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So now the Government is going to tell you what kind of car you can drive
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| Jayx1 |
The nanny state continues.
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New fuel rules could limit luxury cars in Canada
Canadian Press
OTTAWA — Gas-guzzling luxury cars and big SUVs might be withheld from the Canadian market in coming years if Ottawa makes good on threats to impose fuel-efficiency standards, auto industry representatives say.
They say it's technically impossible to redesign cars in time to meet the fuel-efficiency target set out in Canada's Kyoto implementation plan, so withholding some models could be the only alternative. That could have a major impact on the profits of car dealers and the industry, they say.
Environment Minister Stephane Dion has warned that Ottawa may impose fuel-efficiency regulations if the industry doesn't voluntarily achieve a 25 per cent improvement by 2010.
Dion and Transport Minister Jean Lapierre visited California this week to learn about its legislation limiting emissions from cars. There have been suggestions Canada could copy the California approach.
Car makers have challenged the California legislation in court but if it stands, residents of the state could face a depleted lineup of new models, said Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association.
"It's conceivable that some models would not be offered in that market. The same would hold true for Canada."
Pam McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for General Motors of Canada, agrees.
"That's the issue exactly," she said. "And it's not a General Motors issue, it's an industry issue.
"There has to be balance between what the consumer needs as far as transportation and what's good for the environment and what meets safety regulations, it's multi-faceted."
She drew an analogy to a government that ordered dressmakers to stop making large sizes because it was concerned about obesity: "Only make small sizes and force the public to fit into them and that'll fix the problem."
Dennis Desrosiers, an independent auto industry analyst, said Canadians are highly responsible about their transportation, owning fewer cars per licensed driver than Americans, and not driving them nearly as much.
He said it wouldn't be possible to meet Ottawa's target without harshly punishing consumers.
If the popular models weren't available, people would keep their cars longer, he predicted. That would harm the environment because older cars are less fuel-efficient than new ones, Desrosiers said.
"They would buy less, you'd have car dealers going out of business, you produce fewer vehicles - the negative implications for the economy here are quite severe."
He said the target in the Kyoto implementation plan could only be achieved by withholding all luxury cars, minivans and pickup trucks from the market.
Last year new cars in Canada have an estimated average fuel efficiency of 7.6 litres per 100 kilometres, compared with 8.5 litres per 100 km a decade ago. There has been a shift to SUVs and vans in the same period.
Environmentalists say that most of the research and development in the industry has been devoted to increasing power and acceleration rather than improving fuel efficiency.
They say the voluntary approach hasn't worked and legislated standards are overdue.
Nantais said car makers are serious about improving fuel efficiency and discussions with the government are continuing |
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| amb_ |
This is one piece of legislation that I would be inclined to support...
In fact, I am going to call my MP's office right now and express that fact. |
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| Pettiscool |
I'll defintley support this as well, i dont see how its any different from the drive clean program.
clean air is better for all of us
you support the drive clean program jayx1???
do you support anything thats not house or quiznos related? |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pettiscool
I'll defintley support this as well, i dont see how its any different from the drive clean program.
clean air is better for all of us
you support the drive clean program jayx1???
do you support anything thats not house or quiznos related? |
The idea of drive clean yes. But the current setup is full of fraud and inconsistancies. |
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| DJ_Elyot |
| Excellent. I'd pay to see the American government do this though. :haha: |
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| Pettiscool |
yea right on the americans.......
its good were making innititives like these , i believe it will put pressure on the manufactures to be more innovative. Im sick of sucking up exhaust from suv's and the drivers dont even realize it when they peel out on a corner. |
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| ShadoWolf |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ_Elyot
Excellent. I'd pay to see the American government do this though. :haha: |
The U.S. in general has far more stringent clean air standards than Canada.
The Lieberals refuse to bring in a Clean Air Act. Instead, they screw around with Kyoto, which is nothing more than an anti-Alberta and anti-American income redistribution scheme (NOTHING to do with the environment). |
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| Jayx1 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Pettiscool
yea right on the americans.......
its good were making innititives like these , i believe it will put pressure on the manufactures to be more innovative. Im sick of sucking up exhaust from suv's and the drivers dont even realize it when they peel out on a corner. |
great... hopefully they will set up special designated SUV rooms so you wont have to breathe their fumes....
LOL :o |
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| Pettiscool |
yup
make the suv's stick to one lane only to slow em down......if its so "essential" they be driven........ just might take a little longer.....
or SUV's have to go 10 under the limit while smart cars get 10 over. |
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| VERTiG0 |
About this article - half good, half bad. I would LOVE, ABSOLUTELY LOVE to see all these stupid piece of Suburbans, Excursions, Navigators, Escalades, and Hummers taken off the road. All large SUVs. It would make me so happy I can't even express it.
HOWEVER, if they're going to take away my right to drive an exotic sportscar, then they can right off.
Also GIVE US MORE DIESEL CARS! Goddammit, I don't care about the reputation they have, modern diesels get better emissions than your average gasoline engine does (using, of course, particulate filters). Superior fuel economy too. Why do you think so many cars in Europe are diesel powered? Economical, cheap, environmentally safer than gasoline. |
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| Spam |
Good , I've found many of my problems on the road are caused by idiot mini-van drivers anyway driving 50 under the speed limit. Of course they ARE useful for big families and such, so I'd let em stay.
SUVs are just too damn big and I can't see past them worth . At what, 1 mile to 2 gallons of gas, they're useless, get em off the road. "Offroad" vehicles my ass, most can't even make it into a driveway without almost tipping over from the high center of gravity.
Pickups can stay :) I like those. |
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