News Release

Government of Canada Launches Vehicle Scrappage Program

OTTAWA, Ont. -- January 30, 2009 -- Today, the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of the Environment, encouraged Canadians to take advantage of the new National Vehicle Scrappage Program "Retire your Ride" being delivered by the Clean Air Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, with support from the Government of Canada. 

The Retire Your Ride program offers incentives to Canadians who turn in their older, higher polluting vehicles and also promotes sustainable transportation choices leading to reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, which cause climate change.

The incentives include discounts on public transit passes, bicycles, memberships in car-sharing programs, or $300 cash.  

“The Government of Canada remains committed to reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to protect the health of Canadians and the environment,” said Minister Prentice. “That is why we are working with the Clean Air Foundation, provincial and local organizations to get smog-causing cars off our roads.”

The Government is providing $92 million to fund the Retire Your Ride program until March 31, 2011.  The program will be delivered by the Clean Air Foundation in collaboration with local and national partners.

Of the 20 million cars and trucks on Canada’s roads, nearly five million were manufactured before 1996 – the year that the Government of Canada introduced more stringent standards to reduce smog-forming emissions. These pre-1996 models produce about 19 times more air pollutants than newer cars and trucks.

As part of the Government’s commitment to high environmental standards, the program will also include a National Car Recycling Code of Practice.  This tough code, which has been developed with the Automotive Recyclers of Canada, will raise the standard of environmental care for vehicle recycling and apply to all participating recyclers.

This initiative is part of the Government’s action plan, which includes a commitment to reduce emissions from transportation sources and cut smog-forming industrial air pollution in Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Frederic Baril
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
(819) 997-1441

Environment Canada Media Relations
(819) 934-8008
1-888-908-8008