Since my election in 2010 and in the hopes of achieving a solution to the odour issues at the Nitta Gelatin Plant, I have consistently involved City staff with respect to this issue including the Deputy City Manager, Toronto Public Health, Toronto Buildings, City Planning, Municipal Licensing and Standards and other City Divisions.

The results of some of those previous discussions have indicated that the site that Nitta Gelatin sits on has been zoned industrial for well over 100 years and that the former City of Toronto By-law 438-86 (pre-amalgamation) permits the use of a gelatine factory on the site. City staff have also consistently advised that odours emanating at Nitta's plant are governed by the Environmental Protection Act and associated regulations which are enforced by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

However, I am pleased to inform you that I have successfully moved a motion at City Council requesting the Executive Director of Municipal Licensing and Standards to complete a jurisdictional scan and analysis of regulatory options to address concerns of odours emanating from manufacturing facilities, including an Odour Control Bylaw.

City staff will be reporting to the Licensing and Standards Committee on the feasibility of implementing such measures. The recommendation in the motion was developed in consultation with City staff from the Deputy City Manager's Office and Municipal Licensing and Standards.

I have also been informed by Nitta that they have met with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and that the Ministry has requested two items from Nitta:

1. Nitta to quit the processing of sludge through their centrifuge system, where a significant amount of odour has come from; and
2. Nitta to hire a third-party consultant to develop a Fugitive Odour Abatement Plan.

It is also my understanding that Nitta and MPP Martins will be hosting a public town hall meeting this fall. I look forward to continuing to update you on this issue as soon as I have more information. 

The Nitta Gelatin plant has been a longstanding issue here in our community and has operated in one way or another for a very long time. Over the years, I have been working with members of the community, our local MPPs and Nitta Gelatin to identify ways to reduce or eliminate the impact of these odours on our community. Nitta's operations fall under Provincial jurisdiction, with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change providing oversight.

In the summer, I met with Nitta and brought the Deputy City Manager with me to find out where Nitta stood on their odour abatement measures. The meeting was positive with Nitta providing a brief history and update on the measures they are currently undertaking. During the meeting I reiterated to Nitta the negative impacts that the odours are having on our community and that additional measures must take place. I also expressed my concerns in a letter directly to the Province as Nitta sought an updated Environmental Compliance Approval in order to implement additional odour abatement measures.

In the fall, my office attended a meeting with Nitta, MPP Martins and the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change. Nitta is currently investing money and undertaking new measures to reduce and eliminate the odours being emitted from their plant. Their odour mitigation process should be fully operational by January 2016. An evaluation of their progress will take place during a six-month testing period by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change. I am hopeful to see positive results from these latest measures and will continue to advocate on behalf of our community for an acceptable solution.