6.09.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Toronto, May 26th, 2005 - This morning two Car Heaven Angels helped make an end-of-life vehicle vanish into thin air at GM's Addison on Bay Dealership, to launch this year's Car Heaven campaign.

Alan Tonks, MP, York South, joined Michael Grimaldi, President of General Motors Canada, and Cindy Christopher, Manager of Health, Safety and Environment at Imperial Oil as an old 1990 car was sent to Car Heaven and replaced by a new, more fuel efficient and lower emission Pontiac Vibe. The year-round Car Heaven program, run by the Clean Air Foundation in partnership with General Motors Canada, Imperial Oil and the One Tonne Challenge, is dedicated to accelerating the retirement of older, higher polluting vehicles and to promoting a shift to cleaner alternatives.

"Canadians produce about half of their greenhouse gas emissions by driving their vehicles," said the Honourable R. John Efford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada. "This program will make it easier for Canadians to turn in their old cars and purchase new vehicles."

"The Clean Air Foundation and its partners are to be congratulated on the implementation of the Car Heaven Vehicle Retirement Program. The legacy of this program will be a reduction in smog, a major contribution to meeting Canada's Kyoto commitment, and major support for affiliated charities," said Alan Tonks, MP, York South.

Participants in Car Heaven become eligible to win prizes, including a 2005 Chevrolet Aveo and this year, General Motors will provide the added incentive of a $1,000 certificate that can by applied to the purchase of any GM vehicle. Donors are also awarded tax receipts from their choice of 15 affiliated charities - either for the $60 set value or the bid value of the vehicle, whichever is greater -- and their vehicles are towed free of charge by The Ontario Automotive Recycler's Association (OARA).

"Clean Air Foundation hopes that Ontarians will help us make many more high-emission vehicles safely disappear this year," said Ersilia Serafini, Executive Director of the Clean Air Foundation. "There are cleaner alternatives out there and we will continue to inform Canadians about how they can help clear our air."

This year Car Heaven aims to retire up to 10,000 vehicles with 7,500 vehicles in Ontario. To date, more than 16,000 high-polluting vehicles have been retired through Car Heaven, which has resulted in emission reductions of over 208 tons of NOx, 132 tons of VOCs and 2704 tons of carbon monoxide.

Michael Grimaldi, president of GM Canada said, "Through Car Heaven we can get more new technology on the road faster, and that's good for GM and the environment. Car Heaven is one of many strategies that GM is involved with to reduce vehicle and Green House Gas emissions. Since 1970, GM has reduced smog-causing emissions from vehicles by 99.7 per cent, with the introduction of sophisticated emission control technology and has earned GM vehicles more EnerGuide fuel efficiency awards than any other manufacturer."

"Car Heaven is a great program and Imperial Oil is pleased to be supporting the initiative for the fifth consecutive year. We look forward to having the Car Heaven Angels visit our Esso retail service stations this summer to promote the program and to give motorists tips on how to ensure their cars are as fuel-efficient as possible," said Cindy Christopher, Manager of Health, Safety and Environment at Imperial Oil.

In comparison to new low emission vehicles that are manufactured today, vehicles manufactured prior to 1988 generate at least 35 more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and 44 times more nitrogen oxides (NOx) than vehicles of similar size that were manufactured. In fact, one 1987 model year vehicle generates the same amount of smog-forming emissions as twenty-two 2001 model year vehicles.

Donor forms and contest details are available in Ontario through Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 Drive Clean test and repair facilities, Ministry of Transportation sites, Vehicle Licensing Bureaus and GM dealerships. Ontarians interested in donating to Car Heaven can visit www.carheaven.ca or call 1-888-731-7311.

About Clean Air Foundation
The Clean Air Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing, implementing and managing public engagement programs and strategic initiatives that lead to a measurable improvement in air quality. The Foundation manages six public engagement programs - Car Heaven, Mow Down Pollution, Keep Cool, Energy Smarts, Switch Out and Cool Shops.


For further information or to request an interview, please contact:

Kate Lloyd
Program Director
Car Heaven
416-922-9038 x 23
klloyd@cleanairfoundation.org

For more information please contact: