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Federal Election 2011

Background information

Action on air quality

Our environment and the quality of the air we breathe directly affect the health of all Canadians. Outdoor and indoor air pollution exact a heavy toll every year, causing

  • 21,000 premature deaths annually, with costs exceeding $10 billion a year1
  • Increased severity of asthma symptoms – forcing affected people to stay indoors and compromising their quality of life
  • Increased hospitalization for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
  • Increased emergency room visits for children and elderly people in respiratory crisis
  • Increased hospitalizations and deaths from strokes and heart attacks
  • Increased risk of lung cancer and other serious diseases, with related deaths
  • Slowed lung growth, development and function for children and youth

Canadians need strong government action to reduce air pollution.

We also need good information on air quality every day, so we can reduce our exposure to harmful pollutants.

The Lung Association is asking all major political parties to commit to cleaning up the air Canadians breathe through action on two important new programs:

  1. Air Quality Management System (AQMS)
    • A new national system to ensure that all Canadians enjoy good air quality
    • Includes national air quality standards, new controls on industry emissions, strong air management across the country to reduce all sources of air pollution
    • Under development; supported by health and environmental organizations, industry, and the federal, provincial and territorial governments
    • AQMS needs to be funded and implemented across the country by 2013
  2. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)
    • Designed to give Canadians accurate daily information on air hazards in our communities and the effects on our health
    • Just as the UV index helps us reduce harmful sun exposure, the AQHI will help us make informed choices to reduce our exposure to air pollution
    • AQHI will help us know more about the quality of the air we breathe and press for action on air pollution
    • Needs to be expanded across the country and made a part of Canadians’ daily lives

Support clean air for all Canadians

Vote for action on lung health!

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References
1     ”No Breathing Room: The National Illness Costs of Air Pollution”, Canadian Medical Association. August 2008.