Exploring the Future of Sustainable Transportation Policy in Canada

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Sustainable transportation is a field of policy that is on the rise within academic and political circles, not only here in Canada but across the world as leaders attempt to develop transportation infrastructure at the intersection of environmental challenges and calls for improved urbanisation. Sustainable transportation policy encompasses the development of low emission, energy-efficient, and accessible modes of transport for all. It includes, but is not limited to, developing policy aimed at urban and rural transit, reducing vehicle dependency, improving community infrastructure, and eliminating environmentally unsound modes of transport. In fact, with growing climate concerns, the United Nations has highlighted the role of sustainable transportation in one of its sustainable development goals (SDGs), namely the following which affirms the goal to, “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. As the world turns its eye to sustainable policy, many are wondering how Canada, one of the leading countries in transport related carbon emissions, will follow suit. 

Turning to sustainable transportation abroad, there are some key features that can be identified in their adoption of sustainable transportation policy. For instance, when considering the EuroStar, there is a clear and sustained effort by leaders to implement sustainable goals that alter not only the carbon emissions of the trains themselves, but the effects of passengers and technological advancements as well. This includes a policy mandate to have all trains in the EuroStar network be powered by renewable energy sources by 2023. This is depicted best in the Netherlands where, according to the EuroStar sustainability report, wind-related energy sources have powered trains 100% since 2017. These efforts in the sustainable policy field have resulted in an average emission of only 5.5g of CO₂ per EuroStar passenger. Comparatively, in Canada, the state-funded rail company, Via Rail, trails behind European competitors in terms of emissions per passenger. To illustrate, for a train ride from Montréal to Toronto, the average passenger will emit 55 kg CO2. 

Turning away from the public sector, there is an argument to be made that sustainable policy transportation should be equally targeted in the private sector, including car-related emissions and a shift to alternative modes of personal transport. There is a widely changing social attitude regarding vehicles that rely heavily on harmful energy sources, like diesel and gas, that are heavy emitters of greenhouse gases. For many countries, this has caused them to turn to alternative channels of implementing policy related to sustainable transport, such as the widespread, and often wielded, ideal of the “walkable city.” In Tokyo, Japan, this desire to increase sustainable modes of transport, like walking and cycling, has led to an investment in the alteration of existing urban spaces in order to maintain sustainable and pedestrian friendly communities. Similarly, across Europe, the government takes an active role in fostering a strong cycling culture. This is most evident in the Netherlands, where the government is dedicated to strengthening a community that relies on sustainable transport, with over 35,000km of widely used bike paths around the country. However, these initiatives are not similarly reflected in Canada. Reports from 2019 found that light-duty vehicles (excluding trucks and SUVs) produce more than four times the greenhouse gas emissions than the entire domestic aviation sector. This begs the question, where does Canada fit into the changing attitudes and initiatives surrounding car related transportation policy? 

While it is true that Canada falls behind in terms of sustainable transportation and emission targets more generally, one must note the underlying causes of this in order to target policy goals. Due to the harsh climate and uneven population distribution, Canadian policymakers are left with a unique combination of challenges that restrict them from achieving infrastructure or policies explored above. For instance, while it is true that many Canadian cities have taken efforts to increase cycling initiatives, the harsh winter weather conditions often mean that it is unfeasible for Canadians to depend on cycling as their primary mode of transportation. Thus, due to these aforementioned challenges, there is a narrow field of viable sustainable transportation policies worth pursuing for Canadian policymakers. Nonetheless, Canadian policymakers can still target certain key goals. Namely; improving the railway system, and most importantly, targeting transport related emissions of big corporations. 

Canada’s passenger railway system is dominated by the crown corporation; Via Rail. For most Canadians, cars are seen as the more efficient mode of transport between cities, insofar as Via Rail is understood as a less-than best mode of transport, with delays occurring more often than not. Policymakers in Canada should turn to the ideals depicted across Europe and Japan and implement a significant overhaul of this passenger rail system, notably as it pertains to travel in the SouthEast, which encompasses over half of Canada’s population. Implementing a high-speed, and low-emission passenger railway service in this corridor would no doubt decrease Canada’s transportation based emissions, as it would allow for  commuters and travellers to turn away from cars, and truly envision the rails as a leading source of transportation, instead of as an outdated relic. 

However, it is simultaneously true that establishing railways in certain parts of Canada is unfeasible. Thus, in these parts of the country, policy may be aimed at the transition to more sustainably fueled vehicles. In fact, the Canadian government has already led this effort, with a release of regulations targeting the standards of electric vehicles in Canada as part of their goals for a more sustainable transportation sector. Many reputable Canadian media outlets have even predicted an announcement on the part of the government to completely phase out the use, and sale, of gas powered cars and trucks in Canada by 2035. This is most certainly a move towards key sustainable transportation policy initiatives in Canada. However, these are once again targeted at individual Canadians, not to the corporations that represent a majority of transport related emissions. 

It is crucial to distinguish one of Canada’s key obstacles to obtaining a truly sustainable policy infrastructure; corporations. When discussing sustainability initiatives, the weight is often borne by individuals, and not the corporations who are, in reality, the leaders in climate destruction. While Canadians, encouraged by policymakers, have accepted the use of paper straws and taken to biking (when weather permits), policies have yet to be established that significantly target the Canadian corporations that account for the majority of emissions. The corporations are responsible for the transport, by rail, freight, and truck, of Canada’s key export: crude oil. If one is to address, and truly advocate for a “net-zero” Canada, it must be targeted at these non-sustainable methods of transportation employed by these corporations. As Canada continues to strive for an environmentally friendly society, there should be a major shift in focus towards sustainable transportation policy as a veritable source of change and improvement.