Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to rise today in support of Bill S-7, an act to accelerate the use of alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. With the passage of this forward looking legislation, the federal government will assume a leadership role in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by requiring by the year 2004 the conversion of 75 per cent of its fleet vehicles to cleaner burning fuel.
The federal fleet consists of 39,000 vehicles that release 150,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and over 4,000 tonnes of other pollutants into the environment each year. These pollutants collect in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. As a result of Bill S-7 we will reduce CO2 emissions by 20,000 tonnes annually and will take positive steps to address the greenhouse effect. We will lead by example.
It is anticipated that the conversion of government vehicles will encourage automobile companies to market vehicles that burn renewable fuels and will also increase the number of service stations providing alternative fuels. Not that many years ago gas stations offering ethanol were few and far between. Now they are everywhere. This too will happen with other cleaner burning fuels.
We have all contributed to the environmental problems we now face and it is time to be part of the solution. Bill S-7 will allow us as parliamentarians to take positive action to ensure that our children and our children's children enjoy cleaner air and a healthier environment. We owe this to them.
By requiring government vehicles to be converted to cleaner burning fuels, Canada will be making a significant step toward fulfilling our international commitments to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Liberal government is committed to ensuring that these obligations are met for the good of Canada and for the good of the world.
In addition to greening our country, this legislation will result in long term savings to Canadian taxpayers. During the five years it will take to convert 75 per cent of our government fleet vehicles, we will save $7 million. Once conversion is complete we will save $7 million every year. This represents direct savings to government and direct savings to taxpayers.
Bill S-7 is fuel neutral. It promotes the use of ethanol, methanol, propane gas, natural gas, hydrogen or electricity. The choice of fuels to an extent will be regionally determined based on economic factors and availability.
The expansion of the use of ethanol is of particular importance to me given the benefit it is for the environment and as a growing market for prairie grain. Not only is prairie grain feeding the world, it is getting the world where it wants to go and in a more environmentally friendly way than traditional fossil fuel.
Ethanol provides an excellent opportunity for economic growth and diversification. It greatly expands the market for agricultural products thereby increasing farmers' incomes. It also provides opportunities for value added development and jobs in rural Canada.
The people in my Dauphin-Swan River riding are excited about the prospects of ethanol production. Groups from the towns of Russell and Swan River have approached me about possibilities of establishing ethanol plants in their communities. They are excited about contributing to the greening of our environment and the economic spinoffs for their communities. The construction of ethanol plants in rural communities will not only boost our self-sufficiency in ethanol supply but will also diversify our communities, provide needed jobs and greatly contribute to the long term viability of rural Canada.
To help our rural communities build innovative economies, the minister of agriculture and the environment minister announced the biomass ethanol program which will encourage investment in the ethanol industry, thereby expanding domestic demands for corn, wheat and barley produced on the prairies. The biomass ethanol program shows this government's commitment to encourage the production and use of renewable fuels where it is environmentally sound and economically viable.
I am pleased with the support that companies like Centra Gas in Winnipeg and Ford Canada have given to this initiative. Propane and natural gas suppliers have indicated that they are prepared to convert suitable vehicles in the government fleet at their own expense. These are the types of partnerships we need to encourage to work toward environmental sustainability.
I am very pleased to offer my wholehearted support to this forward looking initiative. It is not often that an idea comes about that is good for the environment, good for agriculture and good for the taxpayers. In short, this is a win-win proposal.
I commend Senator Colin Kenny for his foresight and his commitment to the environment. I urge all members of this House to support this important legislation.