On December 30, 2009, without prior notice, Quebec announced new regulations on vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that took effect on January 14, 2010 – just over two weeks later. That action sets a precedent with serious implications for automakers, dealers and consumers in every province and territory.
The Quebec regulations are said to parallel Calfornia’s GHG rules. They differ dramatically from those announced by the U.S. Federal government and subsequently by the Canadian government, which effectively create a harmonized North American standard.
Such regulations on GHGs are, in effect, fuel-consumption standards. Carbon-dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles, the primary GHG gases concerned, are directly related to fuel consumption.
As a trade-off for being granted a waiver allowing California to set its own standards, that state agreed to adopt the U.S. Federal regulations for the period 2012-2016, confirming a uniform continental standard over that period.
The Quebec regulations are based on an earlier California proposal that does not reflect that agreement so they stand alone as unique requirements within North America. They are more severe than the U.S. and Canadian standards for passenger cars but less severe for light trucks.
In addition, Quebec’s classification of vehicles, and what standards apply to which, also differ from the U.S. and Canadian standards. For example, it treats all CUVs and SUVs as passenger cars, not trucks, thus subjecting them to a much more severe requirement.
All of which plays havoc with the whole concept of uniform vehicle emissions regulations, which have been the goal of automakers, dealer organizations and federal governments on both sides of the border.
For dealers and consumers within Quebec, as well as for automakers, the immediate and unexpected application of the new standards has serious potential consequences. The regulations now in effect require maximum fleet-average combined fuel-consumption rates of 7.9 L/100 km for cars and 11.1 L/100 km for trucks.
According to Rick Gauthier, president of the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association (CADA) there are vehicles on the market that will not meet the new standards. In order for manufacturers to comply with the fleet average emissions and avoid fines of up to $5000 per vehicle, they may have no choice but to restrict the sale of certain models within Quebec.
For dealers and consumers outside Quebec, that province’s action sets a disturbing precedent that could potentially snowball into multiple sets of regulations among different jurisdictions. Some other provinces have already indicated they are leaning in that direction.
That situation would create a nightmare scenario, potentially restricting the sale of certain models in affected areas as well limiting inter-provincial trade in vehicles. It would also, almost certainly, result in higher prices for consumers.
A coalition involving the CADA, La Corporation des concessionnaires d’automobiles du Québec (CCAQ), the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association (CVMA) and the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada (AIAMC), is negotiating with the various governments to prevent such an occurrence, as well as seeking both clarifications of and revisions to Quebec’s regulations.
In that regard, the CCAQ has been diligent in working with the Quebec government to make it aware of the perilous repercussions that a fragmented approach will have on the province’s economy.
To help ensure that other provinces do not follow Quebec’s lead, the CADA has requested its provincial association members to take up the cause within their own provinces and dealers to do the same.
The organization is asking dealers to be proactive on this issue by contacting their MPPs or MLAs requesting the provinces to formally confirm their intent to follow the federal government’s lead on new emissions standards.
To that end, the CADA has prepared a letter template for dealers to use in contacting their own government officials.
Further information on this issue is available from your provincial dealer association or from CADA.
Further information on this issue is available from your provincial dealer association or from CADA.
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