Quebec Already Rejects Tory Plan for Fuel-Economy Standards for Cars
Posted on: Thursday, 17 January 2008, 15:00 CST
By Les Perreaux, THE CANADIAN PRESS
MONTREAL - A federal proposal to improve fuel-economy standards on vehicles by 2020 is being dismissed as a plan that is too slow and aims too low.
Jean Charest was the first provincial premier out of the gate Thursday, saying Quebec will ignore the Tory plan and follow tougher standards being set by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in California.
"The California standard is the one we should follow," Charest told reporters at a Liberal meeting in Sherbrooke, Que.
"We'd like that the Canadian government gets in line with it, and we will continue to push them to adopt it."
Manitoba has also said it will follow the California standard.
Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday Canada will aim for a minimum average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
California is aiming to attain the same average by 2016.
Cannon launched a consultation process with environmentalists and the automotive industry on ways to improve fuel-efficiency standards.
"Our government recognizes the transportation sector is one of the largest sources of greenhouse-gas and air-pollutant emissions in Canada and that is why we are taking action now," Cannon said at the Montreal Auto Show.
"The U.S. Congress has recently set an ambitious target of 35 miles per gallon, or 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres, for the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in 2020.
"Now, we welcome the U.S. goal but are committed to developing a made-in-Canada standard that achieves, at minimum, that target benchmarked against a stringent dominant North American standard."
The Sierra Club of Canada blasted the announcement and said the government has missed an opportunity for real action.
"Canadians shouldn't be made to wait another 12 years to see improvements in fuel efficiency," said spokeswoman Emilie Moorhouse.
"Such a delay would cost irreparable damage to our climate and cost Canadians billions more in gas."
The Sierra Club said Cannon's announcement contrasts sharply with the leadership shown by Quebec and other provinces and states, who have pledged to adopt California standards for cars.
"Canada should lead the way, not drag the leaders down," said Jean Langlois, the Sierra Club's national campaigns director.
"Constant delay already means that North America is 15 years behind Europe and Japan in regulating fuel efficiency standards."
Source: Canadian Press
Related Articles
- GS1 Canada and GHX Align to Make Canada's Healthcare Supply Chain More Efficient and Effective
- New Partnership Provides Ohio Taxpayers and Courts Opportunity for Unmatched Government Efficiencies and Public Conveniences for Courts
- CGI announces contracts with Canada's federal and provincial governments exceeding $250 million
- Angstrom Microsystems Sets a New Standard for Power-Efficient, High-Performance Computers
- Advanced PowerQUICC(R) III SoC From Freescale Sets New Standards for Energy Efficiency in Embedded Processing
- ScottishPower Discusses Fuel Poverty Issue With UK Government
- Yorba Linda, California Launches Accela E-Government Services to Citizens
- Oracle(R) Database 10g Standard Edition One Attracts Large Following of SMBs Looking for Secure, Reliable, Cost-Effective Database Software
- FuelCell Energy Power Plant Fueled With Sewage Digester Gas Certified Efficient, Grid-Safe and Ultra-Clean By Key Japanese Industry Group
- California Labor, Local Government, and Business Organizations Support Pombo, Cardoza, Walden Effort to Update the ESA
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds