Federal and provincial ministers meeting in Lake Louise on Thursday have announced measures aimed at improving air quality in Canada.
They include:
-setting standards for outdoor air quality management across the country
-industrial emission requirements that set a base level of performance for major industries
– new standards for fine particulate matter and ozone, the two main components of smog.
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-planning new standards for sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide, two significant components of air pollution.
– an intergovernmental working group to develop a plan to reduce emissions from the transportation sector
The new Air Quality Management System is the result of five years of consultation with hundreds of stakeholders.
“There is nothing more fundamental to Canadians than clean air,” said Diana McQueen, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, in a media release. “The AQMS builds on measures that jurisdictions already have in place, and helps to align the actions of federal, provincial and territorial governments to deal with air quality issues.”
Governments have also been working with major retailers, the restaurant and food sector and the packaging industry to reduce packaging in Canada, which would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The ministers say industry has agreed to continue efforts to get rid of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from rigid plastic packaging, and develop a voluntary packaging design guide.
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