2000 May Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development

Appendix F—Federal Activities for Smog Reduction

co-ordinates federal environmental policies and programs, including action on smog;
provides support, co-ordination, facilitation and leadership for emission reduction activities and strategies that involve other jurisdictions, such as the 1990 NOx/VOC Management Plan;
administers the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA);
leads the development of national goals, standards, guidelines and regulations and voluntary arrangements to protect Canada's air quality;
acts as the federal champion in the development of new Canada-Wide Standards for Particulate Matter and Ozone under the federal/provincial/territorial Harmonization Accord;
participates in education initiatives to increase public awareness about the causes and effects of smog;
conducts research on the causes and effects of air pollutants, particularly effects on the environment;
co-ordinates and participates in a number of other science-related activities, including air quality monitoring; quantifying and identifying the sources of smog-causing pollutants through the development of emission inventories; assessing the science of ozone and PM formation; and air quality modelling and forecasting; and
addresses transboundary air issues and represents Canada's international interests by negotiating international air pollution agreements and instruments to decrease the cross-border transport of air pollutants (see Appendix E for information on Canada's international commitments and activities related to smog).

is responsible for protecting the health of Canadians from the effects of environmental pollution, including exposures to contaminants through the air;
conducts surveillance on health problems associated with smog and other air issues; works to advance Canadians' understanding of the health impacts of smog-related and other air pollutants and climate change;
works jointly with Environment Canada to assess the toxicity of substances and develop control options for those substances declared and listed "toxic" under CEPA;
is involved in the science assessment of ozone and particulate matter and the development of national air quality objectives (and more recently, Canada-Wide Standards) for these smog-related pollutants;
through health promotion activities, positions health as a theme for public education and outreach on air pollution and climate change; and
promotes the benefits of mitigating air pollution and climate change for health and well-being (active transportation, physical activity).

plays a role in reducing air pollution from transportation sources under federal jurisdiction (responsibility for regulating emissions from new cars and trucks has been transferred to Environment Canada);
works to improve fuel efficiency of road vehicles jointly with Natural Resources Canada;
is responsible for international transportation, the interprovincial aspects of rail, bus and truck transportation and most of the marine sector;
participates in the development of international environmental standards governing emissions from airplane engines and ships and their application in Canada under federal legislation;
sees itself as a leader in developing ways to reduce the impact of transportation on the environment; and
promotes improved air quality at airports.

is responsible for federal energy policy and natural resource utilization;
spearheads initiatives that contribute to energy efficiency (including vehicle fuel efficiency - jointly with Transport Canada) and the "greening" of energy development, providing co-benefits for smog reduction;
supports reductions of smog-causing emissions through its Efficiency and Alternative Energy Program; and
is involved in research on the impacts of smog on forests and vegetation (through the Canadian Forest Service).

works with the provincial governments and industry to develop and disseminate information to farmers on agricultural sources of particulate matter (primarily dust from soil erosion and ammonia) and their associated effects, and identifies ways to reduce impacts through improved farming practices;
monitors how ozone affects the productivity of agricultural crops; and
conducts research to develop effective methods to reduce soil erosion and increase the efficiency of manure management methods, the two main sources of particulate matter produced by the agriculture sector.

Industry Canada and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade are other federal departments with a role to play in reducing smog.