Ottawa - Last week, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, announced that the Government of Canada will introduce tough new regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from the automotive sector under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

"Any significant strategy to address greenhouse gases and pollution must address on-road emissions, and that is exactly what we are doing," said Minister Prentice. "The new regulations under CEPA will be very effective in helping transform our automotive sector and make it greener."

In keeping with the Government of Canada’s commitment to put these regulations in place for 2011 model year vehicles, the Government will proceed immediately to put regulations in place under CEPA. By taking this approach, the Government of Canada will have the flexibility to harmonize its regulations with the broad range of possible future actions from the U.S. government to address greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.

Moving to develop carbon dioxide emission regulations is part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to address climate change. These regulations are aimed to help achieve the Government’s commitment to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2006 levels by 2020. Transportation accounts for approximately one quarter of Canada’s total GHG emissions. Of that quarter, passenger cars and light-duty trucks account for nearly half, contributing 12 per cent of Canada’s total GHG emissions.

The Government will be publishing a Notice of Intent in the coming days and consultations with interested parties will proceed as soon as possible. Proposed regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette later this year, followed by a formal public review and comment period. Final regulations will come into force in 2010 and will apply to vehicles of the 2011 and later model years.

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