This time last year, California and 15 other states were suing their federal government for the right to demand higher vehicle emission standards. Most Canadian jurisdictions were waiting for the results of the court case or, more likely, the Presidential election before issuing their own demands. What a difference a year makes!

With a green light from Washington, even the Jim Prentice and the Canadian government want to get on board. Today, the Manitoba government has come out with their own report of the Vehicle Stanrdards Advisory Board, adding its name to the list of jurisdictions calling for better regulations. We are pleased to say that RCM played a role in creating this report.

Read RCM's submission to the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board, Vehicle Standards and Beyond.

One of the key recommendations of the report, that we strongly encourage Manitoba to follow is to implement efficiency standards equivalent to what California is currently seeking.  Unfortunately the standards put forward by Ottawa this week could be significantly less stringent than those advocated in California and elsewhere.

Higher vehicle emission standards are an essential step to getting us on a track to reduce our carbon impact. Although the ratio between light trucks and passenger vehicles has stabilized the past couple of years, the share of the market of gas guzzling pick-ups and SUVs is still way too high at 38%.

Source: Statistics Canada, CANSIM Table 079-0003,

The principle of vehicle emissions standards works like this: governments set a threshold for each company regarding the average fuel consumption of all the cars they sell each year. If they fail to meet that threshold, averaged over a certain number of years, then they suffer certain penalties, generally financial. This system is considered less restrictive and more effective than systems that target particular models or styles of vehicles, since the averaging system can adapt to a wide variety of environments.

Currently, auto companies put their biggest sales push on their larger vehicles because these have the biggest profit margin. You tend to see more ads for Subarus and Explorers than for compact cars since these have the highest mark up rates. Under an averaging system, companies would have an incentive to sell a larger number of fuel efficient cars relative to the number of gas guzzlers they produce. Those which specialize in making SUVs would still be able to produce, but they would have to put more of their marketing effort into smaller cars.

Fuel efficiency standards are just the first step towards getting climate change under control. Another item in the report, a program to get inefficient vehicles off the road is also important. And we need all Manitobans to do their own personal part.

There are several further steps we need to take: we need substantial pricing for carbon, either through a carbon tax or through a cap and trade system.  We are discouraged that there are also key planks in the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board Report missing from the discussion so far, including Transportation Demand Management and rebate/fee programs to encourage small car purchases while discouraging gas guzzlers.  But for now, we can give credit to Minister Rondeau for taking on this important issue. We hope that the 'agressiveness' of his policies ultimately matches the language in his press release:

VEHICLE STANDARDS ADVISORY BOARD REPORT PROVIDES BLUEPRINT FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION ON GREENHOUSE GASSES: RONDEAU - April 2, 2009.

New initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are part of the recommendations outlined in the report of the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board, released today by Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau.

"Our province has been a leader in taking action on climate
change and today we continue to build on that," said Rondeau. "The board has given us clear direction to implement additional measures that will help reduce vehicle emissions across the province."

The Vehicle Standards Advisory Board was formed as a condition under the Climate Change and Emissions Reduction Act. This act supports Beyond Kyoto, Manitoba's action plan on climate change which includes 60 specific actions to reduce greenhouse gasses.

"We are pleased to present this report to the minister, "said Marilyn McLaren, co-chair of the Vehicle Standards Advisory Board. "We heard many perspectives and this report supports the most aggressive vehicle standards possible."

Rondeau noted the province will immediately implement an aggressive action plan based on the board's findings including:

- Implementing aggressive vehicle emission reduction
targets. The implementation plan includes introducing the California Air Resources Board model for emission reductions pending approval in the United States and economic analysis on the impact on retailers in Manitoba.

- Promoting increased fuel efficiency on Manitoba roads.
The current hybrid rebate program will be replaced with new
incentives to get older cars off the road.

- Introducing Green Driving, new public education
campaign. The campaign will promote vehicle maintenance and
driving habits that help to reduce fuel consumption and will
include tips on anti-idling and promoting car pooling.

- Providing support for transit. The Manitoba government
is supporting investments in a new rapid transit corridor for the
city of Winnipeg and has enshrined a fifty-fifty share of the
cost of operation of transit in legislation.

"This plan will provide the foundation for additional actions
that will be supported by initiatives already underway as part of Beyond Kyoto," said Rondeau.

The Manitoba Vehicle Standards Advisory Board included:

- Marilyn McLaren (co-chair), president and CEO, Manitoba Public Insurance;
- Larry Vickar (co-chair), president, Vickar Community Chevrolet;
- Jeff Zabudsky, president and CEO, Red River College;
- Ajaleigh Williams chapter co-ordinator, Red River Valley Clean Cities Coalition, Winnipeg Chapter; and
- Randall McQuaker, executive director, Resource
Conservation Manitoba.

"I want to thank the board for their hard work in providing a report with recommendations that will help to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions on our roads and keep us on track to meeting our Kyoto target," Rondeau said.

The full report can be viewed on line at www.gov.mb.ca/stem/.