Mr. Speaker, Environment Canada and the Ontario ministry of the environment and energy announced on April 26 the expansion of the Ontario air quality advisory program.
This summer Ontarians will get advance notice of high smog levels for centres ranging from Barrie and Goderich in the south to North Bay and Sudbury in the north.
The federal-provincial program informs people when high levels of ground level ozone, commonly known as summer smog, are forecast. Smog is a powerful and irritating pollutant which can affect the health of people and vegetation and can corrode various materials.
Short term exposure to smog can irritate the nose and throat and can produce symptoms such as coughing and difficult or painful breathing. The advisory program is therefore very important for the well-being of all citizens.
Smog advisories are issued the same way as weather forecasts through the media, Environment Canada, weather offices and weather radio. They focus on pollution prevention and recommend individual action to spare the air such as using public transit or car pooling and using fewer chemicals and solvents.
Ground level ozone is a serious problem in Canada. The federal government is taking serious measures to control it.