Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government has recognized the problem of our changing climate and we are making some moves to mitigate the situation. Today I would like to highlight the opportunity we have to address a particular part of the problem. That is the lack of fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks.
In the NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy, we learned that up to 30 percent of our greenhouse gas pollution comes from the transportation sector. Despite this recognition, very few of the initiatives in the strategy actually address transportation issues. While the challenges are great, I am convinced that we can significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector if we try.
According to Hydro Quebec, with relatively few changes to its distribution and generation system, it could accommodate one million plug-in electric cars. There is a similar opportunity with many utilities across North America. Fortunately, we have many fewer vehicles but I suspect we have the potential to be affected here.
In the United States, the corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE for short, sets fuel standards for cars and trucks. It sets out the minimum average fuel efficiency that each automaker’s cars and trucks must achieve. First introduced in the ‘70s in response to the oil crisis, the fuel economy standard reached its peak in the mid-‘80s and this peak coincided with very low oil prices at $10 a barrel. Increased fuel efficiency in the U.S. in the ‘80s had a lot to do with those low oil prices. Unfortunately, corporate lobbying caused standards to decline. Ironically, if CAFE was strengthened rather than diluted, North American carmakers would be in much better shape than they are today.
In 2006, in response to concerns about global warming, California passed new regulations requiring a 30 percent reduction in automobile greenhouse gas emissions. Their law requires the average fuel economy to rise to 35 miles per gallon by 2016. Since then, 12 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces have committed to adopting California fuel standards. All indications are that the Obama administration will allow states to adopt those fuel efficiency standards. If so, North America will soon adopt similar goals.
Mr. Speaker, I urge this government, our Minister of Transportation, to be consistent in their progressive work in mitigation and adaptation to changing climate. Let’s have the NWT be a leader and join the early adopting jurisdictions that are recognizing the seriousness of this issue by adopting the California fuel standards and encouraging the Government of Canada to do so as well. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
