In a recent report by IQAir, Canada has ranked worse than our neighbours to the south in terms of pollution levels—in large part due to the 2023 wildfire season.
This marks the first time Canada has had worse air quality than the USA, according to the report.
This year, IQAir says that Canada is ranked 93rd most polluted country in the world with a 2023 PM2.5 ranking of 10.1 whereas the US is at 102nd with a PM2.5 ranking of 9.1.
PM2.5 particles are particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). These particles are released into the air from motor vehicles, smelters, power plants, industrial facilities, residential fireplaces and wood stoves, agricultural burning and forest fires.
On Tuesday, March 19th, Victoria NDP MP Laurel Collins called out the Liberals in the House of Commons to do better in terms of commitments to taking on climate change.
“‘It’s like an elephant sitting on my chest.’ That’s how a child in Edmonton describes the air quality right now,” Collins said during the latest House of Commons question period.
“Canada has the worst air quality in North America. Our kids are breathing in harmful toxins, and this year’s wildfires will only make it worse.”
It is important to note that the continent of North America is comprised of 23 countries, several of which ranked worse than Canada on the IQAir report. When defining North America, it is sometimes referred to as a region which includes Canada, the United States, Mexico and Greenland, but the continent extends as far south as the Panama Canal.
Collins continued by accusing the Liberals of acting as if this is business as usual and breaking promises to tackle climate change while handing out money and tax breaks to Canada’s worst polluters.
“And the Conservatives, well, they don’t even think climate change is real,” Collins continued.
Ultimately, what Collins says she wants is for the Liberals to stop putting oil and gas CEOs before the health and safety of children in Canada.
To this, the Canadian government’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault said that is what Canada is doing.
“We’re the first country, the only country in the G20 to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, two years ahead of everyone else,” said Guilbeault. “We’re the only country that has committed to eliminate public financing for fossil fuel subsidies.”
“We have the best performance of all G7 countries in terms of greenhouse gas reduction between 2019 and 2021.”
He says that the government is working to fight climate change and to improve air quality across the whole country.
However, according to a report by the World Bank, Canada has the worst greenhouse gas record per capita of all G7 countries between 1990 and 2020.
Here is a video of the exchange between Collins and Guilbeault:
