Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Like the AIAMC members, we want post-2010. We want alignment with the U.S. CAFE. We have to remember, of course, that we have a fleet that is smaller in Canada. Actually, the challenge we have is harder in Canada because we have the smaller fleet already. It's much more difficult to shift things forward, but we will end up with a bigger benefit, if you will, if we were to do that.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Lussier, I think we need to remember that we have companies in Canada that have research facilities. They are developing everything in Canada from hybrids.... In fact, we're going to have the first hybrid built at Ford Motor Company, for instance. It's the first hybrid in Canada.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Our argument is this. It starts with a series of things. First off, where are you going to get the biggest bang for your buck? Where are you going to get the largest emissions reduction? We would suggest to you that it's in the areas of fuel quality and renewable fuels, because when you add the fuel to the technology, you get maximum environmental benefit.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  I would love to do that. First, large SUVs—perhaps what you're talking about here—really only constitute about 2% of the Canadian market. Those vehicles become the poster child for anything that's anti-environment. The reality of the matter is they only represent about 2% of our products in Canada.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Regarding the electrification of the car, we went through a phase in the early 1990s that didn't quite work out so well. Battery technology did not evolve at that time as far as we would have liked, in terms of meeting customer satisfaction criteria, such as range, durability, reliability, and so on.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  You're right about the California situation. There is now a court injunction against the state proceeding with its regulation, on the basis that it doesn't have the authority to do that. It is a federal authority to regulate fuel economy. They're also waiting for litigation going on in the other states that are looking at California and are now on a similar basis.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  In the Prime Minister's speech today at noon, he confirmed that they are moving to regulation in model year 2011. I therefore think it's almost academic unless something changes. Clearly, if the regulation is coming forward, as we have said, we're an integrated industry. That integration that took place in 1965 brought forward literally tens of thousands of jobs, not just in assembly, but in the supply chains.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Oddly enough, some time ago there was a Senate bill, Bill S-8, which actually set a target of 25%. I don't believe the government has ever achieved that. From what we can determine, from department to department there is no coordinated approach. if you've got 20,000 vehicles out there that are purchased every year, yes, it's high volume.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  That seems to be the case.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  The entire auto industry, every vehicle manufacturer in Canada, signed that agreement. There is no requirement to report publicly in the first year. We did so with the public report without having to do that requirement. So the first real report is for the 2007 model year in 2008.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Let me tell you about that. We all have those technologies. It's not those companies versus ours. We all have those technologies. You have full slates of hybrid technologies coming to the fore. You have various other technologies, right through to fuel-cell technologies. So it's not them versus us.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  Mr. Godfrey, let me begin, if I could. Others will possibly join in after. I think we have to remember here that sales and market share are being fiercely competed for as we speak. Every vehicle manufacturer has a full slate of fuel-saving technologies that are more fuel efficient.

Bill C-30 (39th Parliament, 1st Session) committee  We are ready to go, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much. Good afternoon to the members of the committee. Let me say that we thank you for this opportunity to address members of this committee, specifically as it relates toBill C-30 and the changes that would be implied under the Motor Vehicle Fuel Consumption Standards Act, which is contained therein.

Finance committee  That's based on the emission regulations that are now in place--and these are mandatory, the most stringent in the world--as well as the performance of the vehicle. A calculation is derived from that.

Finance committee  I don't know if it's part of Canada's Clean Air Act, but it's certainly in place with the federal government.