Application Assessment…

Application Assessment Officer Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Operations Division Environmental Approvals Access and Service Integration Branch Application Assessment Unit 135 St. Clair Avenue West Floor 1 Toronto Ontario M4V 1P5 November 5, 2018 Dear Application Assessment Officer: Re: Proponent: Regency-Ryding Meat Packers Ltd. 70 Glen Scarlett Road Toronto, Ontario Canada M6N 1P5 Instrument Type: Environmental Compliance Approval (project type: air) - EPA Part II.1-air (“Proposal”) EBR Registry Number: 013-4066 Ministry Reference Number: 6047-B4SMU7 On behalf of the parents of Harwood Public School at 50 Leigh Street, we are against this proposal to permit an increase in emissions from the Ryding Regency company in a neighbourhood with the already highest rates of asthma in the city (Toronto Public Health). Harwood Public School is a JK-8 school that serves the local residents and several students from outside the area for specialty programs. Currently the students are outside during the school year before school, recess, lunch and outdoor activities throughout the day and negative air quality impacts this outdoor experience. Our concern relates to the potential noxious smells emanating from the site, increased greenhouse gases, and the increase in truck traffic associated with intensification. All have the potential to impact negatively on student health, safety and student learning environments. The school falls less than 1km from Ryding and the air quality not only impacts those that live close by but also those that attend the local school. In addition, odour is a severely stigmatizing factor for any neighbourhood. The odour can lead to negative consequences not only for business activity as customers often choose to avoid places that smell noxious or unpleasant but also from attending the neighbourhood school when there are alternatives. There are also two other schools in close proximity to where the Proponent wishes to expand its operations: i) Rockcliffe Middle School (400 Rockcliffe Blvd) ii) Frank Oke Secondary School (500 Alliance Avenue) In addition, this proposal appears to lack consultation with the community. No one from the Ministry or the company has even attempted to address or mitigate the real and foreseeably damaging impacts on the health and quality of life for the local residents, parents and children attending the local school. Thank you for your consideration. Wendy Kennah Chair, Harwood Public School 50 Leigh Street. 416 805 2943 Wendykennah1@gmail.com Map of Proximity to Harwood School Google Maps shows that the walking distance is 1.1km assuming you take the sidewalks from Ryding out to Weston Road and around McCormack Street. The actual walking distance is far shorter as there is a man-made path from Lavender Creek Path through to Maybank Ave onto McCormack that makes the distance significantly under 1km. As you can see from the map, the distance from Ryding to Harwood is very close and the increase of emissions which include ammonia, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and lactic acid into the air could have long term impacts on the health of these children.

[Original Comment ID: 214811]