Press Release

Light vehicle greenhouse gas emissions

QUÉBEC WILL BE THE FIRST CANADIAN PROVINCE TO ADOPT CALIFORNIA STANDARDS

Nusa Dua (Bali-Indonesia), December 12, 2007 – From Bali, where she is attending the 13th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Minister for Sustainable Development, the Environment and Parks, Line Beauchamp today announced, in the presence of California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Linda S. Adams, that the Cabinet has authorized publication of a draft regulation respecting greenhouse gas emissions for light vehicles. By doing so, Québec is taking a further step towards adopting norms similar to California standards, which are the most stringent in North America.

In taking this policy measure, Québecjoins fifteen American states, including the majority of Québec’s Northeast neighbour statesin following California’s lead. It is planned that Québec’s regulation will come into force at the same time as the standards of these states.

“In its Climate Change 2006-2012 Action Plan: A Challenge for the Future, the Québec government committed to employing all necessary means to ensure speeding up conversion to more eco-energetic automobiles. Québec will once again show its leadership by becoming the first Canadian province to adopt the California standards.” the Minister stated.

The transportation sector is currently responsible for the largest proportion of greenhouse gas emissions in Québec and this figure is rising, with light vehicles accounting for nearly half of these emissions. “The citizens of Québec will be the primary beneficiaries of this regulation since new vehicles sold will be more efficient and environmentally friendly. Less gasoline will be required to travel the same distance, giving an undeniable advantage to Québec consumers in the context of the growing increase in the price of fuel. At the end of the day, this should result in an increase in available household disposable income,” declared Minister Beauchamp. “Québec’s manufacturing sector will be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by the demand for lighter auto parts, in particular those made with aluminum, in this new North American context.” added the Minister.

Québec’s draft regulation defines emission standards that automobile manufacturers must comply with for their passenger vehicles and light trucks for the 2010 to 2016 model years. Automobile makers will be required to ensure that the average level of greenhouse gas emissions for their 2010 to 2016 vehicle fleets does not exceed the standards. The draft regulation also provides exchangeable credits for automobile makers who outperform required standards while those who fail to meet the standards will be subject to incentive levies to be paid to Québec’s Green Fund.

The draft regulation on automobile and light truck greenhouse gas emissions will be subject to a 60-day public consultation beginning on January 3, 2008 and may be found on the ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs Web site: www.mddefp.gouv.qc.ca.

Interested parties may submit comments in writing prior to March 3, 2008 to Charles Larochelle, directeur de la Direction des politiques de l’air du ministère du Développement durable, de l’Environnement et des Parcs, at the following address: Édifice Marie-Guyart, 675, boulevard René-Lévesque Est, 6e étage, boîte 30, Québec (Québec) G1R 5V7.

For questions concerning this draft regulation please contact Christine Lemieux by phone at (418) 521-3828, extension 4190, by fax at (418) 646-4920, or by e-mail at christine.lemieux@mddefp.gouv.qc.ca.
 

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