Evidence of meeting #3 for Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) in the 39th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was air.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
It's interesting, because the acronym doesn't actually work any more. Rather than explaining what the acronym is, it's a consortium of groups, government and non-government organizations in Canada and the United States that have worked on providing policy advice on air quality issues.
NARSTO is the North American Research Strategy for Tropospheric Ozone, but they've expanded, and the “S” is in there for something else. They've expanded beyond ozone now.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
It's all right; I only have five minutes.
You were on the executive assembly of that group, though, and now you're working for Environment Canada, correct?
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
No, I was never associated with that group. I simply made a presentation to them last year. I'm with Health Canada at the moment, but I have a substantive position at Environment.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Great.
My question is, what's the plan in relation to monitoring indoor air? I understand that one of the major issues we have in Canada today is the quality of air indoors.
If you can, keep the answers brief, please.
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
Obviously it's impossible to go into every home in the country to monitor indoor air. What we are engaged in doing and what we intend to do more of is to do studies focused on the exposure of individuals in indoor environments and selected studies that will be designed to produce representative data about the human health impact.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
My understanding is actually that the issue with indoor air is a prevalent issue that hasn't been addressed with any legislation before of any substance, and certainly not by Kyoto or any other GHG emission piece of legislation. Is that fair to say?
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
Yes, it would be. Generally, most of the indoor air legislation refers to workplace exposures as opposed to residential or schools.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
All right. Hopefully sometime there's going to be technology so that every home can have a filter, some sort of monitoring system or better filters. Is that the long-term goal?
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
Well, there are lots of pollutants in indoor air. Obviously it's possible to buy a carbon monoxide monitor for every home right now to provide warnings in case of danger. That's one example of a successful area.
I don't think you'd ever get to the point where you could monitor every home continuously. The radon issue is one that needs to be addressed and radon can be tested in homes. You don't need it done on an ongoing basis, but you just need to know how high the levels are and then act appropriately.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
I have studied law in Australia and the U.S., and I have never seen environmental legislation like this before, so wide in breadth and scope. Did this group or the government look at other jurisdictions for legislation like this, or are we at the leading edge on the international stage with this piece of legislation in Canada as far as air quality and health issues are concerned?
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
We certainly did look at other jurisdictions, but I think bringing indoor air into the overall definition of air under CEPA is probably a new step.
Conservative
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
Yes, I think it's really important to realize that we have to deal with all of our environments, not just the outdoor one.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
Speaking of which, my last question deals with the recycling environment. I was pleased to see that the legislation deals with some of that. Were other jurisdictions looked at, for instance Brazil, which seems to be on the cutting edge of recycling? And if so, how are we going to deal with the issue of provincial jurisdiction?
Manager, Air Health Effects Division, Department of Health
I honestly don't know anything about recycling, sorry.
Acting Director General, Systems and Priorities, Department of the Environment
I'm afraid I didn't follow the question.
Conservative
Brian Jean Conservative Fort McMurray—Athabasca, AB
That's all right, it's probably a question that is going to be difficult to follow.
I noticed some reference to recycling in the legislation, is that correct?
Acting Director General, Systems and Priorities, Department of the Environment
I don't think so, sorry. I'd be happy to clarify, but I'm—
Conservative
Acting Director General, Systems and Priorities, Department of the Environment
Sure.
Conservative
Marcel Lussier Bloc Brossard—La Prairie, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Moffet, I was very surprised to learn that you weren't aware of Canada's percentage volume production of greenhouse gases. Are there any agreements with the provinces under which they prepare an annual report quantifying greenhouse gas volumes within their respective borders? Is it your department that manages those figures?
Acting Director General, Systems and Priorities, Department of the Environment
Yes, Mr. Lussier.
The Department of Environment has a GHG-reporting organization and capacity that generates various data, on a sector-by-sector, region-by-region...and national level of emissions of GHGs, in accordance with various international protocols so that our reported data is consistent with what is reported by other countries and can be compared.
