Government Proposal to Set Car Mileage Standards

From the Environment section of the Friday, January 18 - Sunday, January 20, 2008,24 hours, page 3, an article about a Canadian government proposal to set car mileage standards:

MANDATED MILEAGE ... BY 2020

The federal government has announced a proposal to improve fuel-economy standards on vehicles by 2020.

Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon said Thursday the government will consult 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 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 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.

California is aiming to attain an average of miles a gallon by 2016.

"Canada should lead the way, not drag the leaders down," said Jean Langlois, the Sierra Club's national campaigns director.

Jean Charest was the first provincial premier to dismiss the federal proposal, saying Quebec will ignore the plan and follow tougher California standards.
"We like that the Canadian government gets in line with it, and we will continue to push them to adopt it," Charest told reporters at a Liberal meeting in Sherbrooke, Que.


- The Canadian Press