City of Ottawa implements new idling bylaw, weaker than staff intended
Posted Oct 6, 2024 02:54:04 PM.
Last Updated Oct 6, 2024 02:57:14 PM.
The City of Ottawa voted to implement a new idling bylaw Wednesday, replacing measures that have been in place since 2007.
The bylaw is part of a series of initiatives the municipality is taking to promote sustainability and discourage excessive fuel use. But the bylaw that passed is significantly weaker than what staff had recommended.
It is estimated that an average passenger vehicle emits 4,600 kilograms of carbon dioxide in a year. If all light and medium duty internal combustion vehicles in Ottawa reduced their daily idling by two minutes, over the course of a year, the staff report estimates it would remove 31.2 million kilograms of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, the equivalent to removing over 6,780 passenger vehicles from Ottawa roadways.
Reducing unnecessary vehicle idling also improves local air quality by reducing harmful pollutants which include volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and sulphur oxides. These pollutants are a component of smog and can also irritate a range of health risks including acute respiratory symptoms, asthma symptoms, and bronchitis, which in turn can increase hospital admissions and emergency room visits.
If adopted, the staff report would have implemented a one-minute maximum idling duration, in line with recommendations from Natural Resources Canada. Under the previous bylaw, the maximum was three minutes. The city also recommended a five-minute maximum idling time limit in cold (below zero degrees) or hot (above 27 degrees) temperatures. Previously no limit existed above 27 degrees or below five degrees.
These regulations would have brought Ottawa in line with other major Canadian municipalities who permit a maximum of one minute of idling including Toronto, Burlington, Kelowna, Kingston and Vancouver. Kitchener, Windsor, Hamilton and Guelph currently allow a maximum of three minutes. One borough of Montreal has a limit of a mere 10 seconds.
Councillor Steve Desroches tabled a motion weakening the maximum times in what he called a “balance” between having the environmental and air quality benefits, and giving people grace.
“I think the power of this bylaw comes from the educational components rather than an aggressive bylaw enforcement,” he said. His motion keeps the three minute maximum idle time from the 2007 bylaw and implements a maximum of 10 minutes in the extreme weather times. His motion passed 15-8.
Other councillors had concern with keeping cool during heatwaves and warm during winter storms.
According to ClimateData.ca, Ottawa experienced an average of 42 days a year where the temperature reached or remained above 27 degrees and an average of 203 days a year where the temperature reached or remained below five degrees, between 2007 and 2022. Changing the lower temperature to zero degrees is anticipated to result in 55 additional days each year during which stricter idling restrictions would apply.
But as Councillor Shawn Menard cited, a vehicle actually adjusts to reasonable temperatures faster when it is in motion.
Nonetheless, the bylaw, as passed, takes into account various exemptions that would need to be in place and developed them in consultation with the community and various industry stakeholders.
Exemptions are in place for those with medical letters, vehicles assisting in emergencies, public transit vehicles, mobile workshops, motionless vehicles (traffic, drive-through), private-transit vehicles, armoured vehicles, vehicles engaged in normal farm practices, vehicle service or repair, and vehicles that eliminate emissions in the idling phase of operation, including hybrid-electric vehicles.
“I’ve heard the argument ‘why bother to have a rule if we can’t enforce it all the time’,” Councillor Ariel Troster said. “Most bylaws are based on complaints and high needs areas. And they also serve as a guideline that we hope will get voluntary compliance for.”
Enforcement of the idling bylaw will continue on a complaints basis, but the bylaw also serves as a public education tool.
“I want to see the report succeed,” Councillor Laine Johnson said. “We have a lot more environmental files where we will have to wrestle with personal values. I’m prepared to do it at this time today.”
The changes will come into effect Jan. 1, 2025.
