A new study says thousands of deaths could be prevented each year if Canada adopted tougher air quality standards similar to other industrialized countries.

CP (via CBC) reports that the David Suzuki Foundation study says Canada is well behind the U.S., Australia, and the European Union in protecting its citizens from air pollution. The study estimates the number of preventable premature deaths from air pollution in Canada ranges from 5,900 to 16,000 each year. It also calls for targets for reducing pollution and a national tax on polluters.

The entire document can be found here.