NAACC, News Release: #17–Bill C-32, Scrappage

Ladies and Gentlemen please pass this to your respective clubs right now.

You asked about Bill C-32?

This is part of it in action

Please note the colored highlighted areas.

Thank you,
John Carlson
NAACC

Each one of your clubs needs to react to this now.

Vehicle Scrappage Programs

The Government of Canada is committed to improve air quality across the country and reduce the health and environmental effects of air pollution. Accelerated on-road vehicle scrappage programs are yet another positive step in the right direction. These voluntary programs, developed and run by individuals in communities and supported by partners including Environment Canada, are designed to improve air quality and help reduce smog-forming and climate change emissions by permanently removing older, high-emitting vehicles from Canadian roads.

On-road vehicles, especially older vehicles (pre-1987-88 vehicles) contribute up to 35 per cent of the emissions that are involved in smog formation and 18.5 per cent of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Of these, 10 to 15 per cent are older or poorly maintained vehicles which generate up to 50 per cent of these total emissions.

To be eligible for most scrappage programs, the owner must reside in the area where the scrappage program is operating; the vehicle must be insured for the past six to twelve months; and be capable of being driven to a recycling contractors scrap yard. Owners of 1987 model year and older vehicles who qualify can choose to scrap their vehicle in exchange for one of the following incentives: a one-year transit pass, up to $750 toward the purchase of a new car, up to $500 toward the purchase of newer used vehicle, or cash toward the purchase of a new bicycle and a helmet.

Vehicles brought in through these programs are recycled according to environmental guidelines. This includes draining the vehicles fluids, recycling the tires and batteries before the remaining vehicle is recycled for scrap metal. In addition, some programs will be piloting a mercury switch recovery program. Many vehicles on the road today contain mercury switches in hood and trunk courtesy lighting. Mercury is toxic and can accumulate in the tissue of living things. In fact, one gram of mercury (about the amount in one vehicle switch) could contaminate 1,000,000 litres of water beyond Health Canadas limit for safe drinking water (0.001 milligrams of mercury per litre) if it were fully diluted. Through the switch recovery program, mercury switches will be removed prior to scrapping the vehicle. This will help to prevent mercury from being released into our environment.

The Government of Canada is working in partnership with multi-stakeholders to improve air quality across the country. Our contribution will ensure that these programs will continue to be successes. Currently, Environment Canada is funding on-road vehicle scrappage programs in the following cities: Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Fredericton, Montreal, Winnipeg and Ottawa. Environment Canada is a major sponsor in all of these pilot projects.

Environment Canada Funding Vehicle Scrappage Programs

BC Scrap-It program in Vancouver launched in 1996 has received funding from Environment Canada in 2001 for two years. The funding they are receiving from Environment Canada will help them achieve their target of 1,000 vehicles. www.scrapit.ca

Breathe-Easy Calgary Vehicle Scrappage Program in Calgary has been very successful, in 10 weeks they have scrapped their target of 600 vehicles. The program is presently looking at expanding to Edmonton. www.breathe-easy.ca

Car Heaven program led by the Clean Air Foundation in Toronto is operating differently from other scrappage programs in Canada. They do not offer incentives to car owners to participate. They offer chances to win a variety of prizes such as a low emission vehicle, bicycles and transit passes. www.cleanairfoundation.org/carheaven/index.htm

Fredericton Vehicle Scrappage Program led by the

New Brunswick Lung Association in the Greater Fredericton Area launched on February 4th, 2003. The goal of this Program is to accelerate the removal of pre-1988 vehicles from use and encourage the use of less polluting means of transportation. www.nb.lung.ca/programs/scrap

Green Mobility Pilot Project led by Friends of the Earth in Ottawa will be launching on June 16, 2003. The goal of this Project is to remove gross polluting cars (pre-1988) from the road, while at the same time, offering the owners incentives that help them select a sustainable form of transportation including car-sharing, transit use or cycling. Friends of the Earth has set a target of 300 cars. Environment Canada is contributing $120K over a two year period into this Project.

Faites de lair! Program led by the “Association québécoise de lutte contre la pollution atmosphérique” in Montreal will be launching their program on June 18, 2003. The goal of this Program is to reduce vehicle emissions by encouraging individuals to scrap their older vehicles in favour of less polluting means of transportation. Environment Canada is contributing $120K over a two year period into this Program.

Bye Bye Beaters led by the Manitoba Lung Association will be running the Winnipeg Scrappage Program and they will be kicking off their program during the fall of 2003. The goal of this Program is to reduce vehicle emissions by encouraging individuals to scrap their older vehicles in favour of less polluting means of transportation.

For further information:

Louise Durocher
Environment Canada
(819) 997-2716

The Green Lane^TM, Environment Canada’s World Wide Web site