Montreal's air quality improved greatly, city says

The City of Montreal says air quality on the island improved significantly in 2006, creditingnew measures including a bylaw thatlimits idling cars.

Montreal had 47 bad air quality days in 2006, down from previous years when there were anywhere from 65 to 75, said Claude Gagnon, a chemist with the city.

Air quality indicators including fine particle pollutants and ground level ozone were also down in 2006, compared to other years.

Alan DeSousa, the city's executive committee member responsible for the environment, acknowledged Thursday that cool weather last summer contributed to the dip.

But hesaid new rules to control pollution, such as the anti-idling bylaw, have had a big effect.

"When we measure air quality on days such as car-free day, many of the pollutants take a nosedive, and as a result it shows us that when there are less cars on the road, there's a very direct link to the air quality," he said. "Montrealers can make a difference."

DeSousa predicted Montreal's new transportation plan, which includes measures to increase public transit use and build more bicycle paths, will continue to improve air quality.