Discussion/Background Information

Air pollution is one of the most damaging environmental problems in Canada in terms of population health.  The Canadian Medical Association estimates that in 2008, 21 000 Canadians will die from the effects of air pollution.  In economic terms, the illness-cost of air pollution in Canada this year will exceed $8 billion.   If current air quality trends persist, some studies estimate that by 2031 almost 90 000 Canadians will have died from the acute effects of air pollution, and 710 000 due to long-term exposure - with accumulated costs totalling more than $250 billion.[1] 

Pollutants associated with the combustion of fossil fuels are the primary sources of smog and haze - fine particulates, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ground-level ozone.  While air quality is often worst in congested urban areas, airborne pollutants can travel long distances, affecting all Canadians.  Human health impacts include respiratory and cardiovascular effects, as well as lung cancer.

Internationally, countries such as Australia and the U.S. have implemented legally binding national standards for ambient air quality, but Canada has not.  Moreover, our non-binding air quality objectives and guidelines are less protective than the World Health Organization recommends. [2] Canada should develop and enforce new health-protective, national standards for ambient air quality and regulate emission reductions from key sources of air pollutants.

The David Suzuki Foundation has recommended a long-term goal of reducing emissions of smog-forming air pollutants by 80% by 2030, based on a review of sustainability objectives in other leading countries. [3]

Questions for Candidates

1.       Do you support implementing legally-binding national standards for ambient air quality?

2.       Do you agree that Canadian standards for air quality should be at least as strong as leading international standards?

3.       Do you support meaningful short-, medium-, and long-term targets for the reduction of air pollution?  Do you support regulating emission reductions to meet these targets?

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[1] Canadian Medical Association, No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, August 2008.

[2] For a presentation of this analysis, see the David Suzuki Foundation's 2006 report by David Boyd, The Air We Breathe.

[3] David Boyd, Sustainability Within a Generation: A New Vision for Canada, David Suzuki Foundation, 2004.