Letter to the Editor

The following is a copy forwarded to SSGM of a letter from long time Toronto independent Wally Clayson to the city’s mayor, Mel Lastman. The city has enacted a bylaw, which in effect requires dry bays in service facilities, requiring the removal of sinks, faucets and drains. This measure may have profound implications for service businesses everywhere, so owner/ operators take note.

-Jim Anderton

Mr. Mayor (Mel):

As one of your long time supporters going back to the North York days, I feel I must ask your thoughts on this new bylaw which I understand goes into law by June 30, 2002.

This bylaw, in my opinion, is impossible to comply with. It asks that all auto repair shops have dry bays, that is no drains in our bays, no sinks in our bays, no way to get rid of water in our bays. Mr. Mayor, I have operated a service station at Mount Pleasant Road & Keewatin for the past 43 years. This will put me out of business. We have always been good corporate citizens, but we can not let this happen. In the past years we have helped the environment in many ways:

1 We recycle oil filters.

2 We recycle anti-freeze.

3 We recycle batteries.

4 We recycle oil.

5 We recycle tires, and many other things that used to go in the garbage.

Please look into this bylaw, which has obviously not had any input from anyone in the auto trade.

Thank you for you time.

Wally Clayson