TORONTO -- Toronto city council is set to re-examine its contentious plastic bag ban today, and could delay or reverse the ban.
A motion filed by Coun. Peter Milczyn is asking council to reconsider the ban.
City solicitor Anna Kinastowski is to deliver her report today advising council about possible legal action against Toronto resulting from the ban.
The Ontario Convenience Stores Association contends the ban violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and has already announced plans to pursue legal action if the ban is implemented on Jan. 1, 2013.
According to the motion, it would be "prudent" for City Council to give further consideration to the decision to ban plastic bags.
Mayor Rob Ford has been one of the ban's most vocal opponents, and is trying to get out the no vote by urging Toronto residents to contact their local councillor.
"We're going to court, and we're going to lose," Ford said on his radio talk show. "We talked to our legal staff and they said we don't have a leg to stand on."
The plastic bag ban was introduced by Coun. David Shiner in June, when council voted to eliminate a five-cent plastic bag levy.
Shiner tacked the motion onto the plan to eliminate the fee, and council passed it 24-20.
Concerns were raised that council moved too hastily and did not seek public consultations when they approved the motion.
