Ministerial vehicle purchases have been going against guidelines when it comes to efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, says opposition house leader Steven Myers.
Myers raised the issue in the legislature Friday where he questioned the government on why its ministers were allowed to buy vehicles that weren't within the guidelines set out in the strategy to reduce the impact of global warming.
"Certainly this government likes to talk about how environmentally sensitive they are until it comes time to walk the walk and you're not walking the walk or driving the drive, as it were," Myers said.
Cabinet ministers, the house speaker and the opposition leader are allowed a government-owned vehicle or an allowance to drive their own.
Only Premier Robert Ghiz drives his own vehicle.
In response to Myers's questions, Transportation Minster Robert Vessey repeatedly said all of the cabinet ministers followed the governent's guidleines when it comes to buying ministerial vehicles.
"They've all been followed and if the honourable member (Myers) has something that says otherwise will he please table it," Vessey said.
The report suggested ministerial vehicles be restricted to hybrids, alternative fuel vehicles or four-cylinder conventionally fueled vehicles that emit less than 4,300 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.
Agriculture Minister George Webster's 20111 Honda Ridgeline model is the least fuel-efficient and produces the most greenhouse gas emissions of all the ministerial vehicles, pumping out 5,566 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year, according to its specifications.
In total, six of the vehicle models exceed 4,300 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year.
Opposition Leader Olive Crane's 2008 Toyota Corolla is at the bottom of the list, followed by Tourism Minister Robert Henderson and Vessey who each drive a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox.
Myers said the government is acting as if they are on the game show The Price is Right when it comes to ministerial vehicles.
"Behind this curtain is a brand new car and the whole works of you over there with a brand new car," he said.
rross@theguardian.pe.ca
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Concerned Citizen, as a FORMAL Liberal do you wear a tuxedo all the time or just when you are ranting about the Liberals?