Latest news with #NaturalResourcesCanada
Cision Canada
7 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
/R E P E A T --Media Advisory - PS Turnbull to Make a Forestry Announcement/ Français
WHITBY, ON, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), will make a forestry announcement on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Media availability will follow. Date: July 17, 2025 Time: 1 p.m. ET All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration. Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
16-07-2025
- Health
2026 World Cup's contingency plans for wildfire smoke risks remain unclear
TORONTO -- The 2026 World Cup being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States is less than a year away and FIFA's protocols for matches affected by wildfire smoke remain unclear. The 48-team World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Canada is hosting 13 matches — seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The day after Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, the organizing committee for the World Cup in Canada declined to reveal guidelines for postponement or air quality related contingencies with soccer's international governing body. No policies are posted publicly. The Air Quality Health Index rating for Toronto was over 10, or 'very high risk,' on Monday morning, dropping to a 'high risk' rating of 8 by late afternoon. This year's fire season, according to Canadian government data, is the second-largest on record. Canada's most destructive wildfire season was in 2023, with more than 6,000 fires burning 37 million acres (15 million hectares) of land, according to Natural Resources Canada. Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto's associate medical officer of health, said in a statement that Toronto Public Health is actively reviewing the latest evidence and best practices for air-quality issues as the city prepares for the World Cup. 'TPH may provide guidance and recommendations on public health risks, including environmental health concerns such as extreme weather and wildfire smoke,' the statement read. 'This includes contingency planning to support the health and safety of residents, visitors, and participants during the tournament.' Outdoor activities on days when the Air Quality Health Index rises higher than 7 should be rescheduled, said Dr. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, to protect the most vulnerable, including people who are 65 or older, pregnant, young children and those with existing health conditions. But others say it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the air quality reaches a threshold where sporting events should be canceled. 'I personally think that we can't, based on good evidence, have general statements about what AQHI is unacceptable for a given event. Everything is contextual,' said Dr. Christopher Carlsten, the head of the respiratory medicine division at the University of British Columbia. That context includes the age of the general audience and the forecast of the air quality, and events should be judged on a case-by-case basis, he said. The impact of poor air quality on athletes is a subject of debate. Some experts think athletes can better handle poor air conditions because they are generally young and healthy, making them less likely to sustain long-term health impacts. Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, said that studies show that even low levels of pollution impact cognitive ability — which not only affects performance but also increases the risk of injuries. 'Imagine two players going up for a pass at really high speeds, and if you make one tiny error, that could be a career-threatening injury,' he said. The Canadian Football League doesn't play games when the AQHI surpasses a threshold of seven, according to an agreement with the players. Those games are postponed.
Al-Ahram Weekly
16-07-2025
- Climate
- Al-Ahram Weekly
2026 World Cup's contingency plans for wildfire smoke risks remain unclear - World
The 2026 World Cup being hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States is less than a year away and FIFA's protocols for matches affected by wildfire smoke remain unclear. The 48-team World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Canada is hosting 13 matches — seven in Vancouver and six in Toronto. The day after Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, the organizing committee for the World Cup in Canada declined to reveal guidelines for postponement or air quality related contingencies with soccer's international governing body. No policies are posted publicly. The Air Quality Health Index rating for Toronto was over 10, or 'very high risk,' on Monday morning, dropping to a 'high risk' rating of 8 by late afternoon. This year's fire season, according to Canadian government data, is the second-largest on record. Canada's most destructive wildfire season was in 2023, with more than 6,000 fires burning 37 million acres (15 million hectares) of land, according to Natural Resources Canada. Dr. Howard Shapiro, Toronto's associate medical officer of health, said in a statement that Toronto Public Health is actively reviewing the latest evidence and best practices for air-quality issues as the city prepares for the World Cup. 'TPH may provide guidance and recommendations on public health risks, including environmental health concerns such as extreme weather and wildfire smoke,' the statement read. 