Sarnia-Lambton's MPP says the Ontario government's decision to update its sulphur dioxide air quality standard was a long time coming.
Bob Bailey is pleased with the proposal to reduce the province's standard by 85%. The document hasn't been updated in 43 years.
The province is calling on petroleum facilities to model emissions during start-up and shut-down operations and during acid-gas flaring.
Bailey says it's another step toward a health study to look at the impact of pollution on Sarnia residents. He says the government has finally agreed to fund it.
"If we had done this study, like the local community and industry wanted ten years ago, we'd have known whether there was an issue and it could have been corrected," says Bailey. "If there were no issues, then we could have been vindicated. I'm glad they're going to fund it. I'm going to keep the pressure on and get a timeline and committment as to when they're going to fund it."
The province says Sarnia has seen a significant drop in air pollution over the last ten years with levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter dropping by 64%, 23% and 43% respectively.
This is attributed to the updating of health-based air standards and the closure of coal plants.
Those wishing to submit a comment on the standard can visit the Environmental Registry website.