Feature Article June 5, 2002
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Commentary Are they just taking the "Drive" out of Drive Clean?by Will CybulskiOn July 1 of this year, the Drive Clean program will be expanded to include, by definition of the government, the entire southern Ontario smog zone an area extending from Windsor to Ottawa. One of the new areas covered will be eastern Ontario; hence, vehicles registered within Frontenac and Lennox and Addington counties will eventually need to pass emissions testing before validation tags will be renewed. To parse all the details down to one sentence, suffice it to say that odd-year vehicles from 1983 to 1999 will be under the gun in 2002, and even years from 1984 to 2000 will need to be inspected in 2003, just for starters.
We are told that since its 1999 introduction to the Hamilton and Toronto areas, Drive Clean is alleged to have reduced smog-causing vehicle pollutants by some 11.5%. In the Hamilton-Toronto area! And the government expects to see similar improvements in the expansion area. I dont think anyone could successfully argue the merits behind the legislation. Cuts to emissions mean less smog; ergo cleaner air, fewer health problems, reduced medical costs, environmental benefits, etc., etc. The principles of the program cant be faulted, but as someone who lives amongst, and works closely with, the people from North of 7, I do have some concerns with its application. I have beheld the beauty of Toronto from the Halton Hills, and the scenic view of Hamilton from the Burlington Skyway on muggy summer days, and there, my friends, isdodododo The Smog Zone!
Okay, there were a few occasions last summer when I too had burning eyes from the haze, but it was my understanding that the stuff was imported on the winds from, you guessed it, the Big Smoke. So I would like it scientifically proven, not arbitrarily decided, that we in the north of Frontenac/Lennox and Addington are, in fact, living in and regularly contributing to our own created mess. If it can be shown that we locals are indeed already guilty of having put our almost-pristine little corner of the world into the same arena as the big guys, then I plead no contest. But if were not, then dont tar us with the same brush. And Im not from Missouri either, but youll still have to show me that the smog abruptly dissipates at the big hill in Griffith on the Renfrew County line.
I wonder if anyone, in deciding the application of the legislation, took into consideration some recent survey figures which suggest that, in north L&A at least, some one-third of our residents are deemed to be low income. These are the folks who are already barely getting by, and while I'm sure all of them would rather be driving a 2003 vehicle than an 80s beater, its just not in the economic cards. They can ill afford to pay for renewing their tags as it is; so how are they ever going to come up with the cash for conditional pass repairs. I suspect that most people will park em, and a few might even take the chance of driving without a current valtag, but in the end, Drive Clean is going to take a lot of drives off the roads hereabouts.
We dont have government-supported public transit (seems that is a privilege for the South of 401 population, who, I opine, are the real smog zone inhabitants), and we cant get enough volunteers to man our local community-based drive projects, so what will all those wheel-less people do? How will they grocery shop, get to medical appointments, socialize, and all the other things we take for granted in daily life?
Have the powers-to-be given any thought to the resultant pressures that will be foisted upon those who are perhaps already subsisting? What impacts will there be on family dynamics? On our already fragile social safety net? Im not suggesting that, because we are rurally isolated and somewhat economically challenged, we should be allowed to go hither and yon spewing unchecked pollutants out the tailpipe. But before they hit us where we hurt the most, they ought to be able to prove that we have authored our own misfortune, or else come up with a better Plan B. At least thats the way I see it!
