OTTAWA, Ont. — Transport Minister Jean-C. Lapierre announced funding for four new projects to help the freight transportation sector reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

The $1,518,000 in funding comes from Transport Canada’s Freight Incentives Program.

“These projects represent a wide range of initiatives within the freight sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions using new technologies,” said Lapierre. “All of the projects will result in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the freight companies involved.”

The four winning projects were proposed by Canadian National Railway, IDC Distribution Services Ltd., La Compagnie minire Qubec Cartier, and the Socit des Chemins de Fer du Qubec inc.

The Freight Incentives Program is a four-year, $5-million program designed to encourage the adoption and use of technology and equipment that reduce greenhouse gas emissions cost-effectively in the rail, marine and air freight transportation sectors. To achieve this goal, the program provides funding to eligible applicants to purchase and install efficiency-enhancing technologies. The Freight Incentives Program began accepting its first round of proposals in May 2004.

The program is part of $32.3 million allocated for the Commercial Transportation Energy Efficiency and Fuels Initiative announced on August 12, 2003. This initiative falls under the Climate Change Plan for Canada.
Funding for these projects was provided for in the February 2003 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.