Add StudioX as a preferred source on GoogleA new global report says about 4,000 deaths a year in Canada are now associated with wildfire smoke. That is close to four times the level of the early 2000s.
The figure comes from the 2026 Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. The report was published in the medical journal The Lancet on Tuesday.
What the report found
The report compares two periods. From 2003 to 2012, smoke was associated with about 1,050 deaths a year in Canada. From 2021 to 2025, the yearly average rose to about 4,000.
These are estimates for the whole population. They come from models that combine satellite fire records, smoke patterns and where people live. They do not count individual deaths confirmed by doctors.
Hot spots included B.C., Alberta, the Northwest Territories and northern Ontario. Smoke from those fires also drifted into major cities and caused hazardous air quality.
The past three wildfire seasons rank among the 10 worst on record in Canada.
Forests and heat
The report says Canada lost about 5.2 million hectares of tree cover in 2024. That is 148% more than in 2016, and wildfires caused 86% of the loss.
The report also looked at heat. It found that 80% of Canada’s heatwave days in 2025 were directly attributable to climate change.
Canadians were also exposed to about 36 more hours a year of heat that brings at least a moderate risk of heat stress during outdoor activity.
Why it matters in B.C.
B.C. families know smoke season well. In recent summers, many Lower Mainland residents have kept windows shut, run air purifiers and checked air quality before going outside.
People with heart or lung conditions face the highest risk from smoke. Older adults, young children, pregnant people and those with existing health conditions are most vulnerable to heat.
Many newcomers and seniors in multigenerational homes fall into these groups. Outdoor workers in farming, construction and delivery are also exposed for long hours.
Scott Weichenthal, an epidemiology professor at McGill University, told Global News that death counts do not capture the full harm. He said smoke also carries cancer-causing substances, and long-term effects need more study.
Ian Culbert, executive director of the Canadian Public Health Association, said “the trends are moving in the wrong direction.”
His association wants all levels of government to act. It is calling for a permanent climate and health adaptation fund, since current Health Canada funding ends in 2027-28.
The global picture
The report tracks 54 indicators. It is the work of 146 researchers from more than 100 institutions in over 30 countries.
Globally, heat was linked to a record 710,000 deaths in 2023, according to the report. The World Health Organization said more than 70% of that burden was due to human-caused climate change.
Marina Romanello, executive director of the Lancet Countdown, said health harms are growing “faster than the world’s response to them.”
The report was released ahead of the COP31 UN climate talks. It urges governments to treat climate change as a global health emergency.
What you can do
- Check the Air Quality Health Index before outdoor activity during smoke events.
- Use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter, or make a clean-air room at home.
- Check on older relatives and neighbours during heat and smoke events.
- Talk to a doctor if you have heart or lung conditions and smoke season is coming.
Sources: The Lancet, CBC News, Global News, World Health Organization
Harnaik Singh Rathor is the Founder, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of StudioX News Canada, Canada's multilingual digital news network serving multilingual diaspora communities across Canada. With a background in media production, public relations, and multicultural communications, he founded StudioX Film and TV Corporation to bridge the gap between mainstream Canadian media and the country's diverse immigrant communities. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ), RTDNA Canada, CPRS Vancouver, NEPMCC, and the Canadian Freelance Union (Unifor). Based in Surrey, British Columbia. | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harnaiksinghrathor/ | Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/harnaiksinghrathor | Email: editor@studioxnews.ca
