Governments Collaborate to Clear Away Ontario Smog
© Environment News Service (ENS) 2000
June 23, 2000
By Neville Judd
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada, June 23, 2000 (ENS) - Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, two major precursors of ground level ozone, are to be declared toxic and subject to tougher legislation said Canada's Environment Minister David Anderson on Wednesday.
The announcement, which came at the Toronto Smog Summit, delighted environmental groups already surprised that three levels of government had even come together to discuss the issue.
"It's the first time all three levels of government have come together on this in Ontario," said Lois Corbett of the Toronto Environmental Alliance. "Our provincial plan to reduce smog is voluntary and failing. Usually the federal government sits down with provinces on issues like this and negotiations go on for years and nothing happens. Anderson's announcement bypasses all that."
The Alliance called for the summit after the Toronto Board of Health announced in May that air pollution was responsible for 1,000 premature deaths in the city annually. Another 5,500 are hospitalized, reported the board. The City of Toronto hosted the event attended by Anderson, Toronto Mayor Mel Lastman and provincial Environment Minister Dan Newman.
Anderson told reporters that Ontario Power Generation, the provincial government owned electricity provider, should phase out coal. The company's Nanticoke Thermal Power Station, situated on Lake Erie near Port Dover, Ontario, is one of the world's largest, coal fueled plants and has been accused of being a major source of smog by green groups.
"Action must be taken to reduce emissions from Ontario Power Generation's fossil fueled power plants," said Anderson.
"The province will need to take aggressive action on the electric power sector and the hundreds of large and medium size combustion boilers that are operated by scores of different industrial and commercial sectors, such as petroleum refineries, chemical plants, iron and steel mills, auto manufacturing plants and many more."
Corbett said coal powered plants under provincial jurisdiction would now have to answer to federal laws. "When the feds sit down with the province, they can ask 'where's your emissions plan?'"
As well as new legislation, Anderson announced a Smog Action Plan for Ontario and C$1 million (US$679,000) in funding to enhance Canada's daily air quality forecasting within the next year.
The Smog Action Plan includes a Corporate Smog Action Plan to reduce air pollution. Under the corporate plan, federal departments in Ontario will implement 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.
Federal Transport Minister David Collenette who was at Wednesday's meeting asked VIA Rail to restore service from Barrie and Peterborough and boost rush hour commuter service to relieve smog in the Greater Toronto Area.
The City of Toronto committed to purchasing 25 percent of its power from non-polluting green power sources, such as wind and solar power, by 2005.
In May, Anderson unveiled the integrated clean air strategy. Key elements of the strategy include reducing emissiosions 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.
Ground-level ozone forms when pollutants released from gasoline and diesel powered vehicles, and oil-based solvents react with heat and sunlight. It can inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lung's working capacity. Symptoms include shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing and coughing. It is especially harmful for seniors, children, asthmatics and people with heart and lung conditions; it aggravates respiratory symptoms and further impairs the ability of these individuals to perform normal activities.
High levels of ground level ozone can result in increased emergency department visits, hospital admissions and, in severe cases premature death.
In June 1998, Toronto City Council adopted a Corporate Smog Alert Response plan which calls for the modification of some municipal activities on Smog Alert Days to reduce emissions contributing to poor air quality. The City of Toronto Smog Alert Response Plan is the first in Canada.