No. H205/05For release October 28, 2005
BARRIE, Ont. - One new project in Barrie, Ontario, under the Moving on
Sustainable Transportation program was announced today by the Honourable Eileen Carroll,
MP (Barrie) and Minister for International Cooperation, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre.
The organization selected to receive funding is Environmental Action Barrie
(Living Green).
"Environmental Action's telecommuting centre in Barrie is an innovative
business model," said Ms. Carroll. "By bringing the workplace to the workforce,
this initiative will ease congestion in the area and help reduce harmful
greenhouse gas emissions."
Environmental Action Barrie (Living Green) will receive $50,000 to research
and analyze the benefits and barriers, effectiveness and potential emission
reductions associated with a new telecommuting centre in Barrie, Ontario. The
telecommuting centre is the first of its kind in Canada. Its goal is to allow
employees of firms in the Greater Toronto Area to work closer to home in a
centralized location rather than having to commute long distances regularly.
The Moving on Sustainable Transportation program has funded 84 projects aimed
at encouraging sustainable transportation practices among Canadians since it
began in 1999. 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 eleventh round of
projects to receive funding under the program.
"Since its introduction, the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program has
consistently inspired new and innovative project ideas," said Mr. Lapierre. "I
am pleased that there has been such continued interest in this program."
Funding for the program was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget.
A backgrounder with further information on the Moving on
Sustainable Transportation program is included.
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Contacts:
Irène Marcheterre
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister, Ottawa
(613) 991-0700
Chris Krepski
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.
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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, achieve
quantifiable results and 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 $3 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 Canadians 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.
October 2005
