global warming

... you have an old car you can get rid of.

The National Post is reporting that John Baird will announce an initiative to encourage people to get rid of old cars. The details are not announced yet, but the article speculates that it may be based on the British Columbia system that gives car-dumpers money towards a new hybrid car, a bike or a transit pass.

Mr. Baird admitted it is a "huge challenge" to persuade Canadians to change their behaviour to help combat climate change. But he said the Conservative government is pursuing numerous options, including incentives for individuals who get rid of old and inefficient vehicles.

"We will have an initiative in the coming weeks on that," Mr. Baird told the Economic Club of Toronto.

While this will help some people make a change in their lives, for a serious shift in our consumption patterns, economists keep repeating that the only way is through a carbon tax or cap and trade system.

The federal government has allocated $6 million dollars for the program, an amount expected to impress any recently thawed Dr. Evils. Assuming a system similar to BC, this might be enough to remove a few thousand old cars from the road.