News Release

Info-Smog Now Serving 7.2 Million Quebeckers all Year Round

Montreal, Quebec, May 17, 2006 - Environment Canada, in collaboration with the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (MSDEP), the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services and its regional Public Health officials (including the City of Montreal), for the thirteenth consecutive year, is renewing the Info-Smog program for air quality.

This year, important changes are being introduced. Info-Smog now becomes a year-round program, with no distinction between the summer and winter versions. Furthermore, meteorological forecasting for new areas is now available for the program's extended geographical coverage. New areas affected are: Montmagny - L'Islet, Kamouraska - Rivière-du-Loup - Trois-Pistoles, Témiscouata, Abitibi, Témiscamingue, the Saguenay and Lac-Saint-Jean.

Info-Smog is an air quality forecasting and warning program that aims at informing the population about ambient air quality, particularly when smog concentrations are likely to reach or have reached levels that are harmful to health and the environment. By bringing together Environment Canada's weather expertise with the air quality monitoring networks of partners, namely the City of Montreal and the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, the Meteorological Service of Canada can now forecast the evolution of air quality during the next 36-hour period.

"I would like to congratulate each of the partners for a job well done over the past 13 years, to make Info-Smog such a success. This collaborative approach has meant a steady expansion of this program across Quebec, helping citizens to better protect their health from the harmful effects of smog," said Rona Ambrose, Environment Canada Minister. "I encourage Canadians to ride a bus, organize a carpool, take a bike or even walk to help reduce smog in their communities."

"I am pleased with recent improvements to our air quality monitoring program, notably with respect to measuring fine particulates and the enlargement of the total territory covered by the program, which means that nearly 7.2 million people - 95% of Quebec's population - now benefit from the data that we have collected with our partners." said the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks and Deputy Government House Leader, Mister Claude Béchard.

The air quality forecast is made up of three categories: GOOD, FAIR and POOR. When the category POOR is forecast, a smog warning is issued for the regions concerned. This lets the population take appropriate action to reduce pollution emissions in the atmosphere and to protect themselves against the harmful effects on health.

Generally and for all four seasons, fine particulates are most often responsible for poor air quality. However during summer, ozone levels also contribute to the degradation of air quality. It is mainly ozone level precursors, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NO_x), products used specifically by motor vehicles and industry, which are responsible for poor air quality in summer. We must remember also, that cross-border atmospheric movement also carries with it significant pollutants. During winter, it is mainly local sources of fine particulates - woodburning stoves, transport and industry - which contribute to the degradation of air quality.

The Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Philippe Couillard emphasized in his message that "the Info-Smog program is the best possible way to warn susceptible people when air quality is poor and it allows us to recommend that they decrease any outdoor physical activity in order to lessen their exposure to smog." We must also keep in mind that during periods of smog, certain symptoms can affect the most vulnerable, including young children, seniors and those suffering from cardio-respiratory problems. Local Info-Health service provide specific health information.

Info-Smog forecasts and advisories will be distributed through the usual Environment Canada communication channels and will also be available on the websites of the different partners. Advisories will also be displayed on Quebec Ministry of Transport electronic traffic signage as well as Métrovision screens installed in certain Montreal metro stations.

The Info-Smog program is an excellent example of the partnership between the Quebec Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services and its regional Public Health offices, the City of Montreal and Environment Canada. For the Quebec population, this new stage in the evolution of the Info-Smog program is an important milestone towards greater access to, and better information on, daily air quality.

Information and technical fact sheets on the Info-Smog program can be found at the following web sites:

• Environment Canada
• Ministry of Health and Social Services (French only)
• Ministry of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks (French only)
• Montreal Public Health Division
• City of Montreal (French only)

For further information, please contact: