“Today we are fulfilling the Government’s commitment to require five percent renewable fuel content in gasoline,” said the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment. “Regulating renewable fuel content in gasoline is just one of several steps the Government is taking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector, which account for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions.”

“Support for renewable fuels is support for farmers, rural communities and our economy,” said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. “This is a vital step in generating new market opportunities for our farmers and maximizing Canada’s high quality resources to produce food and fuel for the world.”

“These regulations will help Canada reach our goal of becoming a clean energy leader,” said Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources. “Our Government supports biofuels and other alternative fuels as part of our commitment to reducing Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent, from 2005 levels, by 2020.”

These regulations are one pillar of the Government’s broader Renewable Fuels Strategy. Canada will implement a requirement for two per cent renewable content in diesel fuel and heating oil, subject to successful demonstration of technical feasibility under the range of Canadian conditions, which would be put in place by an amendment to the Renewable Fuels Regulations.

When fully implemented, the Strategy’s two regulatory requirements combined with provincial regulations will ensure a total volume of renewable fuel that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to four megatonnes in 2012–about the equivalent of taking one million vehicles off the road.

These regulations are a key initiative in support of the Government of Canada’s commitment to reduce Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. In addition, the Government of Canada is working with the U.S. towards common North American standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, and has recently published, draft regulations for vehicle tailpipe emissions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that are aligned with those of the U.S. Building on that successful collaboration, we will continue to work together to do the same for heavy-duty vehicles.

Related documents:

Renewable Fuels Strategy is reducing greenhouse gases and creating jobs
[Backgrounder - 2010-09-01]

Final Renewable Fuel Regulations

For more information, please contact:

Frédéric Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Media Relations
Environment Canada
819-934-8008
1-888-908-8008

Meagan Murdoch
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972

Distracted driving consultation now underway

WHITEHORSE – Yukon citizens are asked to participate in the 2010 distracted driving
consultation by filling out a survey and providing comments.
“This initiative is the result of a motion that received unanimous consent of the Yukon
Legislative Assembly to consult with Yukoners on the use of cell phones and other
electronic handheld devices while driving or operating a motor vehicle,” Highways and
Public Works Minister Archie Lang said.

Copies of the survey will be arriving in Yukon mail boxes this week. Survey results will
help determine what changes to the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) will be brought forward.

The MVA is a law that addresses public safety by ensuring operators and their vehicles
conform to legal requirements while travelling in Yukon.

For more information on the consultation or for additional copies of the survey visit
www.hpw.gov.yk.ca, call 667-3146 or 1-800-661-0408, extension 3146.

The distracted driving consultation runs from July 16 to August 13.

Contact:

Roxanne Vallevand
Cabinet Communications
867-633-7949
roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca
Jennifer Magnuson
Communications, Highways & Public Works
867-667-3146
jennifer.magnuson@gov.yk.ca

OTTAWA — The Honourable Rob Merrifield, Minister of State (Transport), today announced that the Government of Canada will introduce legislation to improve railway safety in Canada.

“Our government recognizes the importance of a safe and secure national rail transportation system, not only to communities across the country but also to Canada’s economic well-being,” said Minister Merrifield.

The proposed amendments to the Railway Safety Act will encourage rail companies to create and maintain a culture of safety and penalize rule breakers by enabling the Government of Canada to:

• crack down on rule breakers with tough new monetary penalties and increased judicial penalties;
• strengthen safety requirements for railway companies;
• create whistleblower protection for employees who raise safety concerns; and
• require each railway to have an executive legally responsible for safety.

The Railway Safety Act, which came into force in 1989, gives Transport Canada the responsibility to oversee railway safety in Canada. In addition to strengthening Transport Canada’s regulatory oversight and enforcement capacities, the proposed amendments are consistent with the legislative frameworks of other transportation modes.

