Canada’s transport minister sees a smarter, greener transportation system

Photo Courtesy of Justin Cozart

TORONTO — Canada’s transport minister Marc Garneau says the country needs to make its transportation system smarter and greener.

“To meet these goals, we need to lay the groundwork for a transportation system that will be safe and secure, innovative and green, adaptable to changing trade flows, and sensitive to the needs of the traveller,” said Garneau in a speech to the Economic Club in Toronto.

Marc Garneau says the country needs to become a leader in the use of so-called smart transportation systems, in which cars, trucks, ships and planes connect and communicate with the infrastructure they use.

He explains that the reason is simple, “transportation generates close to one-quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and most of these emissions come from cars and trucks.  I feel the responsibility to reduce that. It’s a huge responsibility, but one we can’t shy away from.”

Garneau adds that weaving technology into infrastructure will ease the flow of people and goods around the country and make travel safer.

How will this work? Garneau believes that the electrification of our transportation systems—electric cars, electric charging infrastructure and but also public transit systems—needs to be a priority.

The transportation minister sees a very specific vision for Canada. Garneau believes that the nation will be at the forefront of technology trends, maximizing the use of vehicles that communicate with each other and with the infrastructure that they use.

“I am convinced that in order to achieve a cleaner transportation network we must boost support for urban transit systems,” he adds. “That’s why Budget 2016 proposed to invest heavily in public transit as part of a long-term infrastructure plan.”