CTA Urges Finance Minister to Include EnviroTruck Incentives in 2010 Budget

(Toronto, ON)  In a letter to Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, CTA urged the federal government to incorporate policies that would assist carriers in becoming early adopters of the latest green truck technologies.  These green technologies, included in CTA’s enviroTruck initiative, would help eliminate smog-causing air contaminants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from trucks.

CTA President David Bradley called upon Mr. Flaherty to honour his party’s election promise of reducing the federal excise tax on diesel fuel by 50 per cent.  This action would partially eliminate a regressive tax on business inputs that should have been done away with years ago, Bradley continued.

Alternatively, CTA suggested an approach whereby financial/tax incentives, such as tax credits or accelerated CCA rates, equal to the promised excise tax reduction be devoted to a program that would support carriers in adding new green technologies to their fleets.  Bradley recognized the government’s need to restrain federal spending, especially in light of recent stimulus spending.  However, Bradley explained that this policy would not impact federal revenues, and would help the federal government meet some of its stated goals with respect to air pollution and greenhouse gases. 

CTA’s enviroTruck program is a cohesive, practical approach to accelerating the acquisition of new, mandatory, smog-free trucks combined with proven technologies that will reduce fuel consumption and lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions.  EnviroTruck seeks to create a partnership between the Government of Canada and the trucking industry, to provide meaningful financial incentives to ease the substantial costs associated with acquisition of new, greener equipment.

For information on CTA’s enviroTruck initiative, please visit www.cantruck.ca.