Air
Ontario’s Approach To Protecting and Improving Air Quality
Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE)
has been protecting Ontario’s air quality for over 30 years. Using stringent regulations, targeted
enforcement and a variety of innovative air quality initiatives, the ministry continues to address
air pollution that has local, regional and/or global effects. To access the latest reports/data in
each section below, see the ‘Current Information’ links.
Industrial/Commercial or Point Sources — Certificates of Approval — Enforcement
A large part of the ministry’s regulatory and enforcement activities focus on local air concerns affecting Ontario’s communities. For example, the MOE sets air standards for a large number of air toxics, and deals with individual industrial emitters on a facility-by-facility basis.
Smog — Acid Rain — Drive Clean
Smog and acid rain are regional air issues. The pollutants that cause smog and acid rain can travel hundreds or even thousands of kilometres. Case in point: More than 50 per cent of Ontario’s smog problem originates in the United States. Ontario is using regulations and other programs to reduce emissions from sources which contribute to regional air quality issues.
Climate Change and Global Warming – Hazardous Air Pollutants –
Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
Global air quality issues present a particular challenge. For issues such as climate change, hazardous air pollutants or the depletion of the protective stratospheric ozone layer (as opposed to ozone at ground level, which causes smog), the pollutants are global. Since the ministry has no jurisdiction to regulate emission sources outside Ontario, innovative emissions reduction approaches are necessary and must be co-ordinated with international treaties and plans.
Certificates of Approval
The Ministry of the Environment approvals program has been designed to ensure
that all undertakings requiring approval are carried out in accordance with legislation
including the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Environmental Protection Act, the
Pesticides Act, the Environmental Assessment Act, the Environmental Bill of Rights,
the Safe Drinking Water Act and associated regulations. Certificates of Approval
are required for facilities that release emissions to the atmosphere, discharge
contaminants to ground and surface water, provide potable water supplies, or store,
transport, process or dispose of waste. Proponents of these types of activities
are required to obtain Certificates of Approval to ensure that the environment
will not be adversely affected.
Certificates of Approval web page |
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