Poll shows Canadians want tougher fuel economy standards for cars

January 19, 2005 -

OTTAWA – Almost 90 per cent of Canadians want the federal government to follow California’s example and set strict fuel efficiency standards for new vehicles, says a new poll commissioned by the David Suzuki Foundation.

 

The poll, conducted by Léger Marketing between January 12 and January 14, also found the vast majority (81 per cent) of Canadians feel that these standards should be mandatory, not voluntary.

 

“Canadians overwhelmingly want cleaner cars,” said Dale Marshall, an Ottawa-based policy analyst with the Suzuki Foundation. “Tougher fuel efficiency standards will help reduce smog and also help Canada meet its Kyoto targets by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.”

 

Released today, the poll coincides with this week’s meeting between Environment Minster Stéphane Dion and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Dion traveled to California to learn more about the state’s landmark legislation requiring carmakers to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from its vehicles.

 

Ottawa has been in discussions with the auto industry to improve the fuel efficiency of its vehicles so they burn 25 per cent less gasoline by 2010. However, unlike California’s mandatory approach, Canada has been pursuing a voluntary agreement with industry.

 

“Voluntary standards simply don’t work,” said Mr. Marshall. “In spite of promises by industry, the average fuel efficiency of our vehicles is getting worse, not better. Canadians clearly want mandatory standards to force industry to build cleaner cars.”

 

The poll also found that the majority of Canadians (58 per cent) believe a 25 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency by 2010 is “about right” as a target. A further 29 per cent believe that this target is not strict enough.

 

“Canadians are clearly tired of inefficient, polluting vehicles,” said Mr. Marshall. “They know that automakers can build cleaner cars and they want the government to step in. Protecting our health and well being should not be left to the whims of the industry.”

 

Key findings of the Suzuki Foundation poll include:

·  Eighty-nine per cent of Canadians feel that government regulations are needed to increase fuel efficiency in vehicles.

 

·  The vast majority of Canadians (81 per cent) believe emission targets for vehicles should be mandatory rather than voluntary.

 

·  Most Canadians (58 per cent) endorse the federal government’s target of a 25 per cent increase in efficiency by 2010. A further 29 per cent feel these targets should be even stricter.

 

·  Nearly 70 per cent of Canadians do not believe industry claims that meeting the 25 per cent target by 2010 would be “very difficult.”

 

The survey fielding was conducted by Léger Marketing with analytical assistance from Redfern Research. The results are based on 1,526 on-line interviews conducted between January 12 and January 14 2005 and are considered accurate to within ± 2.3%, 19 times out of 20.  The sample has been weighted to reflect the wider Canadian population.

 

Full poll results are available here. 

 

 

For more information, call:

Sarah Marchildon

Communications specialist

David Suzuki Foundation

604-732-4228, ext. 237      

 

Dale Marshall

Policy Analyst

David Suzuki Foundation

Ottawa bureau

Cell: (613) 302-9913

 

Martin Redfern

Research spokesman

Redfern Research

(613) 830- 7278