Municipal Governments Action on Clean Air

Municipalities have direct control or influence over many sources of emissions that can affect air quality. As a result, many municipalities are taking actions that can lead to improvements in air quality. Examples include smog management plans, investments in public transit, land use planning, greening operations (including municipal fleets) and education campaigns.

Two municipal governments, Montreal and the Greater Vancouver Regional District, have delegated authority from their respective provincial governments. As such they are able to take direct actions to control pollution sources in their territories.

Provincial governments support for municipal level actions on air quality can take many forms in addition to delegated authority, and includes investments in infrastructure and public transit.

The Government of Canada recognizes the important role of municipalities, and is providing resources as part of its New Deal for Cities. The federal government also established the Green Municipal Funds to stimulate municipal investments in innovative environmental infrastructure projects and practices to achieve cleaner air, water and soil, as well as to protect the climate. The Funds are managed by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), at arms length from the federal government.

The FCM Centre for Sustainable Community Development offers resources and information for municipal governments to pursue and achieve their sustainable development goals.

For information on municipal air quality programs throughout Canada, please see

• Calgary, Alberta
• Guelph, Ontario
• Halifax (pdf), Nova Scotia
• Hamilton, Ontario
• Kelowna, British Columbia
• Kingston, Ontario
• Mississauga, Ontario
• Montreal, Quebec (in french)
• Ottawa, Ontario
• Sudbury, Ontario
• Toronto, Ontario
• Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia
• Waterloo, Ontario
• Winnipeg, Manitoba