VICTORIA, B.C. — With the recent news that B.C.‘s air quality ranks among the world’s worst this week, the BC Greens are calling on the province to urgently adopt the Clean Air Act.
“British Columbians should not be left to fend for themselves in smoke-filled summers,” said interim BC Greens leader Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky. “A Clean Air Act offers a clear, achievable path forward. The provincial government must take air quality seriously and act now to protect the health of our communities.”
The Clean Air Act, first introduced by former BC Greens leader Sonia Furstenau in 2024, would set standards for indoor air quality in spaces with high population traffic, including schools, post-secondary institutions, healthcare settings, daycares, and long-term care facilities. The legislation would also:
- Require mandatory CO₂ monitoring in schools and healthcare facilities
- Establish a provincial Clean Air Plan with indoor air standards and response protocols, including devices and infrastructure to improve ventilation and filtration
- Create new outdoor workplace air quality regulations tied to wildfire smoke events, which would set air quality thresholds at which workers are required to stop work or wear personal protective equipment
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is one of the greatest threats to human health and kills 7 million people per year, globally. Meanwhile, Vancouver Coastal Health estimates that air pollution costs B.C. at least $14 billion in health spending every year.
The Clean Air Act would require an initial investment of $125 million in its first year and $65 million annually thereafter to operate clean air centres, supply in-home HVAC filters, and retrofit buildings. Clean air centres, such as schools, can be used as community hubs during the wildfire season to provide safe relief from smoke.
“The Province cannot treat wildfire smoke as an unavoidable seasonal nuisance,” added Valeriote. “Poor air quality is a public health crisis, which can infiltrate our homes, schools, and hospitals and cause people real suffering, with impacts ranging from respiratory illness to cognitive impairments.”
-30-
Media contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca