We need cleaner, not dirtier, vehicle emissions

RE: CANADA MUST NOT SLIDE BACKWARDS ON VEHICLE EMISSIONS, EDITORIAL, APRIL 5

Ever had your feet stuck in wet cement? That’s what it’s been like for Canada since U.S. President Donald Trump and his Environmental Protection Administration leader Scott Pruitt have been in the picture. Some days, just when it seems we’ve extricated ourselves from one mess, another one threatens to suck us down.

I cannot underestimate the power behind the majority of Canadians who want to take responsibility for dealing with climate change. We are a practical, sensible and fair-minded people. As such we get it that there are huge economic benefits to switching to clean energy. There is no need to be an expert on cap and trade or carbon pricing to intuitively understand that to access some of those economic gains, we have to transition deliberately and wisely. Why leave all the riches to fast moving players like China?

For sure we cannot slide backwards on vehicle emissions. In fact the opposite needs to happen. This past winter, we learned that the highest source of pollution in Ontario is by far transportation, specifically in freight. Our neighbour to the south may want to throw mud in our face with irresponsible pollution policy but we have calm, measured people in power with a proven record of knowing how to handle a Trump and a Pruitt. Personally, I look forward to the next smart measure: cleaner, not dirtier vehicle emissions.

Anyway, that’s my two cents.

Carole Lavallée

Chelmsford, Ont.