February 13, 2007

I am happy that my colleague, Minister Baird, is able to join us today. It allows me to underline what an amazing job he has done since being appointed and I truly believe Quebec and Canada will benefit from his contribution and leadership as Minister of Environment. Thanks for being here John.

Canada's New Government is proud to team up with municipalities to help make it easier for Canadians to choose sustainable transportation options such as transit, carpooling and cycling. Leaving the car at home more often will help reduce emissions, improve congestion and improve personal health. In a fast-growing region such as Montreal, we see and breathe the evidence that transportation is one of the largest sources of air pollution and greenhouse gases in Canada.

In fact, transportation accounts for about 60 per cent of Canada's carbon monoxide and more than half of the nitrous oxide emissions that contribute to smog. Transportation also contributes about 26 per cent of Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions. On-road emissions account for about three-quarters of that contribution - and about half of the on-road emissions come from personal vehicles.

That's why we have to encourage people to use more sustainable means of personal travel. For example: public transit, car pooling, bicycling, or any other of the alternatives available to Canadians. It's why we're investing up to $10 million in the ecoMobility Program through which we'll work with cities on Transportation Demand Management.

ecoMobility Program

The program establishes a national capacity building network for the professionals and governments working to implement transportation demand management in Canada.

We know that this type of initiative is efficient. For example, in Halifax, bus ridership jumped nearly 20 per cent after the city implemented a MetroLink Bus Rapid Transit project. In fact, 40 kilometres from here, in Mont-Saint-Hilaire, they are building a thousand residences within a ten-minute walk to the commuter train station. We want other cities to have neighbourhoods like Village de la Gare.

Here in Greater Montreal, transportation management associations have been created with the support of the Agence métropolitaine de transport. Some of these associations, including Voyagez Futé, are here today. I am pleased that with the ecoMobility Program, we will see that the innovation demonstrated here in Montreal will inspire other communities.

Today's announcement is another example of the Government of Canada taking action now to protect the health of Canadians and the environment. This initiative is only one part of this government's ecoTransport Strategy, which is aimed at:

• improving the health of Canadians and the environment by reducing the environmental impacts of transportation;
• securing Canada's future prosperity and competitiveness by making critical transportation infrastructure sustainable - economically and environmentally; and
• promoting an efficient transportation system that supports choice and the high quality of life that Canadians expect.

ecoTransport is part of the priorities that Canada's New Government has set for the months ahead. As you know, yesterday the Prime Minister announced - together with Premier Charest - the Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and Climate Change. This program will support provincial projects that will result as well in real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants.

We are also investing $5 billion in gas tax funds over five years in Canadian municipalities for their infrastructure. Over the span of the agreement, the province of Quebec will receive $1.34 billion, to which the Government of Quebec will add $475.5 million. This brings the total amount to over $1.8 billion. This money will be used by cities for mass transit, and for sewage and water treatment infrastructure.

In fact, today I also delivered the first payment of over $45 million to the City of Montreal. Funds must be used to support environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure by investing in targeted projects, such as public transit, local roads, water and wastewater systems. You will see the results. The environment is a priority for Canada's New Government. And we have started to act decisively and energetically.

Thank you.

I am now happy to welcome my colleague, Environment Minister John Baird, to the podium.