TORONTO, Ont. — Toronto City Councilhas votedto refer a motion which would have banned all truck deliveries in Toronto’s downtown core (defined as Spadina to Jarvis and Bloor to the lake) to the Works Committee for public input and deputations.

The motion, presented directly to City Council by CouncillorMichael Walker, had not been previously considered by Council or any of its committees and it therefore needed a 2/3 vote to by-pass committee consideration. It failed to get that support.

Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) president David Bradley wrote a letter to Councillor Walker as well as the mayor and all members of Councilwhich indicated, among other things, that delivery schedules are not established by the trucking industry.

The OTA reported that a number of councillors responded to Bradley’s letter with favourable comments.

Officials from the association also said that though they’re pleased with the councils decision, they still fear the possibility of the initiative being enacted. The OTA plans to make a strong presentation to the committee when the hearings are held.