As Canadians, we can all certainly appreciate what the Government of Canada is doing these days from a budgetary perspective to help alleviate concerns surrounding the seemingly ill state of our environment. Part of that process came to light during the introduction of last week’s budget speech by way of an ecoAUTO Rebate Program. It’s a green-based program which encourages Canadians to buy fuel-efficient vehicles by offering rebates up to $2,000 to people who, beginning March 20, 2007, buy or enter a long-term lease (12 months or more) for a fuel-efficient vehicle. Automakers are making real progress in coming up with fuel-efficient vehicle alternatives, adding to the growing number of makes and models which qualify for the ecoAUTO rebate established under the direction of Transport Canada. New cars getting 6.5 L/100km or better and new light trucks getting 8.3 L/100km or better. In addition, new flexible-fuel vehicles with combined fuel consumption E85 ratings of 13.0 L/100km or less will be eligible. Since a number of Canadian provinces offer similar rebates on advanced technology and fuel-efficient vehicles, you could be eligible for both federal and provincial rebates. New eligible vehicles purchased or leased (long term lease of 12 months or more) as of March 20, 2007 will qualify for the rebate. The list of eligible vehicles is posted on the government website. With the ecoAUTO Rebate Program, our government intends to commit upwards of $160 million over two years to offer performance-based rebates on new light duty vehicles. It also ties in nicely with the federal government’s announcement to support ongoing vehicle scrappage efforts through programs such as Car Heaven, which are solely responsible for taking more than 50,000 old, higher-polluting clunkers off Canadian roads dating back to the year 2000. Another key component of the federal government’s plan comes in the form of a “green levy” of up to $4,000 for consumer who now purchase gas-guzzling vehicles (primarily SUVs). Sliding under the radar of Transport Canada’s green levy, is the truck market – which was given exemption status based on need and high demand. Nowhere is that demand more evident than here in Alberta where new and used sales account for the glut of preferred sales among consumers, be it for commercial or personal use. Sure, it doesn’t seem fair if you’re one of the individuals considering the purchase of an SUV, but there are attributing factors that clearly support the exemption status for trucks, ranging in nature from commercial use, off-road capability, and hauling/pulling purposes. The reality is that trucks are as much a part of our everyday lifestyle in Canada as convertibles are in Florida and California. They’re not only relied upon by consumers for their durability, but also for their power. But as every truck owner out there knows, there are certain drawbacks, one of which of course is the less than ideal fuel economy ratios when compared to the modern-day savings of your typical hybrid or other energy efficient vehicles. It’s a scenario which has seen manufacturers take positive steps to develop practical mid and full-size trucks which cater exclusively to environmental-friendliness and fuel efficiency without compromising durability and raw horsepower. For a list of vehicles eligible for government rebates visit www.tc.gc.ca

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