Statistics Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada

Table 6
Summary of provincial legislations relevant to sulphur content in heavy fuel oil

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

Province Act
Regulation / By-Law
Regulation adoption Maximum sulphur content (percent
by mass unless otherwise specified)
Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act
Air Pollution Control Regulations
2004 With Best Achievable Technology:
  • 3.0%, and
  • 2.0% on an annual basis.
Without Best Achievable Technology:
  • 2.2%, and
  • 2.0% on an annual basis.
Nova Scotia Environment Act
Air Quality Regulations
2005
  • 2.2% by mass, and
  • 2.0% on an annual basis.
New Brunswick Clean Air Act
Air Quality Regulation
1983
(amended 1990 and 1998)
  • No. 4 - 1.5 %
  • No. 5 - 2.0%
  • No. 6b - 3.0 %
  • No. 6c - 3.0%
Quebec Environment Quality Act
Quality Regulation
1981
  • Intermediate Oil: 1.0%
  • Heavy Oil: 2.0%
Proposed Nov. 2005
  • 1.5% as of March 1, 2006
  • (no limit if facility has sulphur recovery; 1% equivalent limit for refineries simultaneously using lower sulphur fuel)
By-Law 90, Montreal Urban Community 1987
  • No. 6 = 1.25% to 1.4%
Ontario Environmental Protection Act
Regulation 194, Industry Emissions – Nitrogen Oxides and Sulphur Dioxide
1970

 

2005
  • Sulphur dioxide for regulated sectors and facilities.
  • Reductions that can be achieved through lower sulphur HFO have been incorporated: assumes 1% HFO use by iron & steel and pulp & paper sectors by 2010.
Regulation 361, Sulphur Content of Fuels (Metro Toronto only) (amended 1980, 1990 and 1999)
  • 1.5%
Regulation 338, Boilers Regulation 1986
(amended 1999)
  • 1.0% ; and
  • sulphur content providing a maximum rate of wet sulphate deposition of 0.1 kilogram per hectare per year (in areas set out in Schedule).

Regulation applies to boilers (equipment used for producing hot water or steam) using fuel oil or coal as fuel and excludes:

  • boilers at OPG electric generating stations,
  • boilers in dwellings housing max 3 families,
  • buildings using natural gas or No. 2 oil; and
  • holders of certificate of approvals where resulting emissions correspond to burning 1% sulphur in fuel.
British Columbia Waste Management Act
Sulphur Content of Fuel Regulation
1989
  • 1.1%
Source: Environment Canada, Clean Air Online, Sulphur in Liquid Fuels 2004 (accessed on June 20, 2007).