Mr. Speaker, Ontario gasoline has the highest sulphur content in Canada, over 500 parts per million. In California, by contrast, sulphur content in gasoline cannot exceed 40 parts per million.
Sulphur damages catalytic converters because of increased pollution by other polluting substances in gasoline.
Sulphur harms the respiratory system with resulting health care costs which are high.
In addition, sulphur in the air creates smog. Large numbers of premature deaths are attributed to smog.
In Canada gasoline registers the highest average sulphur levels of all developed countries. Canada should set strict standards for sulphur in gasoline, as was done in the European community, the United States and Japan, and ensure Ontario and every other province adopts them in the interests of public health and environmental quality.