An Overview of Air Quality Management in Canada Glen Okrainetz, Director, Air Quality BC Ministry of Healthy Living & Sport Victoria, British Columbia
International: United Nations, European Union, Commission for Environmental Cooperation Canada: Canadian federal government, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Provincial: Provincial governments Local: Municipalities, regional districts 2
International: Protocols, treaties, conventions National: Regulations, intergovernmental agreements Provincial: Regulations, permits, codes of practice Local: By-laws, zoning, planning 3
Global or intercontinental in scale Focus on pollutants that pose global (CFCs) or cross borders (POPs) threats Examples: United Nations agreements: Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, Acid Rain, CFCs, POPS and HAPS Canada/US Air Quality Agreement (acid rain and ozone) 4
Federal government International agreements/external relations Interprovincial and international air pollution Transportation Provincial governments Natural resources Health protection Territorial governments Local governments First Nations 5
National or regional in scale Focus on pollutants that pose national threat or cross provincial borders May include emission reductions targets or prohibitions Can be national or federal 6
Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) provides significant authority to regulate emissions such as: Vehicle and fuel standards Sources of transboundary air emissions Activities on federal lands and Indian Reserves (also regulated via federal Indian Act) Toxic substances Dep t of Transport regulates shipping, rail, air Taxation 7
CEPA can: Regulate emissions of toxic substances Establish ambient standards Require that facility pollution prevention plans be developed Set rules for activities on federal lands 8
Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment: Comprised of the environment ministers from the federal, provincial and territorial governments Develops Canada Wide Standards in consultation with national stakeholders ambient targets and emission standards Enforcement left to member jurisdictions so limited collective accountability 9
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Each province has broad power to regulate pollution that occur within provincial boundaries through environmental and/or public health legislation to: Prohibit releases or activities that cause pollution Authorize discharges to the atmosphere Set emission guidelines or standards Establish ambient air quality criteria 11
Energy: Clean Energy Act, Energy Plan, Alternative Energy Strategy Transportation: Clean Transportation, Bike BC, Transit Strategy Finance: tax policy supporting alternative fuels and transportation Community & Rural Development: growth management strategies Forests and Range: burning policies Agriculture: sustainable agricultural policies 12
Capacity & needs vary between these territories Similar to provinces, all have legislation to: Set emission limits Monitor ambient air quality Set ambient criteria 13
Metro Vancouver and Montreal are the only local governments in Canada to have been delegated authority to manage air pollution control activities Canadian municipalities can: pass bylaws to restrict emission-causing activities, e.g. backyard burning and residential wood combustion. influence type and location of emission sources and future growth via planning & zoning land-use, transportation, regional growth strategies and sustainability plans. 14
Some Canadian municipalities and regional districts have developed local airshed management plans*. Thirteen plans have been developed in British Columbia: Bulkley Valley Lakes District Fraser Valley Regional District Merritt North Okanagan Prince George Whistler Williams Lake Central Okanagan Grand Forks Metro Vancouver Okanagan-Similkameen Quesnel Sea to Sky Corridor * These plans are available at : www.bcairquality.ca 15
First Nations (1/2) Federal cabinet can regulate issues (e.g. waste) on Indian Reserves. Canada ~ 3000 reserves, BC ~ 1700 (~ 200 Bands in BC), BC reserve pop. = 65,000 Indian Reserve Waste Disposal Regulation prohibits burning waste w/o permit (rarely used) Band Councils can pass zoning/ nuisance bylaws. First Nation Land Management Act allows Band Councils to adopt environmental protection laws. 16
Thank you 17