OTTAWA — When it was presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, the Canadian Trucking Alliance’s enviroTruck initiative received a welcome boost from the David Suzuki Foundation.

During the question and answer period at the committee’s pre-budget hearing Liberal MP Massimo Pacetti asked Pierre Sadik, policy advisor in the Foundation’s Sustainability Program, what he thought of CTA’s enviroTruck proposal.

“From what I’ve heard here today, it sounds quite useful and would be quite helpful,” Sadik responded. “I’m very pleased with the criteria [for] contaminants that [CTA CEO] Mr. Bradley was talking about, the reduction of NOx and the particulate matter.”

During the past several months, since the enviroTruck concept was developed, CTA has recognized that support from respected environmental activists such as the Suzuki Foundation will be key to its acceptance by government.

The B.C. Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services also viewed the initiative in a positive light following a separate presentation by the British Columbia Trucking Association (BCTA) in October.

The committee held 13 public hearings across B.C. in an effort to receive proposals and recommendations regarding the provincial budget for the upcoming fiscal year. About 5,800 residents took part in the process and the committee’s 2008 Budget Consultation Paper was made public Nov. 15.

The BCTA made its presentation to the committee with a focus on providing financial incentives for carriers making an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by way of the enviroTruck program.

In it’s report, the committee recommended the provincial government, “work with the B.C. Trucking Association to examine possible grant, rebate, or loan programs, to encourage the adoption of the EnviroTruck program.”