An Environmental Plan for the New City of Toronto: How to Make It ...

address implications for application to Toronto. At the time of writing this paper, the
Environmental Plan had not been written, although a draft is anticipated in the summer
1999. Hence the recommendations for successful implementation of the Enviroenmtnal
Plan identify elements to be included in the Plan.
1.1 Methodology
Information gathering consisted of a literature review, (of the actual plan and associated
documents) and an Internet search for relevant international cases. The six case studies
were selected based on personal knowledge and suggestions by the advisors to this
paper. Twelve personal interviews were undertaken with (see Appendix II for interview
questions) the author(s), or representative of the administration that authored, the
document, and, where possible, a politician or community representative involved in
preparation of the document. The analysis consisted of assessing each plan under preselected
criteria (framework/structure, process: plan development and implementation)
to distil the key elements of success for each case study and undertaking follow-up
interviews where necessary. Toronto issues were identified through Environmental Task
Force literature, a paper by Lisa Salsberg entitled Frameworks for Applying
Sustainability in the City of Toronto, discussion with Environmental Task Force members
and staff, and personal knowledge. Key criteria for success were generalized from the
case studies and summarized as lessons learned. The resulting recommendations were
reviewed by Environmental Task Force staff prior to finalization.
1.2 Toronto Context
Toronto is a city of 2.4 million people covering 240 square miles of land. As a new city
embarking on a brand new political and corporate structure, there is a pivotal opportunity
to establish the concept of sustainability in a systemic way into the policies, programs
and operating practices of the City. As the City wrestles with maintaining service
delivery amid massive staff cuts and structural changes, it is also embarking on
important new initiatives such as a new Strategic Plan, Official Plan, Economic Plan, and
Social Plan. The new Environmental Plan provides an opportunity to influence these
emerging initiatives and to firmly establish sustainability principles in the corporation’s
business.
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