1.letter-to-federal-minister-of-environment-and-climate-change-catherine-mckenna-re-phasing-out-coal-plants-across-canada-within-ten-years-feb-2016-322af5f4419006fa.pdf
Summary
A consortium of health groups, including the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, recommends that the Government of Canada phase out all coal-fired power plants within ten years. The letter argues that this action would substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide significant public health benefits, citing Ontario's successful phase-out between 2004 and 2014 as a model. The authors note that while Alberta has a phase-out plan for 2030, provinces such as Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia intend to use coal into the 2040s.
Key insights
- The consortium recommends that the federal government revise regulations to phase out all coal-fired power plants across Canada within a 10-year time frame to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health.
- Ontario's closure of six coal-fired power plants between 2004 and 2014 resulted in a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reductions in sulphur dioxide (23%), nitrogen oxides (14%), and mercury (23%).
- The phase-out of coal in Ontario led to a decline in smog alert days from 53 in 2005 to zero in 2014 and 2015, and prevented 400 premature deaths and 2,450 hospitalizations in Toronto annually as of 2014.
- Alberta's plan to phase out six coal-fired power plants by 2030 is expected to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17% and generate health benefits valued at at least $300 million per year.
- Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia are identified as provinces that currently intend to continue operating coal-burning power plants into the 2040s.
Cite the original document
- APA
- Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2016). 1.letter-to-federal-minister-of-environment-and-climate-change-catherine-mckenna-re-phasing-out-coal-plants-across-canada-within-ten-years-feb-2016-322af5f4419006fa.pdf. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1.Letter-to-Federal-Minister-of-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Catherine-McKenna-re-Phasing-out-coal-plants-across-Canada-within-ten-years-Feb-2016.pdf#new_tab
- Chicago
- Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. 1.letter-to-federal-minister-of-environment-and-climate-change-catherine-mckenna-re-phasing-out-coal-plants-across-canada-within-ten-years-feb-2016-322af5f4419006fa.pdf. 2016. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1.Letter-to-Federal-Minister-of-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Catherine-McKenna-re-Phasing-out-coal-plants-across-Canada-within-ten-years-Feb-2016.pdf#new_tab.
- Wikipedia
- {{cite press release |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=1.letter-to-federal-minister-of-environment-and-climate-change-catherine-mckenna-re-phasing-out-coal-plants-across-canada-within-ten-years-feb-2016-322af5f4419006fa.pdf |date=9 February 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1.Letter-to-Federal-Minister-of-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Catherine-McKenna-re-Phasing-out-coal-plants-across-Canada-within-ten-years-Feb-2016.pdf#new_tab |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}
- BibTeX
- @misc{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment20161lettertofederalministerofenvironmentandclimatechangecatherinemckennarephasingoutcoalplantsacrosscanadawithintenyearsfeb2016322af5f4419006fapdf, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{1.letter-to-federal-minister-of-environment-and-climate-change-catherine-mckenna-re-phasing-out-coal-plants-across-canada-within-ten-years-feb-2016-322af5f4419006fa.pdf}}, publisher = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = feb, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1.Letter-to-Federal-Minister-of-Environment-and-Climate-Change-Catherine-McKenna-re-Phasing-out-coal-plants-across-Canada-within-ten-years-Feb-2016.pdf#new_tab}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }
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