Mississauga Stands Up for the Right to a Healthy Environment

The City of Mississauga has passed a Blue Dot resolution recognizing its citizens’ right to live in a healthy environment.

With the resolution, the City is supporting the Blue Dot Movement and its ultimate goal to have the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms amended to include the right to a healthy environment, clean air, safe food and clean water.

“Mississauga’s Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) fully supports the goal to have this right recognized,” said Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney, Chair of EAC. “It’s our hope that by taking environmental action on the local level we will inspire action from all levels of government. It’s only when we come together, city by city, that change can happen.”

The Blue Dot Movement aligns with the environmental goals and priorities set out by the City and provides an opportunity to demonstrate further environmental leadership. Some examples of City strategic plans, policies, programs and committees that relate to the City’s commitment to sustainability include:

• Living Green Master Plan
• Five Year Energy Conservation Plan
• Mississauga Cycling Master Plan
• Natural Heritage and Urban Forest Strategy
• Green Development Strategy
• Blue W Program
• Community Grant Program
• Environmental Action Committee (EAC)

“The City’s Strategic Plan has a green pillar that provides us with the environmental direction for the work that we do every day,” said Brenda Osborne, Director of Environment. “Our vision is to make Mississauga a world-class green city where people choose to live, work and play.”

“Congratulations to the people of Mississauga for standing up for a future where their right to live in a healthy environment is recognized, and for standing up for the people and places we all love,” said Sophika Kostyniuk, National Organizing Manager with the David Suzuki Foundation’s Blue Dot Movement.

For more information or to join the Blue Dot Movement, visit www.bluedot.ca

To stay informed about Mississauga’s environmental conditions and ways to live green throughout the year, visit mississauga.ca/environment and follow @MiLivingGreen on Twitter.

Background
The Blue Dot Movement is led by the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF) and Ecojustice and began in October 2014.

Around the world, more than 110 nations recognize the right to a healthy environment. Canada is currently not one of them.

Manitoba, 127 municipalities and 95,364 individuals have signed the Blue Dot Movement declaration.

Thirty-three of these municipalities are located in Ontario and 755 of the individuals that signed are Mississauga residents.