More Initiatives to Clean our Air

Toronto - June 21, 2000 - Environment Minister David Anderson today announced a Smog Action Plan for federal departments in Ontario, new funding for expanding daily air quality prediction services across Canada and additional steps to reduce the health effects of microscopic air particles that contribute to smog. These programs are in addition to an integrated clean air strategy announced by Minister Anderson in May.

Speaking at the Toronto Smog Summit, organized by the City of Toronto, the Minister announced an initial $1 million toward a framework to extend daily air quality forecasting across Canada within the next year.

"If the public understands the implications of air pollution to their health and their families health, we can encourage everyone to make smarter choices for clean air," said Minister Anderson. "The Smog Alert program in southern Ontario has been very effective. Now we want to strengthen the system here in Ontario and expand it to major centres across the country, coupled with development of a national awareness program."

Environment Canada works with provincial and municipal agencies to provide air quality and smog advisories across Canada, which provide health alerts for individuals with respiratory and cardiac illnesses. Daily air quality predictions go further and allow people to take expected air pollution levels into account in day-to-day planning, just as they do with the weather forecast or the UV Index. There are successful programs in place in Ontario and in New Brunswick. Environment Canada works as partners with the provinces, municipalities, and with groups such as the Lung Associations across Canada, to increase public awareness of air quality issues, improve public understanding of health effects and give people ideas of actions they can take for cleaner air.

Minister Anderson also announced that, starting with Health Canada, Public Works and Government Services and Environment Canada, federal departments in Ontario will implement a Corporate Smog Action Plan to reduce air pollution. The Plan includes measures to reduce employee travel such as flex time and telecommuting, measures to make federal vehicles fleets greener by converting to natural gas and other alternatives, cogeneration in federal buildings and building design to encourage energy efficiency.

"I believe the federal government has a duty to lead by example in making our own activities clean air friendly," said Minister Anderson. "The Corporate Smog Action Plan challenges employees and managers to use best practices at home and at the office. I will be encouraging all federal departments to get on board."

The Minister urged the Ontario government to meet its commitments under the Canada Wide Standard for fine particulate matter and ozone to reduce emissions by 45 percent by 2010 or earlier. Action in Ontario is key to success in the negotiations with the United States of an Ozone Annex to control transboundary air pollution.

"We are prepared to work with Ontario and our estimates are that the vehicle and fuel standards the federal government will be announcing later this year will contribute 50 percent of the reductions necessary for Ontario to meet its goal," said Minister Anderson. "The government of Ontario will have to bring in additional measures and regulations for other industries to meet the new 45 percent reduction."

Minister Anderson also announced the Government of Canada's intent to declare toxic the precursors that cause microscopic air particles or particulate matter to form. The precursors are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds and ammonia. A formal notice and invitation for consultations will be published soon in the Canada Gazette on ways of reducing these precursors in the atmosphere. This notice continues federal actions on reducing particulate matter and ground level ozone and follows the May 27 declaration under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that particulate matter equal to or less than 10 microns was toxic. The federal government has begun to define strategies for key industrial sectors to reduce emissions.

Today's announcement is in addition to the integrated clean air strategy announced by Minister Anderson in May. The key elements of the strategy include reducing emissions from vehicles and fuels starting in 2004, working with provinces and territories to set Canada Wide Standards to reduce air pollution from mercury, benzene, ozone and particulate matter by 2010 or earlier, development of a strategy to address key industrial sectors and negotiating an Ozone Annex with the United States to reduce transboundary air pollution.

Related documents:

• "Clean Air for All Canadians: Addressing the Challenge of Smog" Speaking Points for The Hon. David Anderson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Environment Toronto Smog Summit [speech,
  2000-06-21]
• Toronto Smog Summit [information collection]