Developing Ambient Air Quality Objectives For Canada

Advice to the Minister of the Environment

June 4, 2008 -- The NRTEE is pleased to present its Advisory Note entitled Developing Ambient Air Quality Objectives for Canada. This Advisory Note is provided in response to a request for advice from the federal government in Fall, 2006, regarding national objectives for ambient air for particulate matter and ozone for both the medium-term (2020-2025) and the long-term (2050).

The advice is intended to assist the federal government in its development of national ambient air quality objective for Canada. The NRTEE research and this Advisory Note focuses our advice on the process of setting national objectives, rather than specific numerical targets. The key findings conclude that:

1. National long-term ambient air quality objectives should be supported by medium-term standards;

2. The Government of Canada should play the lead role in developing national ambient air quality objectives for all Canadians; and

3. An independent science-based process should be established to develop Canada's long-term national ambient air quality objectives.

Contents

PDF version
Executive Summary
1.0 Introduction
2.0 The history and current status of National Ambient Air Quality Objectives
3.0 Observations
4.0 Conclusions

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