Air quality in Ottawa is currently worse than in Mexico City due to forest fires, the federal environment minister said.
“The air quality in our nation’s capital is worse than in Mexico City, Jakarta and Kolkata. We have all of this because of the wildfires, and what is the Conservative Party’s response? Make pollution free again. It will not happen on this side of the House,” Minister Steven Guilbeault told parliament on Tuesday as the Conservatives criticized the carbon tax.
Recall that high levels of air pollution have developed due to smog from forest fires. Smoke plumes in Quebec and northeastern Ontario have led to deterioration in air quality.
Pollutants from wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles from the source of the fire.
This smoke was also transported to New York City. On Tuesday, the city’s air quality index (AQI) was over 200, a “very unhealthy” quality. On Wednesday, New York’s AQI fell to 158, equivalent to saying the air quality is “unhealthy.”
In Ottawa, the AQI has been close to 300 since Monday, and even reached 298 on Wednesday. Above 300, the air quality is considered “hazardous”.
By comparison, Mexico City had an AQI of 88 on Wednesday, a “moderate” air quality.
Note that there were still 149 active forest fires in Quebec as of Wednesday.
More than 15,000 deaths per year
According to the latest Government of Canada figures, air pollution is one of the leading environmental causes of death and illness in Canada. It causes approximately 15,300 deaths each year, and its economic value is estimated at $120 billion per year.
Note also that June 7, 2023 marks Clean Air Day in Canada. Celebrated since 1999, it is devoted to “the importance of air quality for our health, our environment and our economy”, can we read on the government website.
Read also : The best air purifiers