TORONTO, June 8, 2005 - The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment, launched on Clean Air Day, a one window Web site called Clean Air Online to inform and encourage Canadians to take action to reduce air pollution. The announcement was made at today’s Sixth Annual Greater Toronto Area Smog Summit. “Clean Air Online will help Canadians, both here in Toronto and across the country, to improve local air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Canada meet its Kyoto commitments,” said Minister Dion to the delegates at the Smog Summit. “Demonstrating leadership and working together to encourage Canadians to take action are important steps to address air pollution and combat climate change.” The Clean Air Online Web site was designed to engage Canadians to take action to improve air quality and protect their health. It aims at providing timely, locally relevant and action oriented information, tools and resources focused on clean air issues and climate change. The Environment Canada led project consists of a national Web site linked to a pilot project in the Greater Toronto Area. The comprehensive and engaging Web site provides one-window access to geographically relevant information from various sources. "The environmental sustainability of Canada's cities and communities is predicated on everyone working together - by connecting together - to reduce climate change," said John Godfrey, Minister of State (Infrastructure and Communities) and M.P. for Don Valley West. "This new Web site makes it easier for people to contribute to positive change in this way." The Toronto Smog Summit also coincides with Environment Week. Since 1972, Canadian Environment Week has been held the first week of June each year to coincide with World Environment Day as proclaimed by the United Nations in 1972. Clean Air Day, celebrated annually on the Wednesday during Environment Week, is a day to nationally recognize the importance of clean air to the health of Canadians and Canada’s environment. It is an opportunity to educate Canadians on how they can help improve air quality and slow climate change. “On behalf of The Government of Canada, I would like to thank the City of Toronto for hosting the Greater Toronto Area Smog Summit 2005 and applaud the efforts of the Greater Toronto Area Clean Air Council for its continued efforts to advance the clean air agenda and raise public awareness of clean air issues within the region,” added Minister Dion. Each level of government attending the Smog Summit reports on progress and commits to further action to improve the air quality in the Greater Toronto Area. The 2005 Smog Summit theme is “Transportation and Health”. The Smog Summit, established in June 2000, provides a forum for political leaders to share ideas, announce new initiatives and work together through the Inter-governmental Declaration on Clean Air. The Declaration sets a clear course of action and illustrates the strong commitment of all parties to the pursuit of solutions to poor air quality and climate change. To reach the Clean Air Online Web site, visit www.ec.gc.ca/cleanair-airpur. For a full account of the Government of Canada’s commitments since Smog Summit 2000, visit www.cleanairpartnership.org/smogsummit. Related Document: Clean Air Online [Backgrounder] For more information, please contact: André Lamarre Director of Communications Office of the Minister of the Environment Ottawa (819) 997-1441 Jack Saunders Communications Advisor/Media Relations Environment Canada Ontario Region (416) 739-4785
