No. H069/04 For release October 19, 2004 OTTAWA - Nine winning projects were announced today by Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre under the Moving on Sustainable Transportation (MOST) program. The projects are designed to contribute to a more environmentally friendly transportation system. "I am pleased that the Moving On Sustainable Transportation program is able to fund innovative sustainable transportation initiatives across Canada," said Mr. Lapierre. "The successful projects will help contribute to a more sustainable transportation system and encourage more Canadians to make environmentally friendly transportation choices." Nine projects totalling $448,194 were approved for funding. These projects represent a wide variety of initiatives ranging from car sharing to reducing fuel consumption, emissions of greenhouse gases, and transportation costs in forest operations. The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Bathurst Sustainable Development; Better Environmentally Sound Transportation; Equiterre; Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada; Regina Eco-Industrial Network Association; Smart Growth BC; The Green Communities Association; The People's Car Cooperative Inc.; and West Vancouver Museum & Archives. Since it started in 1999, the MOST program has funded 74 projects aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation practices among Canadians. Originally slated to last three years with more than $1 million to be allocated, 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 ninth round of projects to receive funding under the program. Funding for MOST was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget. Backgrounders with further information on the MOST program and the winning projects are included. -30- Contact: Irène Marcheterre Director of Communications Office of the Minister, Ottawa (613) 991-0700 Helen Leslie Communications Transport Canada, 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 ninth round of funding under MOST are: Bathurst Sustainable Development Project location: Bathurst, New Brunswick Bathurst Sustainable Development will receive $30,000 to compile and produce a guide about implementing urban transit services in small urban centres and test a series of companion programs to educate the public about transit services and encourage ridership. Better Environmentally Sound Transportation Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia Better Environmentally Sound Transportation will receive $58,000 to produce and distribute a comprehensive regional cycling guide to households in British Columbia's Lower Mainland. Equiterre Project location: Montreal, Quebec Equiterre will receive $50,000 to provide comprehensive information and concrete tools to help young adults change their transportation habits. The project will take place on the University of Montreal's campus and builds on an existing initiative that promotes sustainable transportation alternatives. Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada Project location: Pointe-Claire, Quebec Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada will receive $79,170 to evaluate the potential for greenhouse gas and cost reductions by increasing the use of private off-highway forestry routes. Regina Eco-Industrial Network Association Project location: Regina, Saskatchewan Regina Eco-Industrial Network Association will receive $30,000 to implement pilot projects that could improve the sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of cooperating businesses while reducing their environmental impact. Smart Growth BC Project location: Squamish, British Columbia Smart Growth BC will receive $50,000 to facilitate the design of a sustainable development plan for the municipality and to work with the local government to adopt necessary by-laws and create relevant servicing plans. The Green Communities Association Project location: Various communities, Ontario The Green Communities Association will receive $98,115 to develop activities to increase school and student participation in a successful education program to increase the number of days students and their families use active transportation. The program will also help schools and communities meet the goals of the Government of Canada's One-Tonne Challenge. The People's Car Co-operative Inc. Project location: Kitchener, Ontario The People's Car Co-operative Inc., will receive $27,909 to increase membership in The People's Car Co-op to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in Kitchener-Waterloo by implementing and promoting new and innovative sustainable transportation services. West Vancouver Museum & Archives Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia The West Vancouver Museum & Archives will receive $25,000 to provide an in-class education program for grade 5-7 students in West and North Vancouver. The program will provide students with a better understanding of sustainable transportation. October 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. 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 October 2004
