Toronto Pollution Newspaper Article

Redefining a Breath of Fresh Air in Toronto

study, Toronto has been established as

emit more than 10 tons annually, are

the 4th largest polluted city in the

required to report. Canada’s National

world when compared to 27 major cities

Pollutant Release Inventory, an agency

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worldwide. Followed by New York,

that provides information on pollutants in

Beijing, and Los Angeles, Toronto is

the air, requires that only the largest

considered a mass environmental

emitters in the city need to report. This

straggler rather than an environmental

leaves the city with thousands of other

leader.

emitters that continue to release large What is causing our city to be so

polluted? The burning of fossil fuels and toxic gas emissions from industry and 1

A look at Air Pollution in Toronto, the Government’s inaction, and how the environment and our bodies are wreaking the pain.

power plants are the leading causes of air pollution. Downtown driving and the lack of laws to reduce harmful emissions in Toronto are causing unnatural toxins to flood the air. According to a report by

Did you know that Toronto is

Global News’ Sean Smallen last

amounts of toxins into the air. Smallen noted that only 3% of polluters are required to submit paperwork, which accounts for less than 25% of Toronto emissions. This leaves the polluters that do not have to report continuing to produce three quarters of our city’s air pollution. The long-term effects of

one of the most polluted cities in the

Wednesday, there are 11,000 pollutant

pollution are the developments of smog

world? Every time you take a breath of

emitters in the city and only those that

and acid rain, which pose a hazardous

air in the city your body becomes filled

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impact on the environment and the

with toxic chemicals. After a 10-year

Star, Toronto. "Clear targets needed to cut emissions." Daily Mercury (Guelph, Ont.). 13 Oct 2006. A11. eLibrary. Proquest. 09 Feb 2007. .

human body.2 Even though humans are

an organization created to protect our

the environmental culprits, the

environment, the government does not

power holder in today’s society, the TEA

government has the ultimate power to

realize that the organization is not

group is calling on the government to

improve the Canadian environment.

effective. Hartmann explains that the

raise regulations on greenhouse gas

Rules need to be set to enforce those of

Clean Air Act plans to engage in three

emissions coming from vehicles,

the automobile and power plant

more years of discussion before solutions

industry, and power plants in Toronto.

industries to reduce emissions.

are fulfilled. Hartmann argues that there

Since Toronto has made the decision to

has been a decade of talk about

ban indoor pollution (cigarette smoke),

implementing solutions, though since no

TEA believes that the government has

real action has been taken, the air just

the power to restrict hazardous outdoor

keeps deteriorating. The government’s

pollution. This year, TEA has requested

inaction is actually making Toronto’s air

that both the provincial and federal

quality problems worse.

governments restrict the emission of

According to the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA), a group devoted to finding solutions to Toronto’s environmental problems, the government is not living up to its responsibilities. TEA’s energy campaigner Dr. Franz

As the government is the central

greenhouse gases that are decaying the

Hartmann explains “4,500 Torontonians

air. Plus, they are advocating for a

will die prematurely due to smog over

greener public transit system and

the next three years.”3 While the

demanding limits to urban sprawl. The

government supports the Clean Air Act,

group is also promoting the use of green

2

“Air pollution kills thousands each year: Health Canada.” CBC News, Toronto, 2006 . 3 Winesberg, Harry. “Clean Air Act Press Release.” Toronto Environmental Alliance 19 Oct 2006. 22 Jan 2007 .

cars and green energy to replace 2

hazardous chemicals coming from nuclear plants.

Last October, TEA’s annual air

green activists are pushing the idea that

quality report concluded that Toronto’s

changes need to be made soon. These

air quality level is currently rated a

activists along with the TEA group are

‘D.’ This study measured air pollution in

currently calling on all levels of

areas across the city to identify where

government to execute change.

improvements have been made and what

Specifically, they are requesting that the

problems are still to be resolved. On a

Harper Government make some clear

positive account, the study found that the

targets to cut emissions, set a date to

number of green vehicles have increased

which auto companies make reductions,

in Toronto, although there are still not

and most essentially create a clear

enough to make a significant change to

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timeline.5

the air quality. The report concluded that Toronto is lacking in an effort to obtain greener sources of energy. Solutions that need to be implemented include the use of wind and solar power, the reduction of pollutant emissions, and the promotion of a bike and pedestrian-friendly Toronto.4

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Winesberg, Harry. “Clean Air Act Press Release.” Toronto Environmental Alliance 19 Oct 2006. 22 Jan 2007 .

