OTTAWA, Ont. — Fourteen new projects under Transport Canada’s Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program were announced yesterday by Transport Minister Tony Valeri.

“These projects demonstrate the transportation industry’s leadership in reducing emissions and promoting sustainable transportation,” said Mr. Valeri. “The innovative tools, technologies and best practices they generate will not only decrease greenhouse gas emissions but will also increase the efficiency of freight transportation.”

The organizations selected to demonstrate their projects under the third round of funding are Big Freight Systems Inc., Canadian Waste Services Inc., Enbridge Gas Distribution, the Forest Engineering Research Institute of
Canada, Groupe Enerstat inc., and Innovation Maritime. Fourth round project organizations are Air Transat A.T. Inc., Canadian National Railway Company, J.D. Smith and Sons Limited, New Brunswick Southern Railway Company Limited, RailPower Technologies Corporation, RST Industries and Seaspan International
Ltd.

The Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program, announced in November 2001, will allocate approximately $4.5 million over five years for projects designed to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the freight transportation sector. This program is one of five transportation initiatives under the Government of Canada Action Plan 2000 on Climate Change.

The program supports the demonstration and evaluation of innovative tools, technologies and best practices that have the potential to reduce the growth of greenhouse gas emissions from the freight transportation sector in Canada. The Government of Canada will contribute up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses, to a maximum of $250,000, with applicants and their partners contributing the remainder.

“Transportation is a key component of the Government of Canada’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Honourable Jim Karygiannis, P.C., M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport. “By encouraging environmentally sustainable freight transportation choices we will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions in Canada while improving air quality – and our quality of life.”

This announcement brings the total funding allocated under the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program to approximately $2.4 million for 20 projects.

More information on the Freight Sustainability Demonstration Program is available at www.tc.gc.ca/FSDP