The new amendments will be backed by Canada’s Economic Action Plan, which has committed $44 million over five years to enable the government to pursue a robust national rail safety program based on detailed inspections, safety management system audits and enforcement action in cases of non-compliance.

A backgrounder with further information is attached.

“Canada and the United States had great success in establishing common standards for regulating greenhouse gas emissions from passenger automobiles and light trucks,” said Minister Prentice. “Building on our strong working relationship with the Obama administration, we are taking the next logical step by addressing emissions from heavy-duty vehicles.”

Environment Canada will develop proposed regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles. Over the coming months, the Government will be working with the heavy-duty trucking industry, including manufacturers and users, to develop these regulations. A consultation draft of the regulations is expected to be available for comment from industry, stakeholders and the public in the fall of 2010. The final regulations will be implemented between the 2014 and 2018 model year.

In Canada, the transportation sector accounts for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. Heavy-duty vehicles account for about 6 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada. Reducing emissions in this sector will help us achieve our 2020 target of a 17 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels.

Related Document:

Canada’s Clean Automotive Success Story
[Backgrounder]

In 2007, the GHG emissions from the transportation sector contributed around 27% to Canada’s inventory of emissions. Modeling results from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) indicate that the use of renewable fuels in liquid petroleum fuel can contribute to GHG emission reductions on a lifecycle basis.

Existing Government of Canada initiatives on renewable fuels have had limited success in achieving significant reductions in GHG emissions. In view of the environmental concerns related to climate change, additional actions are required to further reduce these emissions.

Description: The proposed Renewable Fuels Regulations (proposed Regulations) are a key element of the Government’s Renewable Fuels Strategy. (see footnote 2) The objective of the proposed Regulations is to reduce GHG emissions by mandating an average 5% renewable fuel content based on the gasoline volume, thereby contributing towards the protection of Canadians and the environment from the impacts of climate change. The proposed Regulations are estimated to result in an incremental reduction of GHG emissions of about 1 MT CO₂e per year over and above the reductions attributable to existing provincial requirements already in place. The proposed Regulations fulfill the commitments under the Renewable Fuels Strategy of reducing GHG emissions from liquid petroleum fuels and create a demand for renewable fuels in Canada.

The Government of Canada is committed to reducing domestic GHG emissions by 20% below the 2006 level by 2020. These proposed Regulations, along with other initiatives such as reducing industrial emissions of GHGs and the development of regulations to limit emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from cars and light-duty trucks, would contribute towards achieving Canada’s domestic commitments. The proposed Regulations would promote an integrated and nationally consistent approach to achieve significant reductions in emissions of air pollutants and GHGs to protect the health and environment of Canadians.

The proposed Regulations would require fuel producers and importers to have an average renewable fuel content of at least 5% based on the volume of gasoline produced and imported. The proposed Regulations include provisions that govern the creation of compliance units, allowing trading of these units among participants and also require record keeping and reporting to ensure compliance.

Certain provisions of the proposed Regulations would come into force on the day on which they are registered, while the 5% requirement and provisions for compliance units would come into force on September 1, 2010. The proposed Regulations also include provisions requiring an average 2% renewable fuel content in diesel fuel and heating distillate oil based on annual volumes. This requirement would only be brought into force once the technical feasibility of renewable diesel fuel use under a range of Canadian conditions has been demonstrated.

Cost-benefit statement: Over a 25-year period, the proposed Regulations are estimated to result in a cumulative reduction of 23.8 MT CO₂e in GHG emissions (or an average annual incremental reduction of 1 MT CO₂e per year). Although it is difficult to quantify and monetize the full range of benefits attributable to the proposed Regulations, and such an exercise does not take into account the broader socio-economic benefits of the full range of elements of Canada’s climate change strategy, it is estimated that on their own the benefits of the proposed Regulations would be $580.8 million using a carbon price of $25 per tonne. Other benefits to the economy would also complement the benefits to the environment from the proposed Regulations, including increased production of renewable fuels and related increased employment and income. In addition, other government initiatives to improve vehicle efficiency and to develop next generation renewable fuel production technologies are also expected to contribute towards GHG emission reductions over time.

