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Taking action on air quality

Our environment and the quality of the air we breathe directly affect the lung health of Canadians. Outdoor and indoor air pollution exacts a heavy toll on our population every year, causing

  • 21,000 deaths every year;
  • 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 risk of lung cancer and other serious diseases, with related deaths
  • Slowed lung growth, development and function for children and youth

Canadians need strong federal government action to improve lung health through effective strategies that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This must include adoption of national air quality standards and vehicle emissions standards that are equal to or above the most stringent in North America.

The Lung Association is asking all major political parties to commit to cleaning up the air Canadians breathe through:

  • Strong federal legislation and regulations that mandate national air quality standards and early, significant reductions in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions;
  • Adoption of tougher vehicle emissions standards to better protect human health – standards equal to or above the most stringent in North America
  • Expansion of the pilot National Air Quality Health Index across the country – to give Canadians accurate daily information on air hazards in our communities and their effects on human health;
  • Increased funding for programs that help achieve cleaner air – including programs to encourage energy-saving renovations for large-scale rental housing, awareness and reduction of radon hazards, and the replacement of higher polluting woodstoves;
  • Investments in programs that assist Canadians in taking action to reduce our individual contributions to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

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