Baird to announce national program to get clunkers off the roads

Steve Rennie, THE CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - Environment Minister John Baird is poised to announce a national program offering drivers incentives to ditch older, polluting vehicles.

Environment Canada last month sent an e-mail, obtained by The Canadian Press, to several so-called vehicle "scrappage" programs letting them know an announcement from Baird was forthcoming.

"Many of you have contacted me in the last couple of weeks wondering about the status of the national vehicle scrappage program," said the e-mail.

"We anticipate that Minister Baird will make an announcement about the new program within the next few weeks."

Environment Canada has been mulling over the prospect of creating a national program since last year's budget earmarked $36 million over two years for scrapping initiatives.

The department consulted environmental groups, scrappage organizations and other stakeholders to study the possibility of creating a national program.

Seven groups across the country currently receive federal money to run a patchwork of scrapping programs, which offer incentives such as rebates on new vehicles, free transit passes and charitable receipts in exchange for older cars.

The programs turn the vehicles over to scrap yards, which crush and recycle them according to provincial regulations.

Baird's office was mum Thursday when asked about the new program, while Environment Canada didn't return calls.

"When we are ready to make an announcement, we will let you know," wrote Eric Richer, Baird's press secretary, in an e-mail to The Canadian Press.

Industry groups speculated Thursday about the form the new national program might take. Scott Gillard, co-ordinator of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre's Steer Clean program, which receives federal funding, offered three scenarios:

-Environment Canada sets up its own national program;

-The federal government chooses a single organization, possibly through a bidding process, to run the program;

-The regional programs continue to operate under the umbrella of the federal government.

Gillard said it's most likely Environment Canada will announce a program that allows the regional groups to operate relatively autonomously under a national banner.

But he cautioned against any new program interfering too much with the regional groups.

"We like Steer Clean as it is. So if we're able to continue operating this program that Nova Scotians clearly like, then that's great," Gillard said.

"But if it comes down to us having to offer a vehicle purchase incentive because that's what the national program consists of, then the Ecology Action Centre will not be operating that program."

The government estimates five million vehicles from 1995 or earlier - predating today's tougher emissions standards - were on the roads last year. Although these older vehicles make up only a fraction of the estimated 18 million vehicles in Canada, they account for up to two-thirds of the pollution that causes smog.

© The Canadian Press, 2008