PRB 98-4E
PRESENT AND FUTURE
FEDERAL APPROACHES
Prepared by:
Christine Labelle
Science and Technology Division
October 1998
Studies show that air pollution
has indisputable effects on human health (see the section in this document entitled
Effects Of Ozone, Sulphates, and Particles On Health). In order to alleviate the many
effects of these pollutants and prevent still more serious problems, the federal
government and various governmental partners have developed and adopted up a number of
legislative tools. In addition, a broad range of programs in this area are being planned,
discussed and set up. Following is an overview of the various programs; readers wishing to
learn about the various legislative tools are referred to the section entitled Legislative
Tools for Reducing Air Pollution in Canada.
Action Plan on Health and the Environment (APHE)
In partnership with Environment
Canada, Health Canada carries out numerous studies to assess the effects of pollutants on
the health of Canadians, particularly in cases of direct exposure. Health Canada monitors
human exposure by providing target populations with portable devices for measuring the
pollutants with which they come into contact; thus individual exposure can be compared
with measured concentrations in the regions being monitored. In addition, under the APHE,
programs are set up to monitor various pollutants and assess the risks they pose to
health. Health Canada is also considering developing standards and regulations for
allowable concentrations of certain pollutants. Described below are efforts to date for
assessing the effects of smog on health, increasing scientific knowledge of these
pollutants, and developing strategies to eliminate them from the environment in Canada.
Tailpipe
Emission Inspection Clinics
For the 12th consecutive year, in 1998
Environment Canada is organizing free clinics for inspecting tailpipe emissions in order
to raise public awareness of the importance of maintaining motor vehicles and reducing air
pollution. Poorly maintained vehicles, which account for 20% of vehicles on the road, are
responsible for 80% of total tailpipe emissions. Environment Canada also provides
Canadians with access to the Canadian Weather Office, which issues information on smog
conditions.
Management Plan for Nitrogen Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC)
In 1990, the Canadian Council
of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) adopted the Management Plan for Nitrogen Oxides and
Volatile Organic Compounds; by 2005 this aimed to reduce (to 82 parts per billion)
emissions of pollutants that contribute to the formation of tropospheric ozone. This Plan,
the first of three phases, initially included 80 national and regional pollutant-reduction
initiatives, most of which were successful. At that time, considerable gaps in the
scientific data were noted and, as a result, in 1992 the Atmospheric Environment Service
(AES) set up the Nitrogen Oxides and Volatile Organic Compounds Science Program. Under
this program these two types of substances were scientifically assessed in order to obtain
the data required by policy-makers in developing emission reduction strategies. The full
1996 report on this assessment of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds can be
seen at the following website.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/phase2/science_e.htm
(updated August 1998)
On 7 November 1997, the
Government of Canada, in partnership with Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada,
and Transport Canada, published Phase 2 of the Federal Smog Management Plan (the name
of the plan changed after Phase 1 was completed in 1990). Phase 2, emphasizing
transportation and industry, included 32 sub-initiatives grouped into the following four
main initiatives:
national and federally led
initiatives affecting ozone and particulate matter;
further initiatives to
reduce ozone and particulate matter;
continuing initiatives to
understand and track smog; and
international initiatives to
reduce transboundary flows of smog.
Phase 2 describes provincial
initiatives, achievements to date, future phases, recommendations for future federal
action, regional initiatives and proposed federal initiatives. Also presented are regional
initiatives and programs, proposed action by Canada and the United States, and Phase 3 of
the plan. Phase 1, completed in 1990 by the federal and provincial governments, reduced
smog, gathered data, and identified a need for Canada-wide air pollution standards. For
further information, consult the following site.
http://www.ec.gc.ca/phase2/execsum_e.htm
(updated August 1998)
The 1995 CCME Cleaner Vehicles
and Fuels initiative is aimed at applying tailpipe emission standards to bring into
service vehicles that produce 10% fewer nitrogen oxides and 7% fewer volatile organic
compounds.
Canada-Wide Accord on Environmental Harmonization
On 29 January 1998, the federal and provincial
governments, with the exception of Quebec, signed this Accord, aimed at improving
environmental co-operation and protection in Canada. The Accord will allow these
governments to retain their environmental jurisdiction while co-ordinating their work.
Where environmental performance is concerned, the governments roles will be better
defined, and results will be made public. Also signed were sub-accords on environmental
assessments; inspection activities; and the development of standards for air, water and
soil quality. Standards on tropospheric ozone and particulate matter are also to be
approved under this accord. |