Green activists have argued for

A recent article in the Toronto Star explained that Toronto’s poor

many years that the government is not

environmental situation is a top

only ignoring the issue, but is fooling

priority for 2007: a year where solutions

citizens into believing that change is

need to be fulfilled. Why is this the year

being made. Since it is expensive for the

of change? Green activists explain that

government to physically clean the air,

public concern is high as air pollution is

green activists believe that the

worse then ever before. While the

government merely promotes the idea

current conservative government is now

that they are cleaning up the environment

showing that they want to take action,

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Gorrie, Peter. “2007: The Environment’s Time.” Toronto Star 8 Jan 2004: C5.

(via ad campaigns) in order to conceal

has been taken. Last year with the

him that the auto industry needs time to

their inaction. Activists conclude that it

election of Stephen Harper to Prime

adjust, and now it seems as though they

costs less to promote an ad campaign

Minister change began to seem hopeful,

have won.7

than it does to do the dirty work. For

as he described his plan to turn the

example, Shell Canada continuously

environment around like Brian

promotes itself as an environmentally

Mulrooney did in the past. After a year

friendly business, when in reality the

of talk, real action has not been taken.

company constantly harms the

Even though the Harper government has

environment though the production of

addressed the environment as a top

heavy sour crude.

priority alongside taxes and crime, it is being put off. Currently, government officials

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After decades of promises from the federal government to make positive changes to the environment, no action

While automakers are prolonging inaction, they are not the only ones to blame for the lack of environmental cleanup. The government continues to step back because of the cost of having to rebuild the environment. While it is true that the government will need to spend significant funds to clean up the air, they need to realize that by not taking action

are having prolonged debates with

now, problems are going to continue to

automakers about emission reduction.6

get worse and more expensive in the

Last October, Harper met with auto

future. By not implementing change

executives to discuss emission

now, air pollution will increase and more

regulations, although they could not

people will get sick. According to a

come to a conclusive decision. During

recent study by the Ontario Medical

their debate automakers tried to convince 7 6

Chartrand, Fred. “Harper says environment to be priority in 2007.” Canadian Press, Ottawa, 2006

Star, Toronto. "Clearing the air on Clean Air Act; All emissions are not the same Older autos are major contributors." Toronto Star. 28 Oct 2006. G25. eLibrary. Proquest. 09 Feb 2007. .

Association, “air pollution costs

temperature change, rates of illness are

2,000 early deaths and 6,000 hospital

Ontario more than one billion dollars

also increasing. Greenhouse gases,

admissions in 2006. This is an increase

a year in hospital admissions as a

smog, and the burning of fossil fuels, are

from the previous study in 2002 that

result of illnesses triggered by air

three major cancer-causing pollutants

calculated a rate of 1,400 early deaths

pollution.” Thus, it is already costing

that leave thousands of Torontonians

and 5,500 hospital admissions.11

the government billions by ignoring the

dead each year.9 In 2005, Health Canada

problem.

reported that air pollution is the leading

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cause of death in Canada when compared to other fatal reasons such as cancer, vehicle accidents, and skin and viral diseases. Health Canada’s 2006

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report concluded that approximately 5,900 deaths are attributed to air 5

Toronto’s poor air quality not only floats outside Toronto streets but within the bodies of Canadians. While harmful chemicals increasingly interrupt the ecosystem and dangerously cause 8

Environment Canada. “Air pollution is linked to varying degrees to a number of health concerns.” Canada’s Clean Air Act, 2006.

pollution annually in Canada, which is slightly higher than the estimated 5,000 deaths recognized by the study in 2002.10 In Toronto alone, there were nearly 9

Ferguson, Alan. "A ton of Canadians will agree with this crackdown on toxic chemicals." Vancouver Province. 12 Dec 2006. A20. eLibrary. Proquest. 09 Feb 2007. . 10 Health Canada. “Air Pollution kills estimated 5,900 Canadians every year.” Health Canada News Release, Ottawa 2006 .

