Canada and the U.S. have a long history of collaborating on joint environmental challenges. Given that air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions cross national boundaries, continuing to collaborate on progressive actions to address vehicle and engine emissions is a priority for both countries.
With the Canada–U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council Joint Forward Plan, Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) committed to continue collaborating under the U.S.–Canada Air Quality Committee towards the development of aligned vehicle and engine emission regulations and their coordinated implementation. Consistent with these objectives, these cooperative efforts include information-sharing, technical work-sharing, scientific collaboration and testing related to vehicle and engine emissions.
This collaboration has ensured Canada’s vehicle emission regulations are aligned with those of the United States. Alignment of stringent emission standards delivers important health and environmental benefits to Canadians. Given the integrated nature of the North American economy, aligned Canada–United States vehicle emission regulations are also important to support the competitiveness of the Canadian automotive sector. Alignment also provides Canadian companies with long term regulatory certainty, helps with product planning and minimizes administrative burden.
The Government of Canada has stringent emissions standards to address air pollutants from new cars sold in Canada to help ensure clean air for Canadians in alignment with the U.S. EPA’s standards. Environment Canada routinely conducts vehicle emission testing on a sample of vehicles offered for sale in Canada to verify compliance with applicable emission regulations. This testing is conducted in coordination with the U.S. EPA to help broaden the scope of our coverage and maximize efficiencies on both sides of the border. Environment Canada has now expanded its on-going collaborative work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assess vehicles for defeat devices and other compliance issues.
