It’s Zero-Hour for idling as Shelburne issues new bylaw

February 27, 2016 · 0 Comments

Idling vehicles – with the exception of emergency vehicles – might soon be a thing of the past thanks to an area advocate.

Local resident George Meunier presented the Blue Dot Movement to the Council this week with the hopes of having Shelburne’s idling By-law amended to 0 minute idle time, regardless of temperature and banning idling at school entrances.

“The Blue Dot Movement, is ultimately asking the federal government to recognize citizens’ right to a healthy environment – clean water, fresh air, healthy food and a say in decisions that affect them,” said Mr. Meunier. “A project of the David Suzuki Foundation, they are asking communities, municipalities, cities and provinces to declare their support of the Blue Dot movement to recognize that a healthy environment should be a basic right.”

With the Stock bus yard directly behind Mr. Meunier’s house he said, “at times busses are running in the yard for over an hour in the mornings to warm up, leaving huge clouds of diesel exhaust in the air.”

“The World Health Organization has classified diesel engine exhaust as a carcinogen that causes cancer,” explained Mr. Meunier, a former custodian at the local Hyland Heights school. “Imagine what our children are breathing in when they are getting on and off the busses that sit idling for upwards of 40 minutes at school. That one breath they take in could be the fatal one.”

Subsequently, a resolution was passed that will see the by-law amended to a 0 minute idle time that will apply to all vehicles in the Town of Shelburne with the exemption being police, fire, ambulance and Emergency vehicles when in a state of Emergency, such as road closures.

By Michelle Janzen