Somewhere in all this concern about the "environment" and the harmful effects of carbon on dear Mother Earth, we forgot about the killer that is smog.
The Globe’s Murray Campbell updates us this morning on the Ontario Medical Association’s continuing concerns about smog:
…The Ontario Medical Association said smog is a contributing factor in nearly 9,500 premature deaths each year in Ontario, and it urged people to take proper precautions when high temperatures create a toxic chemical stew of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and ozone…
Even though the McGuinty Liberals promised to do better way back in 2003, the facts suggest otherwise:
…Last year, for example, the Environment Ministry issued 13 smog advisories covering 39 days, compared with seven advisories and 19 days in the summer of 2003 under the Tories…
Campbell does note, however that:
…The situation is likely more dire than we knew. In 2003, the OMA projected 1,900 premature deaths because its model dealt only with acute cases such as cardiac arrest. It now includes deaths linked to chronic illnesses as well, which is why the estimated toll has risen..
The plan to shut down all coal plants by 2014 leaves too many years in between of coughing and wheezing. It’s a long enough winter, but when we are forced to stay inside in the summer as well, running the A/C to keep out the dirty air, one wonders how this could help possibly help the health care budget and the power grid?
Wouldn’t it be better to install those scrubbers in the interim and rev up the nuclear power production plans?
As Conservative critic John Yakabuski notes, "We don’t hear much as we used to about smog from these operations … "Smog has become the forgotten child of this government."
Now this is an issue which could persuade me to become a passionate environmentalist. Smog is killing us and it is ruining the enjoyment of our brief summer here in Canada. This is happening right here, right now. To me it is much more of an immediate threat than global warming.
Let’s bring that forgotten child back to the Ontario Government’s table of priorities.
