Toronto Air Pollution: Your Right To Complain

Air pollution is a serious issue in Toronto, with urban air pollution consisting of a complex mix of toxic air pollutants and criteria air contaminants. Exhaust emissions from vehicles are the largest source of local air pollution, and air pollution continues to contribute to hospitalizations and premature deaths in the city. To address this issue, the City of Toronto has implemented various measures, including the Idling Control By-law, which prohibits vehicles and machinery from idling for more than 1 minute per hour. Toronto Building also has a Complaint Policy, where they investigate and respond to all registered 'non-emergency' complaints, including air pollution issues, within 30 days. Additionally, the Toronto Environmental Alliance provides information on how to report air pollution from construction sites, and the City of Toronto encourages residents to evaluate their sensitivity to air pollution and take actions to reduce the impact of outdoor air pollutants in their homes.

Construction site air pollution complaints

Toronto's air pollution is mainly caused by the by-products of burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and coal. These are used in cars, trucks, home furnaces, industries, and power plants, all of which emit pollutants into the air. Exhaust emissions from cars, trucks, and other on-road vehicles are the largest source of local air pollution in Toronto.

Construction sites are a significant contributor to air pollution in Toronto, and the city has a dedicated policy for addressing this issue. The Toronto Building department has a Complaint Policy that commits to investigating and responding to all registered 'non-emergency' complaints within 30 days. 'Non-emergency concerns' may include certain air pollution issues, such as hazardous materials from demolished buildings, dust, or air quality complaints related to construction projects.

If you wish to make a complaint about air pollution from a construction site, you can contact one of the City of Toronto's Toronto Building District Inspection Offices. The Ontario Government is responsible for protecting worker health, public health, and the environment, so you may also wish to contact the Ontario Ministry of Labour to report any potential construction site violations of worker health and safety regulations or a lack of safe construction practices.

If you believe there is an immediate risk to someone's life, call 911. Additionally, if you observe vehicles or machinery idling for over 1 minute per hour, this contravenes the Idling Control By-law and can be reported to the City of Toronto's Permit Parking office. This includes construction vehicles such as dump trucks and excavators. However, enforcement officers can only give warnings or fines if the complaint is issued in real-time while the idling is taking place.

To stay informed about air quality in Toronto, you can refer to real-time air pollution data and the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI). The Government of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) also release air quality alerts, such as the Special Air Quality Statement (SAQS) or the Smog Air Health Advisory (SAHA), when the AQHI is forecast to be high.

Non-emergency complaints

Toronto's air pollution is mainly caused by the by-products of burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and coal. These are used in cars, trucks, home furnaces, industries, and power plants, all of which release pollutants into the air. Exhaust emissions from cars, trucks, and other on-road vehicles are the largest source of local air pollution in Toronto.

The City of Toronto has a dedicated policy for addressing non-emergency complaints regarding air pollution. The Toronto Building department's Complaint Policy commits to investigating and responding to all registered non-emergency complaints within 30 days. 'Non-emergency concerns' may include certain air pollution issues, such as hazardous materials coming from a demolished building or dust and air quality complaints related to a construction project.

If you have a non-emergency air pollution complaint, you can contact one of the City of Toronto's Toronto Building District Inspection Offices. The City also has a dedicated Enforcement Unit to respond to problematic residential infill sites and coordinate with other City Divisions. There is an appeal process in place if the complainant disagrees with the outcome, which involves the Chief Building Official.

Additionally, the City of Toronto's Permit Parking Office handles complaints about vehicles or machinery idling for over 1 minute per hour, which contravenes the Idling Control By-law. This includes construction vehicles and machinery like heavy-duty diesel vehicles and road-building machines. However, these complaints should be issued in real-time while the idling is taking place for enforcement officers to take action.

To stay informed about air quality, you can also refer to Toronto's real-time Air Quality Index, which provides data on various air pollutants and weather conditions. Furthermore, the Government of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP) release air quality alerts, such as Special Air Quality Statements (SAQS) or Smog Air Health Advisories (SAHA), when the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is forecast to be high. Individuals can sign up to receive these air quality alert email notifications on the MECP webpage.

Complaints about vehicles or machinery

Exhaust emissions from cars, trucks, and other on-road vehicles are the largest source of local air pollution in Toronto. If you wish to make a complaint about vehicles or machinery, the following steps can be taken.

The City of Toronto has a dedicated enforcement unit to respond to problematic sites and coordinate with other city divisions. The Toronto Building department has a complaint policy, which commits to investigating and responding to all registered 'non-emergency' complaints within 30 days. 'Non-emergency concerns' may include certain air pollution issues, such as hazardous materials coming from a demolished building or dust and air quality complaints on a construction project. You can contact one of the City of Toronto's Toronto Building District Inspection Offices to make a complaint.

