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Alternative Fuels: Summer 1997

The Politicians Have Listened --
Now We Need to Get the Bureaucrats Off their Backsides!

Regulations under Canada's Alternative Fuels Act took effect on April 1. They haven't attracted many headlines, but the vigor with which federal bureaucrats police themselves under these regulations will mean a great deal to the people of Montreal and other Canadians.

The Act was passed in 1995. Under its provisions, half of all new vehicles purchased for the fleets of federal department and agencies will soon be required to operate on alternative fuels. In a nutshell, the Act is designed to better Canada's air quality at the same time it saves taxpayers' money for the fuel used to operate federal vehicles.

"Federal" doesn't just mean Ottawa: in Montreal there are 1926 federal vehicles. If 75% of these vehicles ran on alternative fuels, taxpayers could save approximately $2.6 million dollars per year! (Savings are based on the successful experience of the London, Ontario Police Department which testified before the Senate Energy Committee last summer.)

Alternative fuels - especially propane, ethanol and natural gas, but to a lesser extent methanol and electricity - are a wonderful thing. Across Canada, if 75% of all federally-owned vehicles were run on alternative fuels (the target for 2004) there would be approximately 42,750 fewer tonnes of carbon monoxide emissions spewing into the air every year. Almost $53 million a year could be saved in the cost of running the federal vehicles fleet.

With any luck (and intelligence) there will be a ripple impact here: if the federal government can get its act together and make Canada a better and cheaper place to live through the use of alternate fuels, surely the private sector can do likewise.

The Bronson Report commissioned by Natural Resources Canada estimates that 94% of federal vehicles currently in operation have access to alternative fuels. The more vehicles switch to alternative fuels, of course, the more alternative fuel pumps will open up, the more alternative fuel vehicles will be produced, the less it will cost to convert automobiles now using gasoline, etc.

Such a good idea! Such a good response from federal politicians! So why am I worried? As the author of the private member's bill that created the Act, I have been keeping a close eye to see whether government purchasing agents and other administrators are ready to make it work. At this stage, I have my doubts.

The Prime Minister is certainly on side. His 1995 Buick Roadmaster is soon be converted to run on natural gas. Good for him.

And the Mounties are also playing ball. RCMP Commissioner Philip Murray has expressed full support. This is important, because the RCMP has more vehicles running than any other federal department. Commissioner Murray's own car has been converted to run on propane.

But for every Commissioner Murray, there are dozens of bureaucratic laggards.

Example: The Department of Foreign Affairs. We asked them what they were doing to comply with the upcoming regulations. Remember, some alternative fuels, like propane and natural gas, are 100% alternative. Some, like ethanol, are only 10% alternative. If half a department's cars run on natural gas (100%), and half run on ethanol (10%), the department's fleet gets a 55% rating and meets the 50% standard in the Act.

Foreign Affairs told us that ALL of the department's 670 vehicles already meet the standards, because they can all run on ethanol - the 10% brand. Of course they can all run on ethanol! Any vehicle can run on 10% ethanol! Is this the logic of diplomacy? Or has nobody over there read the regulations? Even if the department actually fueled all these vehicles with ethanol, rather than gasoline (which they can't even be bothered doing) they would only come in at 10% under the bill - well short of the 50% requirement.

Example: The Post Office. We asked the Post Office how many of their 6,391 vehicles currently operate on alternative fuels. Answer - 273. Hmmm. Well, of the 1,000 vehicles they purchased last year, how many operate on alternative fuels? Answer - 50. Not good. Of the next 1,000 they will purchase, how many will . . . the answer is none. You know, post-offices should make a point of showing that they aren't slow.

I invite you to join the fight. Write, fax or e-mail Environment Minister Christine Stewart. Or your MP. Get the bureaucrats moving. Nothing is more important to Canadians than breathing, and the cleaner the air we breathe, the longer we can all keep doing it.