Canadian Legislative Updates

Stakeholders and community leaders congregated at the fifth annual Hamilton Economic Summit, where a new partnership was announced between the Chamber of Commerce and Smart Commute Hamilton. The new project will provide a range of sustainable transportation services to Chamber members and their employees.

Through a new online matching system (www.carpoolzone.ca), employees will be able to match up with each other to diminish the cost of commuting, all the while helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, access will be provided to a variety of tools and services, which will promote active transportation and public transit as alternative commuting options.

Spokespersons for the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce highlighted that by partnering together, they will be able to collaborate to help reduce the carbon footprint and make Hamilton even more enticing to potential employers.

Smart Commute Hamilton, a program of the City of Hamilton, has helped commuters reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 280,000 kg, through the elimination of over 1,000,000 km of car travel since 2007.


On May 26, 2012, a new sound snare device will be introduced to Calgarians. The new device will measure the decibels of vehicles, by producing sound pressure readings and video, complete with audio evidence.

Prior to its official deployment, a grace period of one month will be in effect, in which motorists can visit the city police training track to gauge how loud their vehicles are. During the first month, warnings will be issued to noisy motorists. Following the conclusion of the grace period, anyone exceeding ninety-six decibels will receive a $200 ticket. One noise gauge compares that level to the sound of a Boeing 737 coming in to land at a distance of 1,800 away.


The Mayor of Saint-Laurent and Vice-President of the City of Montreal’s executive committee has presented modifications to the borough’s fleet of heavy vehicles. The modifications are aimed at preventing pedestrians and cyclists from accidentally falling underneath the vehicles.

The plan came into effect following the framework of the Jessica Campaign, a campaign launched by the family of Jessica Holman-Price who died in 2005 following an accident involving a snow-removal truck in Westmount.

Between now and 2015, all borough vehicles will be outfitted with lateral protection devices (steel or aluminum side guards or containers). The devices will cover the space between the vehicle’s axles where tanks and other equipment are located. Additionally, lateral-protection specifications will be included in all purchase orders for heavy vehicles.