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'We urge the government of British Columbia to act swiftly on this unanimous recommendation.' - Darryl Walker.
Vancouver (30 Nov. 2010) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is welcoming Metro Vancouver’s unanimous recommendation to extend AirCare until 2020 and to enhance the program’s focus on emissions from heavy duty vehicles.
“The mayors of greater Vancouver have spoken with a single voice in recommending AirCare’s extension to 2020,” says BCGEU president Darryl Walker.
“We urge the government of British Columbia to act swiftly on this unanimous recommendation and to extend and expand AirCare to include a focus on heavy duty vehicles.”
The decision follows an independent review process concluding that AirCare is the most cost-effective way of reducing harmful vehicle emissions.
The program’s environmental and health benefits outweigh its costs until 2020, even when using the most conservative estimates, the review concluded. The province of Ontario and the state of Washington have recently extended emissions testing programs until 2019.
AirCare is the private vehicle emissions testing program for the Lower Mainland of B.C.. Nearly 50,000 vehicles still fail the test every year – about 15% of the total. The AirCare program is funded entirely through the collection of test fees and is required by legislation to collect no more revenue than needed to cover the costs of the program.
AirCare inspectors perform “green jobs” that drive economic growth and limit the community's collective environmental footprint at the same time.
A total of 114 BCGEU members work at AirCare facilities across the Lower Mainland. The Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union Local 378 (COPE 378) represents nine AirCare administrators in Burnaby.
B.C.’s labour movement and leading environmental organizations believe that all jobs in the future will have to more environmental and energy efficient.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
• Key committee wants AirCare extended until 2020
• BCGEU urges Vancouver to maintain AirCare