March 29, 2019 Allison Deng…

March 29, 2019

Allison Deng
Climate Change Programs Branch
77 Wellesley Street West
10th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2T5

Re: Increasing Renewable Content in Fuels

Dear Sir/Madame,

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed Increasing Renewable Content in Fuels

About The Healthy Environments Division

The Healthy Environments Division of the Healthy and Safe Communities Department within the City of Hamilton is mandated by the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHTLC). One goal of Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services, and Accountabilities, (2018) is:

“To reduce exposure to health hazards and promote the development of healthy built and natural environments that support health and mitigate existing and emerging risks, including the impacts of a changing climate.”

The City of Hamilton’s Healthy Environments division maintains Ontario Public Health Standards: Requirements for Programs, Services, and Accountabilities, (2018) mandated by the Province of Ontario as well as Healthy Environments and Climate Change Guideline, 2018.

The Healthy Environments and Climate Change Guideline, 2018 states: “The Healthy Environments and Climate Change Guideline is intended to assist boards of
health to develop approaches for promoting healthy built and natural environments to
enhance population health and mitigate environmental health risks.” The City of Hamilton is working toward reducing emissions and adapting to Climate Change to protect citizen’s health and well being.

Discussion Points

Using a population health lens approach, the Healthy Environment’s Division supports the Ministry’s initiatives aiming to decrease greenhouse gas emissions which would work towards air quality improvements and population health protection.
However, it is also very important to note that the production of ethanol has a carbon input and it would remove land from more productive agricultural uses. Food security is a growing global concern and utilizing and preserving productive agricultural land for the growing of healthy sustainable foods should be considered carefully.

Although the Healthy Environment’s Division supports the Ministry’s initiatives that decrease greenhouse gas emissions including increasing the renewable fuel content in fuels, the Ministry is also strongly encouraged to support and pass policies towards the uptake of the electrification of our transportation sector.

Sincerely Yours,

Kevin McDonald, Director
Healthy Environments Division
Healthy and Safe Communities Department
City of Hamilton