a ban regardless. Generally speaking, City Council has the authority to ban the use of two-stroke engine small equipment depending on the nature, scope, adoption, and implementation of the measure. A parallel report, on the City of Toronto's corporate transition plan and feasibility assessment of phasing out gas-powered leaf blowers for municipal use, is being led by the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Fleet Services and will be brought forward to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the first quarter 2024.

City Council request the Executive Director, Environment and Climate, and the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to continue public promotion of the appropriate use of small engine equipment and alternative ways to maintain yards; OR Option B - Pursuing a ban on two-stroke engine equipment B1. City Council express its support for a ban on the use of two-stroke small engine equipment in Toronto as a precaution against any adverse impacts to human health and climate; and B2. City Council direct the Executive Director, Environment and Climate, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, the Medical Officer of Health, and the City Solicitor, in consultation with Divisions that operate two-stroke engine equipment, to: a. identify the resources required to develop and implement a ban on two-stroke equipment, as outlined in Attachment 2 to this report, and any other necessary work that emerges throughout the process; b. if adequate resources are funded in the 2024 budget, initiate the work for City Council to enact a bylaw imposing a ban on two-stroke equipment, and report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee in 2024.