Sierra Club pushing Canadian government for fuel-consumption limits

May 5, 2004

On the Sierra Club wish list: fuel consumption limits from Ottawa. The federal government should pass legislation to cut vehicle fuel consumption because no way on earth will negotiations with auto makers ever lead to voluntary agreements, warns the environmental giant.

Leading up to the Sierra Club’s complaints to the government was General Motors, who the environmentalists allege, is using threats and misinformation to stonewall improvements in fuel economy.

"Clearly, a voluntary agreement is not going to work with GM," said John Bennett, Sierra’s director of atmosphere and energy. (Prime Minister) "Paul martin must proclaim the Motor Vehicle Consumption Act and regulate fuel efficiency for cars."

Two years ago, Transport Canada reported in a review that some auto manufacturers have not voluntarily met with the annual fuel-consumption targets.

GM Canada President Michael Grimaldi is on the record for expressing industry concern about meeting a 25 percent improvement in fuel efficiency by the end of the decade.

According to Grimaldi, the cost of technology to meet the target will make prices for full-size pickup trucks and cars unaffordable for consumers, and the company would no longer offer them in Canada.

But Bennett chooses to differ with Grimaldi and says the argument that technology would increase vehicle costs by thousands of dollars is false.

Bennett charges that GM, the world’s biggest automaker, has a long history of fighting fuel efficiency.

A government spokesman says the government is optimistic it can reach a voluntary agreement.

A deal with the car manufacturers would help Ottawa meet its commitments under the Kyoto accord on global warming.

Meanwhile, Grimaldi remains steadfast in his claim that changes will make autos unaffordable for the consumer. Perhaps unaffordable vehicles are what the Sierra Club of Canada really wants.