The Conservatives say the Ontario government hasn't done enough to stop the sharp increase of smog-related deaths in the province over the last five years.
A report last week from the Ontario Medical Association says the number of residents killed by air pollution has risen to nearly 9,500 a year, from 2,000 annual deaths in 2003, when the Dalton McGuinty Liberals took office.
In the legislature Wednesday, Opposition Leader Bob Runciman blamed the increase on the government's pollution strategy.
He hammered McGuinty for delaying the closure of the Nanticoke coal plant on Lake Erie, one of the single-most polluters in Canada.
"Premier, are you prepared to accept responsibility for these thousands of smog-related deaths caused by your lack of a backup plan?" Runciman asked.
"I guess those thousands of deaths were only a passionate concern during the election campaign."
McGuinty defended his anti-smog plan, saying Ontario is the only jurisdiction in the world closing coal plants. He said China is opening a new coal plant every couple of weeks.
"We will have reduced coal generation by two-thirds by 2011 -- that now has the force of law," the premier said.
"This will be the single largest reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. It's equivalent to taking seven million cars off the road."
McGuinty said in addition to closing coal plants, his government is investing billions of dollars in public transit.
The death toll from smog, the majority of which comes into southern Ontario from the U.S. northeast, is set to rise even more, according to the OMA.
The group says by 2014, the number of annual deaths will be to 20,000.
The OMA says air pollution is not just affecting major cities, as the number of residents getting sick and dying from smog in small towns across the province has risen.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss
