So, in addition to fighting against gas prices, we should set up incentives to buy hybrid cars. A few provinces offer incentives, but the federal government should also step in. I know hybrids are expensive, but purchasing them will allow the car companies who build them to pursue their research and development, and maybe a few years down the road
we'll be able to purchase vehicles that use little or no fossil fuel at all. If we don't encourage this technology, manufacturers won't sell their hybrids, and the technology will develop more slowly, if at all. As a result, we'll never succeed in getting rid of our dependence for gasoline. Canada will fail miserably in reaching their goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Remember, our country has signed the Kyoto Protocol. I'm not an expert on this matter, so for more information I suggest you check out the articles written by my Greenie colleague Daniel Breton.
So here are, in my humble opinion, the necessary steps to take:
.The federal government should crack the whip and impose a price ceiling on the price of gas, but not too low, because we still have to learn to reduce our fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. I think we can live with a $1.00 to $1.10 a litre price for now.
.The federal government should hand out cash incentives to people who buy hybrid vehicles, since they will pave the way for future technologies destined to reduce our dependence of gasoline.
.Let's figure out a way to collectively tell our government how we think of certain issues like this one. As I've mentioned above, since a large portion of Canadians have Internet at home or at work, or have access somewhere else, it might be time to try and use it. If anybody has suggestions, I'm willing to hear them.
.I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of old klunkers still on the road that pollute more than the average Hummer and use too much gas because they are in desperate need of a tune-up. If I owned a clapped-out 1982 Monte Carlo but didn't have the money to buy a newer car, I might reconsider if the government would help me out in doing so.
.The federal government is a hefty consumer of gasoline. They should figure out ways to reduce it. Here's a thought: the government hands out incentives and tax breaks to high-tech companies who develop such communication software as voice-over-IP teleconferencing, for example. A meeting can then be called without actually requiring everybody to drive there in person. Private companies use this technology and it works well, why can't they? Mr. Martin, I suggest that your government take advantage of something magic we call The Internet. Canadians are already paying for it, so why not use it?
Of course, all these steps involve the federal government spending money, buy why not? They've got plenty to spare. Us taxpayers are so generous.
So, Mr. Martin, what are you and your crack team of advisors going to do? Feel free to reply back to me by email.
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| (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123) |
So here are, in my humble opinion, the necessary steps to take:
.The federal government should crack the whip and impose a price ceiling on the price of gas, but not too low, because we still have to learn to reduce our fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. I think we can live with a $1.00 to $1.10 a litre price for now.
.The federal government should hand out cash incentives to people who buy hybrid vehicles, since they will pave the way for future technologies destined to reduce our dependence of gasoline.
.Let's figure out a way to collectively tell our government how we think of certain issues like this one. As I've mentioned above, since a large portion of Canadians have Internet at home or at work, or have access somewhere else, it might be time to try and use it. If anybody has suggestions, I'm willing to hear them.
.I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of old klunkers still on the road that pollute more than the average Hummer and use too much gas because they are in desperate need of a tune-up. If I owned a clapped-out 1982 Monte Carlo but didn't have the money to buy a newer car, I might reconsider if the government would help me out in doing so.
.The federal government is a hefty consumer of gasoline. They should figure out ways to reduce it. Here's a thought: the government hands out incentives and tax breaks to high-tech companies who develop such communication software as voice-over-IP teleconferencing, for example. A meeting can then be called without actually requiring everybody to drive there in person. Private companies use this technology and it works well, why can't they? Mr. Martin, I suggest that your government take advantage of something magic we call The Internet. Canadians are already paying for it, so why not use it?
Of course, all these steps involve the federal government spending money, buy why not? They've got plenty to spare. Us taxpayers are so generous.
So, Mr. Martin, what are you and your crack team of advisors going to do? Feel free to reply back to me by email.