Report stirs up renewed debate over AirCare
An independent review of AirCare says the emissions tests are doing their job – and recommends extending the program for seven more years,
The report by Levelton Consultants concludes AirCare is worth keeping because it has significantly improved air quality in the Lower Mainland.
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Despite the positive report, the chair of the TransLink board says he's not interested in renewing the program after it expires in 2006.
Surrey Mayor Doug McCallum says AirCare has done its job, and has now outlived its usefulness.
The Society Promoting Environmental Conservation disagrees. Spokesperson Deming Smith says AirCare's success should justify keeping it.
He says eliminating the program would leave little incentive for people to keep their vehicles up to standard.
"It's like eliminating speed limits because you feel that we don't have that many speeders around anymore or something. It doesn't make any sense," he says.
The TransLink board votes on the issue in the spring. But it will be up to the province to decide if vehicle-emissions tests will continue in some form in the Lower Mainland.