The present value of the cost associated with the proposed Regulations is estimated to be $3.2 billion. Gasoline producers and importers would incur costs of $936.2 million, which includes investments needed to upgrade or modify refinery installations and distribution and blending systems; construction cost for renewable fuel plants are estimated to be $264.8 million; costs to consumers are expected to total $2 billion resulting from increased fuel consumption due to the lower energy content of ethanol-blended gasoline; and costs to the federal government for enforcement, compliance promotion and development and maintenance of the electronic reporting system would be approximately $2.3 million. Income from the crop sector is estimated to increase by 0.7%. While the income impacts in the livestock sector are expected to decline by less than 1%, no measurable impacts on downstream sectors are expected.

Business and consumer impacts: The distribution of impacts on industry and consumers would be relatively modest, but uneven across the country in part due to existing mandates in some provinces and the availability of renewable fuels. As a result, the proposed Regulations would have minimal impacts in some provinces or regions (such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario) where ethanol-blended gasoline is already available, with most impacts concentrated in regions where renewable fuel requirements are not yet in place.

The total incremental cost to the petroleum refining sector is expected to be 1.3% of industry revenue. Positive impacts in terms of increased sales volume due to lower energy content of ethanol-blended gasoline for fuel producers are expected. These could amount to 10% of the $2 billion in total incremental costs to consumers. The renewable fuel production sector stands to gain the most from the increase in the demand for renewable fuels. Some increase in employment and other economic activities are also expected.

The impact on consumers would be reflected partly as an increase in gasoline demand due to the lower energy content of ethanol-blended gasoline in comparison to conventional gasoline. These impacts would mainly be incurred in provinces (such as Alberta, Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces) where renewable fuel mandates are currently not in place. On a per-vehicle basis, the average annual impact on consumer expenditure on gasoline is estimated to be $34 for 2011.

In addition, consumers may also be impacted by a small increase in fuel price at the pump if the fuel producers pass on their incremental costs down the supply chain. The precise magnitude of the price impact, given differences between regions and across fuel suppliers, is difficult to predict. In the event that all industry costs are passed on to the consumers, it is estimated that average price increase over the 25-year period ranges from 0.07 ¢/L in provinces like Ontario where a provincial mandate is already in place to 0.30 ¢/L in Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces where renewable fuel requirements are not in place. In most cases, such small price increases are likely to be unnoticeable given the usual price fluctuations experienced in the gasoline market.

As the impacts on the agricultural sector’s income and production are expected to be less than 1%, the impacts on downstream meat and food processing sector as well as on food prices are expected to be minimal.

Domestic and international coordination and cooperation: Extensive consultations were conducted with industry, provincial and territorial governments, other federal government departments and environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs). The renewable fuel content requirements were developed based on these consultations. In addition, discussions with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) were also undertaken to better understand the development process of their rule.

Performance measurement and evaluation plan: The evaluation of the proposed Regulations would be based, among other criteria, on the volume of renewable fuel blended with liquid petroleum fuels in Canada. This would be determined from information and data submitted in accordance with the reporting requirements. The proposed Regulations would also be evaluated based on criteria included in the evaluation plan of Environment Canada’s components of the regulation of renewable fuel content in gasoline, diesel and heating distillate oil. This evaluation plan will be completed in the 2009–2010 fiscal year.

(Gatineau, Quebec, March 16, 2010) – Calling it a “blueprint for change” the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) today released a “Watchlist” that points to nine critical safety issues troubling Canada’s transportation system.

“These issues pose the greatest risk to Canadians,” said Board Chair Wendy Tadros. “There is no higher priority. It’s time for industry and regulators to step up and tackle these nine critical issues.”

