No. H041/04 For release May 21, 2004 OTTAWA - Eight winning projects were announced today by the Honourable Jim Karygiannis, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, under the Moving on Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program. The projects are designed to contribute to a more environmentally friendly transportation system. "This program seeks to encourage the development of innovative technologies and methods for decreasing the impact of transportation on the environment," said Mr. Karygiannis. "It also provides Canadians with practical information and tools that they can use every day." Eight projects totalling $266,330 were approved for funding. These projects represent a wide variety of initiatives ranging from quantifying the positive impacts of teleworking to the expansion of a successful transportation demand management program. The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Victory Car Share Co-op, Community Bicycle Network, Electric Vehicle Society of Canada, Climate Change Central, ENvironnement JEUnesse (ENJEU), Pollution Probe, University of Calgary and W.V. Housing Corporation. Since it started in 1999, the MOST program has allocated approximately $2.1 million to 65 projects aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation practices among Canadians. Originally slated to last three years, MOST was extended to 2007 in response to ongoing demand for the program, and was given $2.5 million in additional funding. This is the eighth round of projects to receive funding under the program. Funding for MOST was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the current fiscal framework. Backgrounders with further information on the MOST program and the winning projects are included. - 30 - Contact: Robin Browne Transport Canada Communications, Ottawa (613) 993-0055 Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca. Subscribe to news releases and speeches at apps.tc.gc.ca/listserv/ and keep up-to-date on the latest from Transport Canada. This news release may be made available in alternative formats for persons with visual disabilities. BACKGROUNDER MOVING ON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS The Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program assists organizations such as environmental groups, community associations, academic institutions, Aboriginal organizations and business and professional associations that are conducting projects and delivering concrete results in support of the Government of Canada's commitment to sustainable transportation. The program seeks to stimulate the development of innovative methods for decreasing the impact of transportation on the environment, and also aims to provide Canadians with practical information and tools to apply sustainable transportation thinking to their daily lives. MOST fulfils a commitment made in Transport Canada's first Sustainable Development Strategy, which was tabled in Parliament in 1997. The successful project submissions for the eighth round of funding under MOST are: Car-Sharing Education and Outreach Strategy Project location: Victoria, British Columbia The Victory Car Share Co-op (VCSC) will receive $25,680 for its project to increase the number of people using car-sharing as an alternative mode of transportation, through the delivery of educational and communication strategies. VCSC's target is to increase membership by 50 per cent, decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from automobile use, reduce the need for individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations to own a vehicle, and increase the use of all alternative modes of transportation. Community Bicycle Network Sustainable Transportation Speaker Series Project location: Toronto, Ontario The Community Bicycle Network will receive $20,000 to launch a monthly speaker series in the Greater Toronto Area featuring renowned experts on sustainable transportation. Development of Workshop Manual and Pilot Demonstration Project for Conversion of a Gasoline-Powered Vehicle to an Electric Vehicle Project location: Toronto, Ontario The Electric Vehicle Society of Canada will receive $40,000 to produce an educational workshop manual that will educate students (mainly grade 11/12 or community college) about sustainable transportation and guide them through the conversion of a standard gasoline-powered vehicle to an electric vehicle. Mobility Perspectives: Visionary Transportation for Prairie Cities Project location: Edmonton, Alberta Climate Change Central and its partners will receive $35,000 to hold a two-day conference focusing on transportation-related issues unique to Prairie cities. The conference - Mobility Perspectives: Visionary Transportation for Prairie Cities - will be an opportunity for municipal decision-makers (city councillors, senior managers and departmental officials) and non-governmental organizations to focus on sustainable transportation issues, and professionals in the transportation and land use planning industry to learn about, contribute knowledge to and take action on current transportation challenges facing Prairie cities. Ré-Bécanne Project location: Montreal, Quebec ENvironnement JEUnesse (ENJEU) will receive $40,000 for the Ré-Bécanne project, which aims to raise youth awareness of sustainable forms of urban transportation. The Ré-Bécanne project encourages youths to make smart transportation choices early in life. The project aims to educate young people about the effects of climate change, provide them with the knowledge and facilities to fix bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades, and make technical/mechanical classes available for their participation. S-M-A-R-T Movement: Save Money and the Air by Reducing Trips Project location: Toronto, Ontario Pollution Probe will receive $52,900 for their S-M-A-R-T Movement - a workplace-based trip-reduction program that is directed at reducing single-occupant car trips by employees. This information resource and support service is designed to help medium and large organizations reduce such car trips. This phase of the project will expand its delivery in the Greater Toronto Area. Sustainable Transportation in Calgary: Current and Future Contributions of Telework Project location: Calgary, Alberta The University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business will receive $45,000 to refine and adapt a comprehensive model of teleworking to measure all relevant effects on society, participating organizations and the employees involved. Whistler Car-Sharing Pilot Project Project location: Whistler, British Columbia W.V. Housing Corporation will receive $7,750 to test strategies for promoting car-sharing, as well as the overall viability of car-sharing when offered through residential housing projects. This project aims to promote a reduction in single-occupant car trips in Whistler, B.C. May 2004 BACKGROUNDER MOVING ON SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM The Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program is an innovative Transport Canada funding program that provides financial support to help organizations conduct projects that will produce the kinds of education, awareness and analytical tools necessary to make sustainable transportation a reality. Eligible organizations include environmental groups, community associations, academic institutions, Aboriginal organizations, and business and professional associations. The program seeks to encourage the development of innovative methods for decreasing the impact of transportation on the environment, to achieve quantifiable results and to provide Canadians with practical information and tools to apply sustainable transportation thinking to their daily lives. The first phase of the MOST program started in 1999, with more than $1 million to be allocated over three years. In response to ongoing demand, the program was recently extended to 2007, with an additional $2.5 million to be allocated over five years. To date, the MOST program has contributed about $2.1 million towards a variety of initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation in diverse target audiences. The types of projects eligible for funding include: studies that contribute to greater understanding of sustainable transportation issues; initiatives to develop new and innovative sustainable transportation tools and practices; pilot projects that test new sustainable transportation approaches or alternatives; workshops and information sessions to support new sustainable transportation ideas or approaches; and education and outreach programs that inform the Canadian public about sustainable transportation. Individual projects may receive up to a maximum of $100,000 over two years. In keeping with the Government of Canada's commitment to partnership, applicants must also demonstrate that 50 per cent of their eligible net costs are provided by other sources. Project proposals are screened against detailed eligibility criteria. Proposals that meet the initial requirements are sent to an independent advisory committee for further review and recommendations. Transport Canada makes the final decision on funding requests. Transport Canada is committed to contributing to a sustainable transportation system. Through MOST, the department is helping to find ways to meet today's transportation needs while protecting the environment for future generations of Canadians. For more information, visit Transport Canada's MOST website at www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environment/most/menu.htm. May 2004
