Canada emissions rules derided

It has been claimed that Canada's new regulations on emissions will not have a significant impact on the environment, but will result in huge costs to the public.

According to Mark Nantais, president of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, adopting new rules which will put Canada's emissions targets on a par with those of California will only have a negative effect.

In his view, the current position whereby a voluntary agreement has been reached between motor manufacturers and the Canadian government has worked well.

Under the present system, all manufacturers are urged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 5.3 megatonnes by the end of the decade.

However, the new targets, which would come into effect after 2010, would be relatively ineffective, according to Mr Nantais, who told Reuters: "What we'd end up with is something which provides virtually no benefit for Canadians but a great deal of cost to Canadians."

Ÿ Adfero Ltd