Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Province unveils plans to encourage retirement of beater cars
Manitoba has a reputation as having more older cars on the road than most other provinces. (WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)
The Manitoba government will soon launch a number of programs to get exhaust-pipe belching pre-1995 vehicles off the road -- or at least keep them tuned up properly so they don’t pollute.
The new initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions were announced today with the release of the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board.
Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau said the goal is to get Manitobans driving more fuel-efficient vehicles. The province has a reputation as having more older cars on the road than most other provinces.
The plan includes:
- promoting fuel efficiency on Manitoba roads, including getting more drivers to check tire pressure.
- introducing a "Green Driving" public education campaign to promote better vehicle maintenance, driving habits and tips on anti-idling and promoting car pooling.
- encouraging more use of public transit.
There will not be any penalties against people who want to hang on to or sell an older car, or against those who own classic or antique vehicles, Rondeau said.
Details of the car retirement program are to be announced in the coming weeks. Part of the plan involves replacing the province’s hybrid-rebate program with new incentives to get older cars off the road.
As of Jan. 1, 2009, there were 1,975 hybrid vehicles registered in Manitoba. The total fleet is 736,000 vehicles, including hybrids.
Rondeau also said the province supports the California Air Resources Board model for vehicle emission reductions. The tough standards are pending approval in the United States.
Rondeau said it made no sense adopting California’s standards for Manitoba as the province is just a small fish in a big pond.
"We’re one-quarter on one per cent of the North America market," he said. "We’re not going to drive the agenda."
The full report can be viewed on the provincial government's website (PDF file)
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