A controversial program that may ban diesel-powered trucks greater than 12 years old from accessing the Port of Vancouver has been delayed yet again.
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s Rolling Truck Age Program was originally meant to take effect on Feb. 1, 2022, but has been postponed twice amid opposition from the trucking industry.
The port says this system has been within the works for greater than a decade, and is meant to chop emissions from older, less-efficient vehicles. Based on the port authority, greater than 85 per cent of trucks are already compliant with the brand new program.
On Thursday, it announced this system — which was delayed in September until April 3, 2023 — could be deferred for no less than one other nine months “in light of the present economic landscape and continued pandemic-related issues.”
“Within the interim, we can be considering latest technologies, in addition to federal and provincial fleet greening programs,” the port authority said in a media release.
“We intend to reassess our emissions reduction technique to ensure we progress in a fashion that can best achieve the objectives of our Truck Licensing System, which allows trucking corporations and their trucks access to serve the Port of Vancouver’s marine container terminals.”
The authority added it will proceed to seek the advice of with the trucking industry and shipping industries, government and First Nations “to refine the approach moving forward.”
This system has faced opposition from the federal Conservative opposition, and last week 4 Vancouver-area Liberal MPs asked federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra to intervene.
The most recent delay is being celebrated by the United Truckers Association, which is accusing the port of “hypocrisy.”
The association says the port claims this system would eliminate emissions corresponding to 200,000 cars on the road, but continues to export coal that, when burned, would create emissions corresponding to 25 million cars.
It added that the remaining 98 per cent of business vehicles on the road are subject to different pollution standards, which judge them on the quantity of emissions they create, slightly than age.
“The Rolling Truck Age Program represents an enormous injustice which targets container truckers compared to all other business operators, and we’re anxious to work with the Port of Vancouver and government to search out a fairer alternative,” UTA spokesperson Gagan Singh said in a media release.
“We can be lively and fully take part in upcoming discussions by offering tangible solutions that can improve air quality while ensuring equal, fair treatment for all container truckers.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.