BANFF, Alta. – Federal and provincial environment ministers are poised to announce a new deal to better control industrial air pollution and reduce smog.
    
The Canadian Press has learned that officials from both levels of government have agreed in principle to the air-quality deal, and have the backing of most affected industries.
    
The ministers meet today in Banff to sign the deal, barring last-minute objections.
    
The deal would see the governments agree to higher standards on air quality, at first targeting fine particulate matter and ground-level ozone.
    
Then they’ll move on limits to nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds.
    
Provinces would be left to implement the agreement, with an eye on six regional airsheds that cross boundaries.
    
The new air-quality management system will specifically target industrial pollutants by setting minimum emissions requirements for each individual industry.
    
The deal is being driven by a recognition that current standards are too low.
    
A 2008 study by the Canadian Medical Association said 21-thousand Canadians die prematurely every year because of air pollution.