Overview

• Environment Canada has flagged smoke levels in parts of Saskatchewan and Inuvik as very high risk and classified Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and Yellowknife as high to moderate risk
• Vulnerable groups including people with mental illness, seniors, pregnant individuals and those with chronic conditions are experiencing acute distress, feelings of entrapment and spikes in irritability
• A Quebec doctors group warns that prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter can damage every organ, increasing the likelihood of dementia as well as heart, lung and kidney disease
• A 2021 Health Canada report attributes 4,000 premature deaths each year in Quebec to air pollution at a cost exceeding $30 billion, highlighting that current standards fall short of World Health Organization guidelines
• Experts are urging improvements in housing ventilation, widespread use of N95 masks and stricter air-quality regulations to reduce exposure and protect public health