No. H128/05
For release June 8, 2005
MORE FEDERAL FUNDING ANNOUNCED
FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
OTTAWA — Eleven projects designed to contribute to a more environmentally friendly transportation system have been selected to receive funding under the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program.
The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre, today announced that the selected projects will receive funding totalling $407,000. These projects represent many initiatives from launching a cycle to work challenge to developing a mobile facility capable of processing waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel.
"These projects demonstrate the wide range of possibilities that exist for developing more sustainable transportation in Canada," said Mr. Karygiannis. "They also provide an important benchmark for other communities looking for innovative ways of reducing the impact of transportation on their environment."
The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, Clean Air Champions, EnviroCentre, Environmental Youth Alliance, Greenest City, Nature Canada, Pedal Energy Development Alternatives, Resource Conservation Manitoba, Sierra Club of Canada (Prairie Chapter), The Otesha Project and Vélo-route trans-Québec pour la Table de concertation vélo Outaouais.
"There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable transportation," said Mr. Lapierre. "Communities need solutions that respond to local challenges and the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program provides several innovative options."
Since it began in 1999, the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program has funded 73 projects aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation practices among Canadians. Originally slated to last three years with more than $1 million to be allocated, the program was extended to 2007 in response to ongoing demand, and was given $2.5 million in additional funding. This is the tenth round of projects to receive funding under the program.
Funding for Moving on Sustainable Transportation was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
Backgrounders with further information on the program and the
winning projects are included.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Chris Krepski
Communications
Transport Canada, Ottawa
(613) 993-0055
Transport Canada is online at www.tc.gc.ca.
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BACKGROUNDER
MOVING ON SUSTAINABLE
TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
The successful project submissions for the tenth round of funding under the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program are:
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation
Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Better Environmentally Sound Transportation will receive $50,000 to research and examine existing sustainable transportation projects and best practices, such as measures to encourage transit use, the impact of urban planning and design on transportation choices, and programs developed to encourage walking and cycling. The second phase of the project will highlight successful policies that contribute to sustainable transportation in Canadian cities.
Clean Air Champions
Project location: Ottawa, Ontario
Clean Air Champions will receive $59,000 to deliver a curriculum-linked, web-based program on sustainable transportation to students in grades eight and nine in secondary schools in five Canadian cities.
EnviroCentre
Project location: Ottawa, Ontario
EnviroCentre will receive $20,000 to help formulate a strategy aimed at developing Canada’s first Transportation Management Association. The association is proposed for Ottawa’s Byward Market area, which features entertainment, tourist and retail establishments. Transportation Management Associations work with employers and employees to find the best ways to reduce the number of car trips by encouraging alternatives such as car-sharing, car-pooling and employee shuttle services and introducing transit use incentives.
Environmental Youth Alliance
Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Environmental Youth Alliance will receive $50,000 to develop a mobile facility capable of processing waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel for use in small and isolated communities.
Greenest City
Project location: Toronto, Ontario
Greenest City will receive $35,000 to replace delivery routes traditionally served by motorized vehicles, with a bicycle delivery service. In addition to reducing emissions, this service will allow delivery men and women to conduct public education and outreach on sustainable transportation issues in the community.
Nature Canada
Project location: Ottawa, Ontario
Nature Canada will receive $50,000 to educate the public about the environmental impact of off-highway vehicles such as off-road motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and personal watercraft. The project will also bring together stakeholder groups to develop a common vision for sustainable off-highway vehicle use.
Pedal Energy Development Alternatives
Project location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Pedal Energy Development Alternatives will receive $38,000 to recycle used bicycles and encourage cycling in low-income neighbourhoods by providing free or inexpensive bikes to residents.
Resource Conservation Manitoba
Project location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Resource Conservation Manitoba will receive $25,000 to encourage students at participating secondary schools to choose environmentally friendly means of commuting by organizing events, facilitating a student steering committee and preparing a toolkit of resources.
Sierra Club of Canada, Prairie Chapter
Project location: Edmonton, Alberta
Sierra Club of Canada, Prairie Chapter, will receive $25,000 to encourage students at private schools to carpool through promotional activities and an online ride-matching program.
The Otesha Project
Project location: Ottawa, Ontario
The Otesha Project will receive $40,000 to bring together 60 individuals to act as sustainable transportation role models. They will travel on bicycles to largely rural communities accompanied by a biodiesel/hybrid fuel vehicle to engage youth on sustainability issues.
Vélo-route trans-Québec pour la Table de concertation vélo Outaouais
Project location: Gatineau, Quebec
Vélo-route trans-Québec pour la Table de concertation vélo Outaouais will receive $15,000 to launch a 16-week commuter challenge aimed at encouraging the public to bike to work.
June 2005
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 stimulate 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 MOST program fulfils a commitment made in Transport Canada’s first Sustainable Development Strategy, which was tabled in Parliament in 1997. The first phase of the program began in the fiscal year 1999-2000, 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, about $2.6 million has been allocated towards a variety of initiatives aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation to 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 lasting and environmentally friendly 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.
June 2005
