Canada's new Liberal leader has plans for vehicle efficiency

[MetroMPG]

From Autobloggreen:

Environmentalist chosen as new leader of Liberal Party in Canada

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2006/12...nada/#comments

After losing in the last parliamentary election in Canada, former Prime Minister Paul Martin resigned the leadership of the Liberal Party leading to this past weekend's leadership convention. After four ballots over two days the party selected Stephane Dion as their new leader. If the Liberals win in the next election - something likely to occur within the next year - Dion will be the new prime minister.

This is very interesting.

Dion wasn't expected to win, and he wasn't supported by the party's "old guard." The two much more traditional front-runners split the vote and allowed Dion to run up the middle to victory.

The big question is whether Canadians are prepared to put their money where their mouths are (in polling, the environment often tops our list of concerns) and embrace the issue(s) as a new pillar of the Liberal party.

Some specifics from Dion's energy platform:

• - introduce targeted tax credits on highly efficient vehicles of up to $2,000 (p. 20) - We're behind the US in this regard.
• - change tax-deduction laws to favour business which use fuel-efficient company vehicles (20)
• - the government will set out a timeline for Canada Post to convert its 6,700 strong urban fleet of delivery trucks to electric or hybrid vehicles (p.41)
• - join with other leading jurisdictions including California, New York and nine other states in implementing the 30% reduction standard [in CO2 exhaust emissions, ie. 30% increase in fuel efficiency] (p. 46)

http://stephanedion.ca/files/stephan...CC_Plan_EN.pdf

[philmcneal]

go canada! we love our clean air whoooo!

lol paul martin had such a bad rap for himself... i guess its a good thing he's not the leader no more.

[SVOboy]

Canada, <3

[nonnef]

Any plans on invading and taking over the US? Please?

[Sludgy]

No chance of anything so logical and righteous here in the States. Politicians from ethanol states, oil states, and (auto) labor union states have vested interests. Stir in Federal and State treasuries who simply adore gas and diesel taxes, and tax shortfalls that efficiency would bring, and one has a truly unholy alliance against efficiency.

US politicians will NEVER allow higher fuel economy standards to be imposed.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by nonnef

Any plans on invading and taking over the US? Please?

Yes. We're charging the army's fleet of Canadian-made NEV's and preparing for an assault on Washington.

. . .

(If we say "please", can we stop every 30 miles to recharge along the way? )

Sludgy, we're facing many of the same pressures here. Ontario just surpassed Michigan for automotive production, and the automakers always threaten dire consequences whenever we talk about fuel economy standards. Basically, we've always just accepted the affects of your CAFE rules on our market, with few exceptions.

I think tougher FE laws will be good for the manufacturers in the end. But I'll be very surprised if we enact laws like California's.

[pmistel]

- the government will set out a timeline for Canada Post to convert its 6,700 strong urban fleet of delivery trucks to electric or hybrid vehicles (p.41)

Sure, where are the going to get these vehicle's ? The "Hybrid Fairy"? The only way we are going to get more efficient vehicles is to force the auto companies to make them.

I read this on this site I think. Someone asked where are the cars that were developed during Clinton's time in office? I think it was called PNGV, 80 MPG, 5 passenger cars. They are the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, which were developed as a response to the American auto makers building PNGV cars

[smartzuuk]

I don't buy any of it... the Liberals proved incapable of dealing with issues seriously when in power for over a decade. I'm not saying the Conservatives have it together, but truth be told, I favour a Conservative minority for the next decade. They will 'green' themselves...

[MetroMPG]

Minority governments do have their usefulness.

And I agree the Liberals didn't appear to do much on the environmental front last time.

But I find the renewed promise to impose fuel economy standards very interesting considering the past Liberals and current Conservatives both caved to threats from the auto makers and agreed to 'voluntary' improvements (we're certainly not going to see any results from that).

Of course, the other issue is the promises were made to a leadership convention. Who knows if they'll translate to an election platform.

Japan is currently considering toughening its CAFE-equivalent laws: from 35.3 (currently) to 42.3 mpg (US) by 2015. I wonder if they've got the nads to implement it. See here.

[smartzuuk]

It's definately 'politically advantageous' to pay attention to 'climate change'... and likewise, if anyone ignores the issue, they are 'toast'. Look whats happening in the US. I posted a rant on my site.

Does this mean we'll actually get anywhere real? THAT is another questrion.