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Air quality report is breath of fresh air says environment ministerBy David Lealy because as a society were making difficultOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFdecisions to improve air quality for thisprovince and this is good news.Oakvilles air quality is getting better, butWilkinson said some of the measures thethere is still plenty of work to do to makeProvince has taken to combat air pollutionsure it stays that way.have included the shutting down of many ofOntario Minister of the EnvironmentOntarios coal-fired power plants, the intro-John Wilkinson unveiled the Provinces Airduction of 59 new or updated air standards,Quality in Ontario 2009 Report Friday dur-the reduction of smog-causing emissionsing a presentation at the Oakvillefrom cars and trucks through Drive CleanConference and Banquet Centre, hosted bytesting and putting tough limits on nitrogenthe Oakville Chamber of Commerce.oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions.Before an audience of more than 250 ofIf we have dirty air, then we are all pay-Oakvilles business leaders, Wilkinson saiding for it because we are paying for health-the report indicates nitrogen oxide levels incare, said Wilkinson.Ontario had decreased 21 per cent sinceWe made that important decision that it2003.was more important to have cleaner air evenDuring the same period, carbon monox-if clean air costs a bit more because its bet-MICHELLE SIU / OAKVILLE BEAVER ide levels in Ontario dropped by 14 per cent,ter for all of us and better for our children.RAISING THE BAR: Minister of the Environment John Wilkinson speaks at an Oakville Chamberthe equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off theDuring the presentation Wilkinson alsoof Commerce breakfast meeting.road per year.praised the work of the South West GTA AirSince 2003 sulphur dioxide levels inQuality Task Force and the resultingOntario also went down, dropping 28 perBalsillie reports recommendations forcent and fine particulate matter (PM) levelsimproving the air quality of thehave decreased by 17 per cent.Oakville/Clarkson airshed.The news was also positive for OakvilleHe further challenged Oakville to imple-with PM 2.5 levels dropping from 34 PM 2.5ment one of the reports major recommen-micrograms per cubic metre of air betweendations by participating in a provincial pilot2003 and 2005 to 21 PM 2.5 micrograms perproject that would see the municipality,cubic metre of air between 2007 and 2009.local industry and Oakville residents workFor all the things we measure in regardtogether to improve local air quality.to air pollution, theyre all going down, saidWilkinson said at the end of the day thisWilkinson. They are going down qualita-project would be much bigger than OakvilleSee Council page 13tively and they are going down quantitative-Dont takeyourmusclesIttakesforgranted. Over50,000Canadians withMuscularDystrophy take them very8musclesseriously.Learn moreatmuscle.cato readthisad.MOVING SALEEverything Must GoJanuary 29 & 30, 2011Burlington Convention Centre1120 Burloak Drive & QEW%Show Hours: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PMDestination Weddings50offPresented byHalton Trafalgar TravelThursday, Friday & Saturday only!Change isGoodSEASONAL HOME ACCENTSSPONSORED BY1410 Speers Road, Unit1, Oakville905-827-9337 www.changeisgoodoakville.comwww.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERWednesday, January 19, 2011 12