Harper government ignores health warnings, exempts race cars from leaded-gas ban

Sunday, May 04, 2008 - 11:10 AM
By: 680News staff




Ottawa - The Harper government has ignored warnings from Health Canada and has extended a leaded fuel exemption for race cars until 2010.

The federal cabinet renewed the exemption after lobbying from at least one association that organizes racing circuits in Canada and the U.S.

Under the change approved by cabinet late last month, drag and stock-car racers will have until 2010 to halt the use of leaded fuel.

However the Indy, Formula One and Nascar racing circuits, including Canadian Nascar, no longer allow leaded fuel.

It has been banned for use by all other passenger vehicles in Canada since 1990.

The Canadian exemption has been in place since 1994, when the Chretien government acted in response to the cancellation of a major racing event in Quebec because of the ban.

source: 680 news