1. Interpretation

"On-road vehicle" is defined by the regulations as "a self-propelled vehicle designed for transporting persons, property, material or permanently or temporarily affixed apparatus on a common or public road, street, avenue, parkway or highway".

There is no list or process to determine if equipment meets the definition of "on-road vehicle" under the regulations. If interpretation of the term were an issue in a prosecution under the regulations, it would be determined by the court.

Generally, it is difficult to supply these northern locations, especially in the winter. Fuel shipments to these areas take place from mid-May to September. Refuelling facilities in these areas are generally slow to turnover their diesel fuel stock. For these reasons, the regulations include a later implementation date with respect to the sulphur concentration on sales of and offers to sell diesel fuel in these areas.

The regulations use the term "northern supply area" to denote some remote northern locations of Canada that have a later implementation date for the 15 mg/kg limit that applies to sales and offers to sell. Appendix B of this Guidance Document includes a map showing the northern supply area. The area includes, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, most of Yukon, northeast Manitoba, northern Quebec, Labrador, and coastal areas around James Bay and Hudson Bay. The area excludes primary roads in the North.

The northern supply area includes remote northern regions of Canada that are supplied with fuel by barge. In defining this area, Environment Canada consulted with stakeholders including the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Industry Canada, Canadian Transportation Agency, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute (CPPI), Engine Manufacturers Association, Northern Transportation Company Limited, Sunoco, Imperial Oil, Shell, Friends of the Earth, the governments of Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec and Newfoundland, and the Cree Regional Authority.

CGSB defines diesel as having a lower end boiling range of 150^oC. The Sulphur in Diesel Fuel Regulations have modified the definition of diesel fuel to change the lower end boiling range to 130^oC in order to encompass a broader range of distillate. The definition in the regulation was recommended by CPPI.