Mr. Speaker, sadly the hon. member's number of 5,000 is likely on the low side. However, I point out that these are largely preventable deaths due to air pollution and we fully intend over the next decade to cut that number in half.
The negotiations with the United States are to establish a protocol with the United States to reduce smog thus improving the quality of air in Canada and in the United States with substantial improvements in the life expectancies particularly of young children and older people who are specifically affected to a greater degree by air pollution problems.