Mr. Chair, ambient air quality standards set a bar, so to speak, for the level of air quality that can be achieved in all parts of the country, whether the airsheds are east to west, north to south, or, in eastern Canada, where our concern is of course, south to north.
With new science and research regarding the effects of air pollution on our health and the environment, it has become apparent that the current Canada-wide standards need to be updated and more stringent ambient air quality standards need to be created. We will do that under the air quality management system.