Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We've spoken a lot already about the importance of having legislation that explicitly references air quality standards. I quoted David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and the environment. He explicitly says Canada needs legally enforceable air quality standards to keep people safe, and Mr. Weiler mentioned that Canada is one of the very few industrialized nations in the world that does not have legally binding and enforceable ambient air quality standards.
The U.S. has air quality standards that date back to more than 50 years ago. It is essential that we move forward on this. I know that these amendments have been voted down multiple times now, but I would implore the members around this table to read the comments of David Boyd. It is critical. Poor air quality and air pollution increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory illnesses such as asthma. They also increase birth defects. This is a critical issue, and I wish the members around the table would ensure that we have this embedded in our legislation.