OTA Calls on Province to Act
on CTA Emissions Reduction Plan
If Implemented Would Drastically Reduce Smog and
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(Toronto: July 10, 2006) –OTA President David
Bradley today called on the Provincial Government to take action on a number of
the recommendations of the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s recently released
comprehensive plan for reducing harmful emissions from trucks.
The Trucking & a Made-in-Canada Clean Air Act, a
14-point action plan to drastically reduce smog and greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions in the freight transportation sector, contains a number of
recommendations which fall under provincial jurisdiction.
Specifically, on the provincial regulatory side OTA is
calling on the Province of Ontario to implement the following
changes:
- Endorse the activation of speed limiters on all trucks that operate into, out of and within the Province of Ontario at no more than 105 km/hr. We estimate that the emission savings in the Province of Ontario alone would exceed 140 kilotonnes (kt)/year, although it is interesting to note that the figure is probably significantly higher, Quebec in its GHG plan announced that it would be bringing in speed limiters and they have estimated GHG savings of 330 kt/year.
- The Government of Ontario should show leadership in the development of capital cost allowance rates that reward environmental investments. Given the dramatic emission reductions that can be achieved with the new truck engines, the Province should use the tax system, through the CCA schedule, to encourage the more rapid purchase of the new, more environmentally friendly, 2007 engines.
- Similar to the U.S federal government’s regulation, introduce a 400 lb weight gross vehicle weight allowance for idling reduction technology placed on Ontario’s trucks;
- Allow the use of the new generation of wide-base single truck tires at the same allowable weights as duel tires;
- Allow flexibility within the provincial truck weights and dimension standards to add non-payload aerodynamic improvements to their equipment; and
- Expansion of double-trailer network between Province of Ontario and Quebec.
According to Bradley: “In total OTA estimates,
based on emission factors and data provided by U.S. and Canadian federal,
agencies, that the impact of these measures is the annual equivalent of removing
36,000 Class 8 trucks from a nitrogen oxide perspective (smog emission); 40,000
Class 8 trucks from a particulate matter stand point (respiratory illness
emission); and 18,000 Class 8 trucks from a climate change
perspective.”
Bradley concluded: “OTA is strongly
committed to moving forward aggressively on eliminating emissions from our
industry, and we hope that the Government of Ontario shares this
commitment. The CTA plan raises a number of important
initiatives that have both energy conservation and climate change and air
quality emission reduction benefits. We look forward to move forward together
with the Provincial Government to achieve our mutual goal of improving Ontario’s
air quality.”
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