According to Ms. Tadros, the TSB Watchlist took shape after analysts found troubling patterns in their work. “Many times, we arrive on the scene of an accident and see the same safety issues—issues that we have raised before.”

Singled out by the Board were the frequency of collisions at railway crossings, the lack of emergency preparation on Canada’s large passenger vessels, and the consequences should an airliner fail to stop on one of Canada’s runways.

“Airlines, ferries, railways—we’re talking about tens of millions of trips annually,” said Ms. Tadros. “We need the right players at the table to tackle these tough issues to make the system safer.”

As an independent government agency, the Board already publishes its findings in public reports and makes frequent recommendations. Ms. Tadros, however, said that while she was generally pleased by Canada’s track record in advancing safety, it’s time for a more focused effort.

“In some cases industry and regulators share our concerns. However, we know from hard experience, if persistent problems are not addressed, there will be another accident. That is why we have our Watchlist.”

To bolster the impact of the Watchlist, the TSB is releasing a series of fact sheets, outlining the scope of each issue and providing background and solutions. Looking forward, Ms. Tadros added that she hopes the list will evolve as progress is made. “We’re not saying it will be easy, but we’re saying it’s time to act. We’re calling on change agents to work together and solve these problems, and make transportation safer for all Canadians—that’s our goal.”

The TSB is an independent agency that investigates marine, pipeline, railway and aviation transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.

“The Federal Emergency Response Plan will help ensure the Government of Canada’s response to an emergency is seamless, and that key decisions can be made quickly when disasters strike,” said Minister Toews. “Canadians can be assured that we have the right plan and the right decision-making structures in place in the event of an emergency.”

“The plan is designed to coordinate the federal emergency response effort with those of the provincial and territorial governments as well as the private sector and non-governmental organizations.  Our goal is to ensure the protection and safety of Canadians,” added Mr. Petit.

This year Canada has hosted the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and will host the G8 and G20 meetings and the North American Leaders’ Summit. Canadians and visitors to Canada can be confident that the Government of Canada is ready to collaborate effectively with its partners to respond to any emergency.

The Federal Emergency Response Plan was developed by Public Safety Canada in consultation with other federal departments. It has been formally approved by the Government of Canada along with the Federal Policy for Emergency Management, which outlines Canada’s emergency management policy and provides a framework for emergency management at the federal level. This policy details the emergency management roles and responsibilities of federal institutions derived from existing legislative authorities.

PACIFIC LEADERS TAKE ACTION
ON CLEAN ENERGY, TRANSPORTATION, OCEAN CONSERVATION

VANCOUVER, B.C. – Leaders from British Columbia, California, Oregon, and Washington have signed onto a series of joint actions that will help create jobs, strengthen the Pacific Coast economy, advance action on climate change and clean energy, and protect the marine environment.

The actions were ratified today during the inaugural Leaders’ Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative. Established by British Columbia’s premier and Pacific Coast governors in June 2008, the collaborative’s founding agreement pledges the participating governments to forge a partnership for leadership, co-operative action, and a common voice on issues affecting the Pacific coast region.

The meeting was hosted by Premier Gordon Campbell of British Columbia and chaired by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California. Governor Christine Gregoire of Washington, and Secretary of State Kate Brown representing the state of Oregon, and Governor Ted Kulongoski also attended. The forum took advantage of participants being in Vancouver to attend the opening of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“The agreements signed today are an important step towards advancing North America’s West Coast as a global leader in the new low-carbon economy, ocean health, renewable energy and transportation,” said Premier Campbell. “I want to thank the governors for coming to British Columbia to help us celebrate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and for continuing to work with us to build a strong economy and sustainable region for our citizens.”

“The actions we are taking today will build a stronger economy and a stronger environment for communities throughout the Pacific region and beyond,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “The Pacific Coast Collaborative has shown that by taking meaningful action and showing determined leadership, the rest of the world will follow the steps we are taking to build a better future. I want to thank Premier Campbell, Governor Gregoire and Governor Kulongoski for helping our entire region move forward through this important collaborative.”

