On Monday, at Place d'Youville in Quebec City, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities and Minister responsible for Quebec, along with Régis Labeaume, Mayor of Quebec City, and Julie Boulet, Quebec Minister of Transport, unveiled eight new electric microbuses.
These small environmentally-friendly buses were launched into service a couple of weeks ago. However, it was only yesterday that the various governments made the official introduction.
This new service, which covers Old Quebec, Parliament Hill and Old Port/Place Royale, will be free for all users for a two-year period, after which the City of Quebec will evaluate the necessity to expand the program and the number of vehicles.
Developed as part of Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program, one of the highlights of the government's "Building Canada" infrastructure plan, the new electric buses also fit in with Quebec City's Programme de gestion intégrée des déplacements dans le Vieux-Québec. The Urban Transportation Showcase Program funds projects that demonstrate the impacts of strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban transportation and expand the range and convenience of sustainable transportation options for Canadians.
According to Mr. Cannon, the federal government is committed to ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment for all Canadians. This principle is the cornerstone behind the Harper administration's "Turning the Corner" action plan to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution, as well as many other environmental priorities. Launched during Environment Week, this North American first also "underscores the government's resolve to find real, long-term solutions to clean up our air."
Building Canada is a $33-billion, 7-year plan which includes a $500 million provision for 2008. All that money comes from the Gas Tax Fund, providing continuous, predictable funding to municipalities across the country. A total of $2 billion a year is invested in infrastructure modernization and public transit improvement. The success of the program means that the Gas Tax Fund will in all likelihood be extended beyond 2014 and become a permanent measure.
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These small environmentally-friendly buses were launched into service a couple of weeks ago. However, it was only yesterday that the various governments made the official introduction.
This new service, which covers Old Quebec, Parliament Hill and Old Port/Place Royale, will be free for all users for a two-year period, after which the City of Quebec will evaluate the necessity to expand the program and the number of vehicles.
Developed as part of Transport Canada's Urban Transportation Showcase Program, one of the highlights of the government's "Building Canada" infrastructure plan, the new electric buses also fit in with Quebec City's Programme de gestion intégrée des déplacements dans le Vieux-Québec. The Urban Transportation Showcase Program funds projects that demonstrate the impacts of strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from urban transportation and expand the range and convenience of sustainable transportation options for Canadians.
According to Mr. Cannon, the federal government is committed to ensuring a cleaner, healthier environment for all Canadians. This principle is the cornerstone behind the Harper administration's "Turning the Corner" action plan to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution, as well as many other environmental priorities. Launched during Environment Week, this North American first also "underscores the government's resolve to find real, long-term solutions to clean up our air."
Building Canada is a $33-billion, 7-year plan which includes a $500 million provision for 2008. All that money comes from the Gas Tax Fund, providing continuous, predictable funding to municipalities across the country. A total of $2 billion a year is invested in infrastructure modernization and public transit improvement. The success of the program means that the Gas Tax Fund will in all likelihood be extended beyond 2014 and become a permanent measure.
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