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Province seeks to get beaters off roads

Incentives aim to encourage use of more fuel-efficient vehicles

By: Bruce Owen

Posted: 04/3/2009 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Drive a beater? One built before 1995?

Or are you a two-beater family?

If "yes", the Doer government wants to have a chat with you.

The province will soon launch programs to get pre-1995 vehicles and their belching exhaust pipes off the road, or at least keep them tuned so they don't pollute.

New initiatives to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions were announced Thursday with the release of a Vehicle Standards Advisory Board report. The goal is to get more Manitobans driving newer fuel-efficient vehicles, including hybrid electric vehicles, plus get more commuters carpooling or taking the bus.

"What we are going to be doing is moving very aggressively on a car retirement program," Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau said. "Right now what we're looking at is incentives. Right now we're using carrots.

"Manitobans know that economically it makes sense. They know environmentally it makes sense. And so far Manitobans have been very eager to accept carrots."

To make that happen, the province will work with Diabetes Association, Lung Association, Teen Challenge and Kidney Foundation to accept charitable donations of pre-1995 vehicles in exchange for tax receipts.

The province has a reputation as having more older cars -- 21.8 per cent of all vehicles -- on the road than most other provinces, Manitoba Public Insurance president and advisory board co-chairwoman Marilyn McLaren said. She also many Manitoba families own more than one older car, using one as a "winter beater."

"Getting rid of a vehicle that's pre-'95 means it's 14 years old. There's room to move and still have an older, less costly vehicle -- a winter beater -- but still have something that is more fuel-efficient and does help our challenge with greenhouse gases," McLaren said.

Rondeau added the province will not penalize people who want to keep or sell older cars, or those who own classic or antique vehicles.

"This is not restricting a Manitoban to buy or sell their pre-'95 vehicle," Rondeau said.

Part of the plan involves replacing the province's hybrid rebate program with new incentives to get more people buying hybrid vehicles. As of Jan. 1, 2009, there were 1,975 hybrid vehicles registered in Manitoba. The total fleet is 736,000 vehicles including hybrids.

What the committee did not do is recommend emission standards for Manitoba. 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 to set emission standards here would not make sense as the province is just a small fish in a big pond.

For a full copy of the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board's report, go to: www.gov.mb.ca/stem/climate/pdf/vsab_report.pdf

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

What's being done

WHAT the province wants to do to reduce vehicle emissions:

Promote fuel efficiency through programs on vehicle maintenance, tire inflation, reduced idling, and voluntary mobile emissions testing.

Work with Manitoba fuel retailers to ensure the public has convenient access to on-site air compressors at all filling stations. Encourage government fleets to locate air compressors in parking areas for easy access by staff.

Develop a strong green driver training program, and make education materials available at automobile dealerships and insurance offices.

Broaden programs to scrap older vehicles and provide incentives to shift to cleaner vehicles or public transit.

Limit the salvage auction of pre-1995 vehicles undertaken by Manitoba Public Insurance to vehicles for parts only.

See whether it's practical to integrate emissions testing into vehicle safety inspections.

Maintain and enforce current highway speed limits in Manitoba and improve the synchronization of traffic lights.

-- Source: Vehicle Standards Advisory Board

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 3, 2009 A12

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