More heat, but less smog days in Toronto this summer

TORONTO, Ont. - Despite the intense heat this summer, the city only experienced 12 smog days, which is much lower than 53 poor air days recorded in 2005.

The Toronto Star reported that Energy Minister Brad Duguid attempted to take credit for the reduction during Thursday's visit to Ontario Power Generation, citing the government's decisions to add 8,000 megawatts of clean energy from wind, hydroelectric, solar and biogas generation.

However, Environment Canada Senior Climatologist David Phillips said to thank mother nature for the cleaner air, as the 41 days of rain this summer "polished" the air, meaning that chemicals were less likely to become smog.

Phillips added that we have mainly experienced west winds this summer, as opposed to southwest winds, which carry in pollution from Ohio and Michigan.