[81MC]

The data on the fire vs transportation is extremely hard to qualify. But using what we can find, 39% of Montreal’s air pollution comes from wood burning, only 6% less than ALL transportation. 1/3 of the SF Bays wintertime particulate pollution is due to wood burning.

Now, there’s a solid argument that wood used for heat is more essential than a dope ride, but in the City you are required to have a heat source other than wood anyway.

I understand the idea that poor people shouldn’t have anymore right to pollute. But then the inverse is true. Let’s just say someone rarely drives, so they have an old beater that they put 5000km on a year, but pollutes are twice the rate of allowable. Then you have a family of 6 in a Yukon putting on 20 000km a year, that meets requirements. It’s clear who pollutes more, but who actually has the burden?

I’ll admit, particulate emissions is an insanely complex subject with an awful lot of incomplete data and I am no expert. I believe a societal, holistic approach is needed, and if that includes a well thought out and logical emissions test protocol, so be it. But if we’re looking at things as they are today, I don’t believe slapping emissions testing is an effective measure.