If vehicles or other machines have been idling for over 1 minute per hour, this contravenes the Idling Control By-law and can be reported to the City of Toronto's Permit Parking office. This applies to construction vehicles and machinery like 'heavy-duty' diesel vehicles and 'road-building machines' like excavators, cranes, bulldozers, compactors, and street sweepers. To make a complaint, contact the City's Permit Parking Office in real-time while the idling is taking place. Enforcement officers can only give warnings or fines if the idling vehicle's driver is caught in the act.

If you believe there is an immediate risk to someone's life, call 911.

Air quality alerts

Toronto's air pollution is mainly caused by the by-products of burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas and coal. These are released into the air from cars, trucks, home furnaces, industries and power plants. Exhaust emissions from cars, trucks and other on-road vehicles are the largest source of local air pollution in the city.

The City of Toronto acknowledges that air pollution continues to contribute to hospitalisations and premature deaths, and that more work needs to be done to ensure ongoing improvement in the city's air quality. To that end, the Toronto Building department has a Complaint Policy, which commits to investigating and responding to all registered 'non-emergency' complaints within 30 days. 'Non-emergency concerns' may include certain air pollution issues, such as hazardous materials coming from a demolished building, or dust and air quality complaints relating to a construction project. If you believe there is an immediate risk to someone's life, call 911.

To make a non-emergency complaint about air pollution or dust from a construction site, contact one of the City of Toronto's Toronto Building District Inspection Offices. You can also visit the City's Toronto Building complaint webpage for more information.

If you wish to report a potential construction site violation of worker health and safety, and/or the lack of safe construction practices, contact the Ontario Ministry of Labour. If you wish to report a release of any kind (to air, water or land) that could be impacting the natural environment, public space or your own property, contact the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks' Spills Action Centre 24 hours a day.

If vehicles or other machines have been idling for over 1 minute per hour, this contravenes the Idling Control By-law and can be reported to the City of Toronto's Permit Parking office. This applies to construction vehicles and machinery like 'heavy-duty' diesel vehicles like dump trucks, as well as 'road-building machines' like excavators, cranes, bulldozers, compactors, and street sweepers. You can make a complaint by contacting the City's Permit Parking Office, but this complaint should be issued in real-time while the idling is still taking place.

The Government of Canada and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) will jointly release air quality alerts like a Special Air Quality Statement (SAQS) or a Smog Air Health Advisory (SAHA) when the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is forecast to be high. People can sign up to receive air quality alert email notifications on the MECP webpage.

Reducing indoor air pollution

Toronto's air pollution is mainly caused by the by-products of burning fossil fuels, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, and coal. These are used in cars, trucks, home furnaces, industries, and power plants, all of which contribute to the city's air pollution. The largest source of local air pollution in Toronto is exhaust emissions from cars, trucks, and other on-road vehicles.

To reduce indoor air pollution, it is important to prevent or minimize the release of pollutants. Here are some ways to reduce indoor air pollution:

Reduce Sources of Pollution

• Minimize the use of air fresheners and strongly scented products. Avoid using scented cleaning products with pine or citrus fragrances as these can react with ozone to form particles and formaldehyde.
• Minimize the use of products that make surfaces water-repellent or non-stick as they may contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Examples include stain/water repellents for carpets and fabrics, some countertop sealers, and non-stick cookware.
• Avoid smoking indoors. Secondhand smoke impairs respiratory health and is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers.
• Minimize carpeting. Carpets can trap pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens. Opt for hard-surface flooring instead.
• Store chemicals safely. Keep solvents, glues, and pesticides away from living areas.
• Reduce indoor sources of particulate matter. Refrain from lighting candles and incense, frying foods, using a gas stove, and vacuuming.

Improve Ventilation

• Increase natural ventilation by opening windows and doors when the weather permits.
• Use mechanical means, such as outdoor air intakes associated with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
• Use a medium- or high-efficiency filter in your central forced air system to help remove airborne particles.
• If possible, set your HVAC system to recirculate to prevent it from drawing in outside air.
• Use portable air cleaners with HEPA filters to clean the air in specific areas of your home.

Other Tips

• Give your pets a bath regularly and wash their bedding to reduce allergy-causing dander.
• Keep pets out of bedrooms.
• Use a dehumidifier and clean the filter regularly to reduce mold.
• Try using homemade cleaning products, such as a mixture of white vinegar and water.
• If you believe there is an immediate risk to someone's health due to indoor air pollution, call 911.

Frequently asked questions