Terry Boland, Editor-in-Chief
Mandatory Emissions Testing for Trucks
Commencing September 30, 1999, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment
(MOE) will require mandatory emissions testing for all highway truck registrations over 4,500 kg to obtain plates
or stickers. This applies only to highway licensed equipment as per the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) Commercial
Vehicle Operator Registration (CVOR), and is a requirement for all highway registrations over 4,500 kg whether
full year or seasonal, commercial or farm after September 29, 1999. Emissions testing applies to all fuel whether
diesel, gasoline, propane or natural gas. Testing does not apply to field tractors or equipment or off-road equipment.
An emissions test is valid for 12 months and can be used to obtain a registration at any time during that period.
Emissions test results are recorded by CVOR number and become part of the computerized CVOR record as maintained
by the MOT. Successful emissions tests will be given a window sticker and certificate required to be presented
when applying for registration. MOE is suggesting that the sticker be visible on the window and test results should
be kept in the truck to show the “Smog Patrol” when requested. Unsuccessful emissions tests require unlimited repairs
and retest until successful. Spot checking by six “Smog Patrol” teams will concentrate on areas of high truck numbers
and border crossings. Failure of spot check emissions testing will require immediate repairs despite an existing
certificate. Out-of-province trucks will be spot checked at border crossings. MOE has over 600 applications for
truck testing site accreditation from across the province and the approved list should be out soon; but the approved
site list is taking longer than expected to complete.
New Jungbunzlauer (JBL) Plant at Port Colborne
OCPA is delighted with the recent agreement reached between Casco
and the Swedish company Jungbunzlauer (JBL), a maker of fermentation products such as citric acid, to build a world-scale
plant next to the Casco plant in Port Colborne. The plant will take corn sugar from Casco and further process it
into other industrial and food products. This should lead to expanded milling capacity by Casco as it meets this
feedstock need.
This initiative is totally consistent with the OCPA strategy of expanding the industrial usage of Ontario corn,
especially for manufacturing new types of corn products.
While this is a new venture for JBL in North America, the company is well established in Europe and has a marketing
office in Boston. Products from the new plant, which should be operational in late 2001, will be marketed globally.
Semi-Annual Meeting
Don’t forget the OCPA semi-annual meeting at the Quality Inn
in Woodstock on September 9. See details elsewhere in this magazine. We have a top-quality program and lots to
discuss, including the price of corn.
Bob Friesen of Manitoba, new president of Canadian Federation of Agriculture, will be there. Come and ask him about
how your money is being used by that organization.
We expect Ernie Hardeman will also be present. (The inn is only a few miles from his home.) Come and talk to him.
See you then.
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