On any given day, Ontarians can look up the Air Quality Health Index and find out what health risks they face just by breathing.
When Ontario closed its coal fire plants, it made a huge difference to the quality of air and had a significant impact on reducing Greenhouse gas emissions as well.
But there is more to be done.
While we have been zoning lands to manage land use in an orderly and responsible way for decades, more recently we have started talking about zoning air sheds, a place-based approach to manage local air quality and pollution.
In 2012, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment agreed to implement a new Air Quality Management System. Each of the provinces and territories will play a role in establishing "Air Zones" which will be within six "Airsheds" across Canada.
The Federal government will provide technical support of air quality monitoring for the Zones on federal and Aboriginal lands, and for federal facilities on federal and Aboriginal lands. It will also assist Territorial governments to manage air quality in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.
Ontario has now released its proposal for three Air Zones.
- Air Zone 1 – Areas with limited pollution from either point or non-point sources or transboundary influence; where air quality management activities are focused on maintaining good air quality. (Most of Northern Ontario)
- Air Zone 2 – Areas under pressure from multiple sources including some or all of the following: non-point sources, smaller point sources, individual large industrial point sources, transboundary influences; where air quality management activities are focused on multiple broad-based initiatives targeting many sources. (The majority of Southern Ontario, Sault. Ste. Marie and the City of Greater Sudbury)
- Air Zone 3 – Areas with a concentration of large industrial sources; where air quality management activities are focused on the abatement of local industrial emissions as well as non-industrial sources. (City of Hamilton, Sarnia-Area (including the city of Sarnia and Township of St. Clair))
The ultimate goal is to ensure we meet the Canadian Ambient Air Quality Standards established as objectives under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999.
Ontario is taking comments on its proposal until August 6.
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