Laurie Scott MPP

Ontario Hansard - 18-April2006

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

Ms. Scott: I don't believe we heard a yes or a no to that, but I'm kind of surprised that the minister has been provided with so little information about the effects of speeding trucks and their undeniably reducing air pollution if that's implemented. Every day, trucks are needlessly spewing out emissions that can and should be avoided simply because your government has refused to act. The trucking industry is demanding that you help them eliminate these emissions, the environmental groups are asking you to eliminate these emissions, and safety groups ranging from the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, the CAA and the insurance bureau are telling you that it will not only save our air but save lives by making our roads safer.

Can you offer up one credible reason why your government continues to allow speeding trucks to pollute our air and endanger our lives, and if you cannot, will you give us a commitment today that you will personally intervene to get the Minister of Transportation to act now and introduce legislation, it being Earth Day on the 22nd of this month?

Ms. Laurie Scott (Haliburton-Victoria-Brock): My question is for the Minister of the Environment. For nearly six months now, the Ontario trucking industry has been pleading with your government to make it mandatory for all trucks operating in Ontario to have their engines electronically speed-limited to prevent the truck from going any faster than 105 kilometres per hour. According to the Ontario Trucking Association, it's supported by groups like Pollution Probe, the Lung Association and Fleet Challenge Canada. One of the chief benefits of forcing all trucks to limit their speed is a significant reduction in emissions, particularly greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, they estimate that over 140 kilotonnes of greenhouse gas emissions would be eliminated each year if this proposal was adopted.

Minister, I know this issue is under consideration by the Minister of Transportation, and has been for quite some time now, but he has not acted on it, despite the obvious environmental benefits. I want to know if you and your ministry have looked into the environmental benefits of this proposal, and do you personally agree with all of these groups that reducing speeding by trucks will reduce air pollution coming from trucks?