No. H058/02For release - June 7, 2002
OTTAWA — Transport Minister David Collenette, Environment Minister David Anderson, President of the Treasury Board of Canada Lucienne Robillard, and Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal, today announced a one-year pilot project allowing Government of Canada employees working in four government departments in the National Capital Region to purchase a discounted annual transit pass through payroll deduction.
This pilot project is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide employees with a convenient annual transit pass. The project will begin this fall and involve employees at Transport Canada, Environment Canada, the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada, and Natural Resources Canada. Employees from these departments who use OC Transpo will receive the equivalent of 15 per cent off regular fares, and la Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) riders will receive the equivalent of one month's fare for free.
"I am pleased to announce the Government of Canada is promoting transit use in the National Capital Region," said Mr. Collenette. "This program is designed to encourage more federal government employees to take advantage of the excellent public transit system in the Ottawa-Gatineau area."
"Public transit is not only convenient, it's economical and good for the environment," said Mr. Anderson. "I am particularly pleased to see the Government of Canada lead by example in helping reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, improve our air quality and our environment."
"I am very pleased that my department is participating in this pilot initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from employee work-related travel," said Madame Robillard. "This program is good for both our employees and the environment."
"This pilot project is a win-win situation for the transportation companies, employees, and the environment," said Mr. Dhaliwal. "Reducing energy consumption by vehicles - including the family car - is a big part of the climate change solution. One busload of passengers means 40 fewer cars on the road at rush hour - that translates to 175 fewer tonnes of emissions in one year."
Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, accounting for approximately 25 per cent of the total. This sector presents important opportunities and challenges for Canada in responding to the Kyoto Protocol, which was negotiated in December 1997 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Increasing transit use is a key component of Canada's Kyoto strategy.
The Government of Canada announced new steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout Canada in its $500 million Action Plan 2000, released in October 2000. As part of the plan, an initiative was put in place to accelerate progress in reducing emissions from federal government operations. The Transit Pass Pilot Project is part of that initiative.
The project announced today will give federal workers an incentive to contribute to the Government of Canada's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas and other air emissions.
More than 30 private sector employers in the Ottawa-Gatineau area already participate in payroll deduction programs, launched by OC Transpo and STO in March 2000. The programs offer a discount for riders who purchase an annual transit pass through payroll deduction.
For more information, please visit www.fhio.gc.ca
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Contacts:
Anthony PolciDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of TransportOttawa, (613) 991-0700
Heather BalaDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of Natural ResourcesOttawa, (613) 996-7292
Kelly MorganDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Minister of the Environment(819) 997-1441
Michel ClérouxChief, Media RelationsEnvironment CanadaGatineau, (819) 953-4016
Dan KingsburySpokesperson Treasury BoardOttawa, (613) 957-2391
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at www.tc.gc.ca/e-news and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada.
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