'This includes contingency planning to support the health and safety of residents, visitors, and participants during the tournament.' Outdoor activities on days when the Air Quality Health Index rises higher than 7 should be rescheduled, said Dr. Andrew Halayko, a professor of physiology and pathophysiology at the University of Manitoba, to protect the most vulnerable, including people who are 65 or older, pregnant, young children and those with existing health conditions. But others say it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when the air quality reaches a threshold where sporting events should be canceled. 'I personally think that we can't, based on good evidence, have general statements about what AQHI is unacceptable for a given event. Everything is contextual,' said Dr. Christopher Carlsten, the head of the respiratory medicine division at the University of British Columbia. That context includes the age of the general audience and the forecast of the air quality, and events should be judged on a case-by-case basis, he said. The impact of poor air quality on athletes is a subject of debate. Some experts think athletes can better handle poor air conditions because they are generally young and healthy, making them less likely to sustain long-term health impacts. Michael Brauer, a professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Medicine, said that studies show that even low levels of pollution impact cognitive ability — which not only affects performance but also increases the risk of injuries. 'Imagine two players going up for a pass at really high speeds, and if you make one tiny error, that could be a career-threatening injury,' he said. The Canadian Football League doesn't play games when the AQHI surpasses a threshold of seven, according to an agreement with the players. Those games are postponed. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Cision Canada
16-07-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Media Advisory - PS Turnbull to Make a Forestry Announcement Français
WHITBY, ON, July 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue and to the Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions), will make a forestry announcement on behalf of the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. Media availability will follow. Date: July 17, 2025 Time: 1 p.m. ET All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing [email protected]. Details on how to participate will be provided upon registration. Follow Natural Resources Canada on LinkedIn. SOURCE Natural Resources Canada
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
8 best air purifiers to combat wildfire smoke in Canada, according to professional ratings
This year's wildfire season is shaping up to be Canada's second-worst on record, as wildfires continue to rage in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northern Ontario. The 2025 wildfire season has scorched "significantly more" area than the 10-year average, according to Natural Resources Canada and has played a significant role in deteriorating air quality across the country. As of Monday morning, Toronto's air quality was among the worst in the world, earning the highest rating — a 10+, Very High Risk — on the Air Quality Health Index. On days with poor air quality, people are more likely to experience shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and coughing or wheezing — especially if they have a chronic respiratory disease like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The small particles in wildfire smoke can get into your eyes and bloodstream, and if you have a heart or lung problem, you may experience problems earlier and at lower smoke levels. According to Health Canada, using a portable air purifier that can filter fine particles is one way to protect your indoor environment from smoke pollution. Air purifiers, also known as air cleaners, can improve indoor air quality by removing small contaminants that can harm your health. According to the health authority, you should prioritize the following when choosing an air purifier: Look for a device certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). Choose an air purifier sized appropriately for the room you want to put it in. Consider the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for the room size. The CADR describes how well the device reduces tobacco smoke, dust, pollen and wildfire smoke. To reduce fine particles, select a device with the highest CADR. Choose an air purifier with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Avoid devices that produce ozone. Not all air purifiers are made equal. Following Health Canada's recommendations, we've listed eight AHAM-certified air purifiers and included information about recommended room sizes and CADR ratings. Room Size: 47 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 30 Dust CADR: 41 PM2.5 CADR: 35 Pollen CADR: 52 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 201 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 112 Dust CADR: 112 Pollen CADR: 112 Volts / Frequency: 100V / 50Hz | 240V / 60Hz Room Size: 140 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 90 Dust CADR: 101 PM2.5 CADR: 95 Pollen CADR: 119 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 170 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 110 Dust CADR: 120 Pollen CADR: 130 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 206 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 133 Dust CADR: 141 Pollen CADR: 145 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 200 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 132 Dust CADR: 130 Pollen CADR: 152 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 250 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 161 Dust CADR: 160 Pollen CADR: 170 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz Room Size: 358 ft2 Tobacco Smoke CADR: 231 Dust CADR: 240 PM2.5 CADR: 236 Pollen CADR: 259 Volts / Frequency: 120V / 60Hz