“Those of us here today recognize the challenges of a changing climate and a changing economy,” Governor Gregoire said. “By acting together, we can show the world that it is possible, and necessary, to embrace solutions that address both.”

“These agreements demonstrate our collective commitment to protecting the health of the West Coast’s ocean and the ecosystems and economies that depend on them,” Governor Kulongoski said. “Taking strong action now means a stronger tomorrow for our coastal communities.”

Two action plans were signed by the leaders today: Innovation, the Environment and the Economy; and Ocean Conservation and Coastal Climate Change Adaptation.

The Action Plan on Innovation, the Environment and the Economy sets out a series of co-operative initiatives to promote renewable and low-carbon energy and energy conservation, including developing Interstate 5/Highway 99 as a green transportation corridor. It also promotes development of high-speed rail from San Diego to Vancouver and the move to “Green Ports” through co-operation to reduce local air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Action Plan on Ocean Conservation and Coastal Climate Change Adaptation focuses on co-operation on invasive species, reductions in toxins and other pollutants, promoting sustainable fisheries management and research into impacts from climate change and adaptation options.

The forum also saw the leaders consider and release for further discussion and public input a “Vision 2030” paper intended to serve as a living document for the Pacific Coast Collaborative. The paper sets out a strategic vision for the future of Pacific North America and regional collaboration. The objective is to ensure that west coast jurisdictions achieve global leadership in sustainable economic development – attracting new jobs and encouraging investment and innovation while enhancing an already unparalleled quality of life.

The leaders also unveiled a new, shared PCC website to facilitate regional sharing of information and best practices between governments and with citizens. It is online at: http://www.pacificcoastcollaborative.org. The documents signed today can also be found on this site.

Leaders welcomed Oregon Governor Kulongoski’s offer to host and chair the next PCC Leaders Forum in November 2010.

BACKGROUNDER

PACIFIC COAST COLLABORATIVE 2010 ACTION PLANS

The Pacific Coast Collaborative

On June 30, 2008, the premier of British Columbia and the governors of Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington signed the Memorandum to Establish the Pacific Coast Collaborative, the first agreement that brings together the Pacific leaders as a common front to set a co-operative direction. The Pacific Coast Collaborative is a formal basis for co-operative action, a forum for leadership and information sharing, and a common voice on issues facing Pacific North America. The following were set as priority areas for action:

• Clean energy
• Regional transportation
• Innovation, research and development
• Sustainable regional economy
• Emergency management
• Any other areas of common interest

The Memorandum establishing the Pacific Coast Collaborative provides a framework for the development, discussion and adoption of specific agreements or action plans applying to all participating jurisdictions or for those applying to as few as just two jurisdictions.

The Feb. 12, 2010 meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia was the first annual Leaders’ Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative. During the session, the leaders of British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington agreed to two action plans:

1.Action Plan on Innovation, the Environment and the Economy

• Actions on Renewable and Low Carbon Energy include:

o   Promote development and delivery of renewable and low carbon energy in areas including: solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, hydropower, tidal/wave energy.

o   Support the Western Renewable Energy Zone (WREZ) Project to ensure cost-effective and environmentally-sensitive development of renewable low-carbon energy.

o   Share data and best practices to minimize environmental impacts from renewable low-carbon energy development.

o   Harmonize definitions of low impact renewable resources, starting with hydropower.

o   Seek collaborations on forest product innovation for renewable energy.

• Actions on Energy Conservation include:

o   Participate in Pacific Coast symposia on energy equipment.

o   Encourage a “Conservation First” program for regional electrical, gas utilities to encourage lower consumer energy demand, and collaborate on pilot projects for industrial energy efficiency.

o   Promote a wood-building culture and regional forest product innovations for renewable energy.

o   Collaborate on pilot projects for industrial energy efficiency.

o   Share information on efficiency standards in building codes.

o   Leverage energy-efficiency standards for public buildings.

o   Partner to promote green and living communities.

o   Collaborate on a vision to establish “net-zero community energy” homes and buildings.

