Canada considers ‘Cash for Clunkers’ program
With the U.S. already developing a ‘Cash for Clunkers’ plan, Canada is now considering a similar program.
In a story published this week in the Vancouver Sun newspaper, Environment Minister Jim Prentice said he's reviewing whether Canada should follow the U.S. and several European countries in offering consumers a substantial financial incentive to scrap their clunkers and buy new vehicles. Prentice said he's met with auto manufacturers over the past few months to discuss the prospect of giving Canadians $3,500 to trade in their older, polluting vehicles.
According to the Vancouver Sun report, makers and sellers of cars have been aggressively lobbying Ottawa to adopt the measure, contending it will significantly boost sales in the sagging auto sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Here in the U.S., a ‘Cash for Clunkers’ bill was passed by Congress and signed into law on June 24. The rules of the program are currently being developed, with implementation expected to begin in late July and end on November 1. An amendment protects collector cars made prior to 1985.
For updates on the U.S. plan go to www.cars.gov.
