OTTAWA, Ont. — Eleven projects designed to contribute to a more environmentally friendly transportation system have been selected to receive funding under the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program.

The Honourable Jim Karygiannis, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, on behalf of Transport Minister Jean C. Lapierre, has announced that the selected projects will receive funding totalling $407,000. These projects represent many initiatives from launching a cycle to work challenge to developing a mobile facility capable of processing waste vegetable oil into biodiesel fuel.

“These projects demonstrate the wide range of possibilities that exist for developing more sustainable transportation in Canada,” said Karygiannis. “They also provide an important benchmark for other communities looking for innovative ways of reducing the impact of transportation on their environment.”

The following organizations will receive funding under the program: Better Environmentally Sound Transportation, Clean Air Champions, EnviroCentre, Environmental Youth Alliance, Greenest City, Nature Canada, Pedal Energy Development Alternatives, Resource Conservation Manitoba, Sierra Club of Canada (Prairie Chapter), The Otesha Project and Vlo-route trans-Qubec pour la Table de concertation vlo Outaouais.

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to sustainable transportation,” said Lapierre. “Communities need solutions that respond to local challenges and the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program provides several innovative options.”

Since it began in 1999, the Moving on Sustainable Transportation program has funded 73 projects aimed at encouraging sustainable transportation practices among Canadians. Originally slated to last three years with more than $1 million to be allocated, the program was extended to 2007 in response to ongoing demand, and was given $2.5 million in additional funding. This is the tenth round of projects to receive funding under the program.