• Actions on Transportation include:

o   Work with government agencies and private sector partners on further study into a high-speed passenger rail from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C.

o   Build a Pacific Green Highway through continued support for transformation of  Interstate 5 (US) / Highway 99 (B.C.) corridor to establish infrastructure for alternative fuels including through public-private partnerships.

o   Collaborate and share information such as permitting, codes and standards on all electric and plug-in electric hybrid vehicles and hydrogen vehicles; maximize results from research and commercialization efforts.

o   Create consistent roadside signage for alternative fuel stations.

o   Collaborate on next generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol and biodiesel blends.

o   Collaborate on public fleet vehicle purchases to maximise purchase leverage.

o   Maximize results from university research and commercialization efforts.

o   Work towards “Green Ports” through synchronized policies and regulations that provide incentives for and encourage development of innovative and sustainable technologies to reduce fine particulates, hazardous air pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.

2.Action Plan on Ocean Conservation and Coastal Climate Change Adaptation

• Actions on Ocean  Health and Conservation include:

o   Co-operate on the prevention and clean-up of marine debris.

o   Co-operate to prevent or reduce the spread of invasive species.

o   Collaborate on best practices for reducing risks from toxins and non point source pollution.

o   Promote sustainable fisheries management.

• Actions on Coastal Climate Change Adaptation include:

o   Research and share data on impacts from possible changes to marine and coastal environments and changes in ocean acidity.

o   Share information to address adaptation needs such flood protection and land use decisions.

• Actions on Ocean Research and Innovation include:

o   Support funding by federal governments for the long-term maintenance of ocean observing systems.

o   Support sharing of ocean research and innovation including seafloor mapping.

-30-

BACKGROUNDER

VISION 2030: POSITIONING PACIFIC NORTH AMERICA FOR

SUSTAINABLE PROSPERITY

Leaders from British Columbia, California, Oregon, and Washington released for public input a discussion paper, “Vision 2030”. The paper sets out a strategic vision for regional collaboration. It attempts to answer the question: “What could Pacific North America look like in 2030?“

The objective is to ensure that west coast jurisdictions achieve global leadership in sustainable economic development – attracting new jobs and encouraging investment and innovation while enhancing an already unparalleled quality of life.

“Vision 2030” outlines a possible future under the headings of:

• Harnessing the Power of Collaboration
• A Sustainable Regional Economy in 2030
• Creating Green jobs
• Building Economically Sustainable Communities
• An Innovative Economy
• Creating Regional Networks of Innovation
• Providing Innovative Education and Skills Training
• A Low-Carbon Economy
• Promoting Renewable Energy
• Accelerating Clean Transportation
• Connecting High Speed Rail
• Utilizing Green Ports
• A Conservation Economy
• Building a Smart Grid
• Constructing Green Buildings and Communities
• Getting to Zero Waste
• Promoting Resource Conservation
• A Secure Regional Economy
• Establishing Emergency Management Systems
• Adapting to Climate Change.

The document was released Feb. 12, 2010 by the Premier of British Columbia and the governors of California, Oregon and Washington on the occasion of the first Leaders’ Forum of the Pacific Coast Collaborative in Vancouver, B.C.

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.

The 2010-2011 Budget focuses on creating opportunities through investments in health care, education and services to New Brunswickers.

It shows how the next phase in the plan for lower taxes will deliver savings of $258 million to individuals and businesses.

Below you will find a link to detailed accounts of all areas associated with the 2010-2011 Budget.

Speech
Delivering Lower Taxes for New Brunswickers
News Release
Economic Update
Main Estimates ]]> http://policymonitor.ca/education/advanced-education/new-brunswick-2010-budget/feed/ 0