Canada still without strong regulations curbing tailpipe emissions
A year ago January 17, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, then Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities,announced that he was delivering on the government’s promiseto implement fuel consumption regulations by the end of 2008:
“We made a commitment to implement fuel consumption regulations for the 2011 model year that are benchmarked against a stringent, dominant North American standard, and we are keeping our word,” said Minister Cannon twelve months ago.
The Minister’s announcement triggered speculation as to whether the new standards would meet the targets set by the U.S. Congress, or whether Canada would embrace the more ambitious carbon-cutting agenda set by California and 17 other US states.
Over 2000 members of The Good Life pledged to write to the Prime Minister urging adoption of the more stringent Californian legislation — which would prevent 51% more tailpipe emissions by 2020 than the Bush administration’s standards.
As it turns out, neither option has as yet been pursued. The Minister’s year has come and gone, and no legislation is in sight.
With the inauguration this week of U.S President Barak Obama, the political terrain south of the border has now tilted in favour of the California standards. Canada can’t afford to be left behind.
It’s now all the more important that we redouble our efforts to convince Ottawa to act. Please visit The Good Life and commit to the action and send the Prime Minister your letter urging him to adopt the California Clean Car Standard!