Government Of Canada Takes Measures To Limit Air Pollutants And Further Improve Air Quality For Canadians

Canada's air quality is among the best in the world and today the Government of Canada announced it has finalized air pollutant regulations that will result in even better air quality for Canadians.

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, announced the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations to establish Canada's first ever mandatory national air pollutant emissions standards for major industrial facilities.

The regulations will contribute significantly to reducing emissions that contribute to smog and acid rain including 2,000 kilotonnes of nitrogen oxide emission reductions in the first 19 years. These reductions are equivalent to taking all passenger cars and trucks inCanada off the road for about 12 years.

These regulations will also mean healthier communities for Canadians. It is estimated that the regulations will prevent hundreds of premature deaths, approx. 350,000 days with asthma, and more than 1 million days of activity restricted by poor air quality by 2035.

The regulations apply to thousands of sources of air pollution across Canada. The requirements target boilers and heaters, cement kilns and stationary engines, such as those used for compression to move gas along pipelines or used for back-up generators.