Overview
Car Ownership in Canada
With close to one vehicle for every two people, Canada has one of the highest ratios of car ownership in the world. The private automobile is the primary mode of transportation for Canadians and more than 80 per cent of Canada’s 9.3 million households have a personal vehicle. In total, there are 19.2 million passenger cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and pick up trucks registered in Canada and these are typically driven more than 332 billion kilometres per year.
This level of private automobile ownership and use has had profound impacts on the economy and people’s lifestyles. But the scale of automobile use in Canada (and around the world) has also come at an environmental cost.
Transportation, Greenhouses Gases, and Pollution
Transportation is a major source of greenhouse emissions. One‐quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from transportation activity (Chart 1-1) – half of which are generated by light-duty vehicles (a vehicle classification that is primarily composed of cars, minivans, sport‐utility vehicles, vans and light pickup trucks).These GHG emission levels continue to increase as the number of vehicles on the road and the distances they travel continues to grow.
In addition to GHG emissions, automobiles emit toxic and smog‐forming pollutants into the air – these pollutants are known as criteria air contaminants (CACs).While such emissions from new vehicles are declining due to the development of more effective pollution control devices and improved fuel formulations, the overall increase in the number of vehicles being driven somewhat limits the potential improvements in air quality. Thus, private automobiles remain a contributor to smog and other environmental health issues related to air emissions.
What Can Be Done?
To make substantial reductions in emissions, Canadians need to reduce their overall transportation energy use. One way this can be accomplished is by increasing vehicle fuel efficiency. Transportation alternatives such as public transit, biking or walking are also an effective way to reduce one’s transportation energy use.
While governments and automakers explore legislative and technological solutions to improve fuel efficiency, you too can play and role, and there are many practical tips that you can do to boost your fuel efficiency now.
Everything you ever wanted to know about fuel efficiency appears in our Primer on Automobile Fuel Efficiency and Emissions. Take a look for yourself! 