Update on Wildfire Smoke and Haze

Over the past few days, Toronto has experienced air quality issues due to wildfires in Quebec and Northeastern Ontario and surrounding provinces. These conditions are expected to potentially worsen tomorrow and may continue for several more days.

Your health and safety is of the utmost importance, and the City is committed to the taking the necessary steps to minimize the health risks associated with these conditions and ensure a safe working environment for all staff. These environmental conditions may impact worker health, particularly for individuals working outdoors with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, and older adults, children, and pregnant people.

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For your personal well-being, please consider the following guidance:

  • Stay hydrated and cool by ensuring you drink plenty of water.
  • While some outdoor work has been cancelled, if you are required to work outside, review the work assignment with your direct supervisor to determine if your work can be altered, where operationally feasible.
  • If you experience any symptoms related to smoke exposure, such as difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, chest discomfort, or eye irritation, please immediately inform your supervisor and seek medical attention if necessary.

The current conditions have also resulted in some adjustments to City programming. More information is available in a news release issued earlier this afternoon.

Local conditions can change quickly. Please refer to Environment Canada’s air quality index and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s webpage for the latest information.

If you have questions or require accommodation, please speak with your direct supervisor.

The City will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.