Quebec has a ways to go to reach its greenhouse gas emissions reduction target but it's ruling out a special tax on gas-guzzlers - for now.
It's one of the measures proposed by a climate change advisory committee which issued its report today. Other measures include less money for road construction projects and boosting electric car programs.
The report said measures so far haven't had the desired effect.
The goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020 in relation to 1990 levels. Right now, it's hovering at around 9% but it took about six years to get there.
The transport sector is the number one culprit - making up nearly 42% of greenhouse gas emissions. They've gone up by 20% since 1990.
So the report suggests a program like the one in France where they tax heavily polluting vehicles and offer rebates for greener cars.
"We're not there yet," said Quebec Environment Minister Isabelle Melançon. She added that they want to focus first on existing programs that already work and they'll be stepped up over the next couple of months. Melançon said they need more forceful measures but did not provide specifics.
Groups such as Greenpeace said it's unfortunate the government won't touch unpopular but efficient measures such as taxing highly polluting vehicles and that it must do more to meet its targets.
Steven Guilbault, senior director with Equiterre and co-author of the report, said measures targetting gas-guzzlers are doable but it takes the political will to introduce them.
"It's always been a sensitive political issue with every government in Quebec. We've been talking about that for at least 20 years," said Guilbault.
"No one wants to put more taxes on gas-guzzlers. We're in North America. It's politically a challenge to do that. But I think it can be done."
Melançon said she was optimistic they could reach their target.
The report said that the sales of zero-emissions vehicles should increase to reach the target of 100,000 registered and licenced vehicles in the province in 2020. But considering the way things are going, that may likely only happen in 2022 and represent 2% of the 4.5-million cars on the road now.
Despite many subsidies, there were just over 23,500 electric cars in Quebec as of February.