October 10, 2000

Ontario’s Claims of Smog Progress Significantly Overstated
– May Threaten Canada-US Clean Air Talks

(Toronto, ON)  Pollution Probe released a report today that exposed significant flaws in Ontario’s recent claims of provincial smog plan progress.  This comes on the eve of the final meeting between Canadian and US negotiating teams hoping to establish a smog reduction treaty between the two countries.

Ontario has been targeted for criticism by the Attorney General of New York State as well as US environmental and health groups because the province’s pollution blows into the eastern US on the prevailing winds.  Ontario’s response to this criticism has been to claim that their Anti-Smog Action Plan (ASAP) is superior to similar US initiatives.  Pollution Probe’s findings put this claim in doubt.

“Our findings suggest that Ontario’s smog reduction efforts do not compare favourably with US programmes,” said John Wellner of Pollution Probe, “In order to re-assure the US negotiators that we are serious about emission reductions, Ontario is going to have do better than this.”

The ASAP commits the province to reduce the emissions of smog-causing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 45% by 2010.  Pollution Probe has found that the recent provincial claims that ASAP partners have identified as much as 80% of the reductions needed to meet targets, is a gross overstatement of progress.

Pollution Probe has a number of specific concerns about the recently released Ontario’s Anti-Smog Action Plan, Progress Through Partnership report (August 2000):

  • The report identifies fewer total emission reduction commitments than were presented by the Ministry of the Environment in 1996;

  • It counts as progress reduction commitments that were made prior to the start of the ASAP, even though the ministry has stated that these would not be counted;

  • It claims emission reductions that we know have been cancelled out by overall emission increases, like Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) claim that they have reduced NOx by 19 kt, when in fact OPG’s emissions have increased; and

  • It fails to factor emissions increases that are due to economic growth, by counting gross reductions instead of net gains that factor in overall provincial emission increases.

“It is disappointing that Ontario has so thoroughly misinterpreted its smog reduction accomplishments,” said Wellner. “The only answer now is for the province to get tough on the coal plants and other industrial pollution sources.  The air is not clear in Ontario, and it’s time for the provincial government to act.”

 For additional information contact John Wellner, Pollution Probe’s Air Programme Director at (416) 926-1907 ext. 236.

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