Rain and wind patterns have largely protected Ottawa residents from unhealthy air quality due to forest fire smoke in recent days, but that could change. Ottawa’s skies have been hazy this week as wildfires continue to burn across the Prairies and parts of Northern Ontario in a severe and early fire season.

Ozone levels and wildfire smoke are expected to worsen the air quality on Wednesday in Allegan, Kent, Muskegon, Ottawa and Van Buren counties.

There are numerous reasons why warmth has lacked consistency and commitment across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and Ottawa regions over the past several weeks.

Shortly before 7 a.m., the federal Air Quality Health Index showed Ottawa air quality at “10-High Risk.” That condition slipped slightly through the morning, as low as “7-High Risk”.

The federal government’s program for preparing Canada for the effects of climate change has stumbled since its launch in 2023, says a new report from environment commissioner Jerry DeMarco.

The plan did not prioritize climate change risks and has only established one of three components since its release in 2023, the commissioner says

Residents in the Capital region woke up Saturday to relatively fresh air conditions, but Environment Canada said high levels of air pollution due to smoke from wildfires was “expected to ...