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.
