BC Greens call for urgent action to protect residents from wildfire smoke

The BC Green Party is calling for action to protect British Columbians from the health risks posed by wildfire smoke.

In a release Monday, the Leader of the BC Greens, Sonia Furstenau, said every British Columbian deserves to breathe clean air.

“Air quality is essential for our health and well-being. Poor air quality can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory problems and cognitive impairments, which can affect our daily performance and quality of life,” she said.

According to the Green Party, there is no safe level of wildfire smoke exposure. It says that even low concentrations of smoke can cause major health risks.

Nicole Charlwood, BC Greens MLA candidate for Kootenay Central says this is a “direct consequence of climate change and poor forestry practices.”

If elected, the party says it would invest in clean air centres across the province, prioritizing communities with the highest susceptibility, including pregnant individuals, older community members, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

The party aims to do that through its Clean Air Act, proposed in April. Details of the act include:

• Monitoring and regulating air quality indoors and outdoors: “Educational institutions and healthcare facilities, are required to install and maintain carbon dioxide monitors to continuously assess the air quality.”
• Developing a Clean Air Plan: “This plan will outline necessary actions for assessing and improving air conditions and detail the steps to be taken should air quality not meet the set standards.”
• Raising standards on outdoor air quality for workplaces to reduce health risks by limiting exposure to poor air quality: “New regulations will be introduced to manage air quality in outdoor work environments, particularly in response to wildfire smoke events.”
• Integrating with current health regulations: “The Clean Air Act will align with the Public Health Act to ensure that the new standards are enforceable, with clear implications for non-compliance.”
• Working on WorkSafeBC’s role in enforcing the act: “WorkSafeBC will be responsible for establishing workplace standards for outdoor work in relation to outdoor air quality.”

The party says the proposed measures require an initial investment of $125 million in the first year and $65 million to cover operating costs on an ongoing basis.