So what exactly in the air is killing Canadians? According to a recent health study conducted by Health Canada, tiny airborne particles are the culprits. Scientifically titled PM 2.5, these particles are made up of invisible pieces of dust that come from a combination of vehicle, power plant, and 11

“Tiny air pollutants linked to heart disease.” CBC News, Toronto, 2007 .

industry pollutants. These particles cling

were found in the children. Executive

released, the statistics did not seem to

to toxic gases in the air, and once

director of Environmental Defence, Rick

push the Harper government to think

breathed in, they attach to the blood

Smith, said quote “harmful pollutants

twice about their environmental inaction.

vessels and the lungs and cause

are contaminating the bodies of

As a solution, last month the

inflammation. Contact with these

Canadians no matter where they live,

Environmental Defence Department

particles will aggravate the respiratory

how old they are, or where they

came up with a study to make the

and cardiovascular systems, which can

work.”13 Smith concluded that children

effects of air pollution hit the

lead to breathing problems and heart

are more vulnerable than adults because

politicians close to home. In order to

disease.12

the toxins could disrupt hormonal

ultimately capture the Harper

developments.

government’s attention, the study was

A study by the Environmental

created to measure the bodies of four

Defence Department, a company that

federal politicians for 103 different

researches the quality of the environment

pollutants. NDP leader Jack Layton,

and public health, tested six adults and

Liberal MP John Godfrey, Environment

seven children to measure the amount of

Minister Rona Ambrose, and Health

toxic chemicals within their bodies.

Minister Tony Clement favourably

After testing a urine and blood sample 7

from each person, between 40 and 50 industrial chemicals were found within

After a year from which the

the adults while even higher levels

Environmental Defences’ study was

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13

“Tiny air pollutants linked to heart disease.” CBC News, Toronto, 2007 .

Favaro, Avis. “Pollutions tiniest toxins get trapped in body.” CTV News, Toronto, 2003

volunteered. The study surprisingly concluded that each politician had between 50 and 55 chemicals trapped within their bodies. This study inevitably confirmed Environmental Defence Minister Rick Smith’s statement

that pollution affects everyone.

world.”15 It is difficult to decipher

According to Smith, Environmental

whether this statement should be viewed

Defence is hopeful that these results will

as a move to improve the environment or

grab the Harper government’s attention

a sheer backlash against the previous

to finally rid harmful substances in the

government. Harper went on to explain

air Canadians breathe.

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While this study

that he understands the concerns of

confirms the hazardous affects of

Canadians and concluded that he

polluted air on the body, these numbers

promises to impose strict fuel efficiency

also come as an effective way to shock

standards for automobiles beginning

politicians.

2011. But what about implementing

Earlier this month Harper made a speech to the Canadian Council in Ottawa admitting that after more than a decade of inaction on improving air quality, Canada is deteriorating. Harper repeatedly admitted “Canada has one of the worst records in the developed

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Environmental Defence. “Pollutants Contaminate Blood of Federal Politicians – Results show pollutants found in the environment.” Environmental Defence News Releases, Toronto 2007 .

changes now? Why do we have to wait so many years? Canadian politician David McGuinty criticized Harpers promise by arguing, “this is an opportunity or an attempt by the Prime Minister to buy time and give the impression he is doing something meaningful.”16 15

Chartrand, Fred. “Harper Rolls out Tory Governments new agenda.” Canadian press, Ottawa, 2007 . 16 Chartrand, Fred. “Harper Rolls out Tory Governments new agenda.” Canadian press, Ottawa, 2007 .

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The prevention of air pollution is a team effort. Scientists and researchers, business leaders, legislators, and the public need to get together to brainstorm and problem solve. As Harper has promised to not implement change for four more years, we must rely on ourselves as citizens to improve the environment. However, it is becoming difficult to rely on us to make efficient decisions. Environmental regulatory agencies consistently advocate the use of alternative fuels and alternative transportation such as walking, yet there

is still no groundbreaking change.17

because we pride ourselves on having

According to Health Canada, the public

such a beautiful environment to live

do not seem to be giving up their

in.”19 As Canadian citizens all we can do

SUV’s. Health Canada reports that more

is hope and anticipate that Toronto and

people are driving sport-utility vehicles

the rest of Canada will eventually

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more than ever before. So what is the

transform from an environmental

solution? As a mass of public

straggler to a healthy environmental

environmental cleaning becomes

leader.

unattainable, society needs the

By: Kelly Foss

(250328894) Toronto Star News writer

government to enforce strict laws to prevent air pollution. All Canadians can do is wait for the Harper government to implement change. According to Toronto Scientist Richard Peltier, if the Harper government does not take action soon, Toronto and all of Canada will lose its strength. He said quote “It’s a very sad thing to recognize, especially as Canadians, 17

Fulton, Jim. "BREATHING EASIER." Alternatives Journal. 31 Jan 2002. p 36. eLibrary. Proquest. 09 Feb 2007. .

18

Health Canada. “Road Traffic and Air Pollution.” Air Health Effects Division, Ottawa, 2005. 19 Wahl, Nicole. “Forecasting Earth’s Past and Future.” News@UofT: Science and Technology 8 Nov 2004. 28 Jan 2007 .