History is about people, people, people. Here, the History of Air Quality Management in Canada is summarized through identifying a few key PEOPLE and

Transcription

1 History of Management of Air Quality in Canada Ann McMillan, Special Adviser, DFO Phil Blagden, Manager, HC 1

2 History is about people, people, people. Here, the History of Air Quality Management in Canada is summarized through identifying a few key PEOPLE and events The choice has been that of the authors there is an overwhelming amount of material to choose from. A short, non-linear history of AQ Management in Canada 2

3 Some pioneers: Real Renaissance Men Ted Munn -The Father of AQ in Canada. Ken Hare Morris Katz connection to Trail Smelter work 3

4 Air Quality Activities Required both for Science and AQ Management Emissions Inventories Monitoring Modelling Process Studies Effects Work 4

5 The Smoking Gun Air quality impacts have been drivers of air quality management in Canada. Starting from the first important air quality issue, the Trail Smelter when ore was discovered in 1896 and the Cominco smelter built thereafter. While this established international aspects of AQ, it was not until much later that a federal role was established. Finally in 1969 an air pollution control division was established in the Dept. of National Health and Welfare.in 1971 the Dept. of Environment was established and a Clean Air Act was passed. 5

6 Framework for AQ Management in Canada Issue Role Scientist Assessor Acid Rain Ground Level Ozone Particulate Matter Air Toxics Other Including the biological and health scientists studying effects Policy Maker Air Quality Manager Stakeholder Time 1960 s 1980 s 2000 s 1990 s from 1900 s 6

7 The cycle of an air quality issue from science to policy and back Regulations reported on, Evaluated and further Developed Is more science needed? Basic research on Environment Science indicates Impacts the Existence of a Smoking gun Something must be done!! Gov t scientists track, monitor and assess issue Impacts addressed Through regulation Voluntary Polluter Pays Harmonized with US Consultation as to what should be done science based! Roles for different types of people at different stages. 7

8 Acid Rain A 1972 paper written by Harvey and Beamish on fish mortality in the La Cloche Lakes near Sudbury provided the smoking gun and was followed up on. Other scientists active: Peter Dillon, Dean Jeffries Science promoters: Hans Martin, Tom Brydges The STOP Acid Rain campaign followed and led to negotiations with the US and eventually the Canada/US Clean Air Agreement. Canada was forced to take strong action on acid rain in order to get the US to do so as well. 8

9 Links between AQ and Health Dr. David Bates definitively linked health impacts to air quality issues, after living through London, England s pollution events of the 50 s s. He told the story about why air pollution, especially ground level e ozone o required ed managing. ag g He made it respectable for medical doctors to take an interest in air pollution in Canada. 9

10 Health Canada Crowd When dealing with aids and tobacco, air quality didn t have priority for many years. Then Rick Burnett did his 8 city study and showed from the data available through StatsCan on hospital admissions that air quality has a profound effect on the health of fc Canadians. Others have picked up the challenge, including Dave Stieb, Barry Jessimen and Phil Blagden 10

11 Air Toxics Atmospheric contaminants such as Mercury and pesticides id were found in Wildlife and then in the North. Andy Gilman is a pioneer in establishing health programs for the Great Lakes and Arctic, as is Claire Franklin. Len Barrie and Ray Hoff showed that the atmospheric pathway an important source of pollution to the Great Lakes and Arctic. 11

12 Framework for AQ Management in Canada Issue Role Scientist Assessor Acid Rain Ground Level Ozone Particulate Matter Air Toxics Other Including the biological and health scientists studying effects Policy Maker Air Quality Manager StakeholderManagers, policy makers and stakeholders must pay attention Time 1960 s 1980 s 2000 s 1990 s from 1900 s 12

13 Science Management Keith Puckett needs no introduction, ti his influence in the federal approach is profound. He was there for acid rain, ozone and the foundations of particulate matter. Advocate of science, especially process studies and monitoring, he came around to the power of modelling in his later years. His support of using the numerical weather prediction i models as the basis for air quality modelling along with Michel Jean has resulted in Canada s leadership in some air quality forecasting applications. 13

14 Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Within Canada the need to regulate chemicals that impact the environment and health was clearly l promulgated by CEPA, which h replaced the Clean Air Act. Significant effort has been expended in assessing a large number of substances and declaring relatively few chemicals toxic (including ozone and dpm) PM). The toxic designation gives the federal government lots of powers which are seldom exercised. 14

15 Smoking Gun must be heeded by the AQ community to influence next steps: Complexities of our Nation are what make air quality management so interesting. Federal role is limited, provinces have the real clout. Rise of local areas such as Greater Vancouver Regional District and Montreal urban area. Other players as well. 15

16 AQ is a shared jurisdication must not forget the provincial players Ed Piche developed a strong team in Ontario including P.K. Misra, Rob Bloxam, David Yap. He was first active in managing acid rain and was active in supporting work in Killarney Park. OME pioneered exposure studies in Windsor area, etc. 16

17 Other provinces have been active B.C. has a complex AQ situation much activity in the Lower Fraser Valley Now the interior with rapidly developing Kelowna is demanding attention Brian Kemper, Alberta led led work on Harmonization with the U.S.A. Jim McKnight, New Brunswick, expert on power plants Pierre Walsh, Quebec, kept the province engaged federally at a difficult time 17

18 The Academic Community From health effects, to emissions, to modelling of transport of pollutants, Canada s universities have been active. Douw Steyn has long been an air quality activist as well as a respected researcher. Others include: Tim Oke, Jack McConnell, Maurice Danard, etc, etc. And we can t forget the health side, Dan Krewski, Michael Brauer, etc, etc. 18

19 Non Governmental Organizations Canada is underendowed as compared to many nations in this area But who could forget Martha Kostuch of the Friends of the Old Man River who called the Alberta and federal governments on key issues? Bruce Walker of STOP is another key player. 19

20 AQ issues continue to heat up Forest fires Tar sands emissions Interaction between AQ and climate change Air Quality issues on the Alaska/Yukon/B.C. border..and approaches continue to develop. e 20

21 The Three Things Management of air quality in Canada is all about the PEOPLE! Canadian air quality management driven by health/ecosystem EFFECTS. While there is much to be learned from our history, there is much left to DO, Canada is a leader in AQ prediction with the development of the AQHI. Questions? Ann.McMillan@dfo-mpo.gc.ca ca Phil.Blagden@hc-sc.gc.ca 21