CAFE Canada

Tony Novotny admits that he's surprised -- quite surprised, in fact -- by the Conservative party's decision to sponsor a car on the Canadian NASCAR circuit.

Mr. Novotny is the man behind CASCAR, the Canadian stock car racing organization he founded in 1981 and sold to the U.S. NASCAR juggernaut last September. The acquisition is part of NASCAR's bid to buy growth and diversity in a rapidly-maturing domestic market.

TORONTO, June 19 -- Ontario on Tuesday offered financial incentives to encourage production of "green" cars and fuels, the latest sign of competition among Canada's provinces to address global warming.

In a speech at the General Motors plant in Oshawa, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province would offer grants totaling $625 million for promotion of more efficient technologies throughout the auto industry. Canada's auto industry is the largest in North America and has been buffeted by the diminishment of the big American-owned automakers.

(Ottawa) Prime Minister Stephen Harper should welcome California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to Canada by pledging to adopt California standards for cars for our country says Sierra Club of Canada.

Despite lawsuits and protests by the auto industry, Governor Schwarzenegger has championed vehicle fuel efficiency standards that would result in a 30 per cent decrease in greenhouse emissions from cars in that state by 2016.  Eleven other states, including New York, fed up with the Bush government’s inaction, have pledged to adopt the same standards.   

Hybrid vehicles became $2,000 cheaper for Manitobans this month, with the provincial government unveiling its promised rebate program for the energy-efficient cars.

Energy Minister Jim Rondeau said anyone who registers a gas-electric hybrid vehicle in Manitoba before Nov. 15, 2008, will get a $2,000 rebate cheque from the provincial government.

The deal also applies to anyone who registered a hybrid after Nov. 15, 2006.

"It's quite simple," said Rondeau, who pulled up to the news conference in a Ford Escape Hybrid.

(Ottawa) A Statistics Canada report released today demonstrates the urgent need for regulation of the transportation sector. Emissions are rising throughout the sector but the federal government does not plan to regulate until 2011, and then only passenger cars, SUVs and light trucks. The report notes that the air pollution causing emissions have not increased as rapidly as the number of vehicles because of regulations requiring improved fuel and catalytic converters.