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Dear Minister:
I would like to
propose telework as part of the strategy for reducing Canada's greenhouse gas emissions.
With 1 million
teleworkers (employees working from home or other locations) growing to 1.5 million by the
year 2001 (according to Statistics Canada), telework is now a reality which is here to
stay. Combined with the growth of home-based work, it is entirely possible that over half
of Canadian workers will eventually be working from home within 10 years. This enormous
growth means that telework is a phenomenon to be reckoned with by Canadian
decision-makers. Properly harnessed and promoted, there are significant benefits.
One example is in the
reduction of transportation, which as you know, is a leading cause of greenhouse gases.
The U.S. Government recognized this by placing particular emphasis on transportation and
air quality planning in the Clean Air Act. President Clinton's Climate Change Action Plan
encouraged significantly higher usage of telework as a strategy to reduce transportation
demand and global warming while moving towards cleaner air.
For such issues,
telework is a win-win situation. Unlike higher taxes on carbon fuels, it makes people
respond positively. It only makes sense that any initiative that can significantly and
voluntarily reduce transportation is worthy of examination. To illustrate, if each of
Canada's 1 million teleworkers were to telework 1 day per week, in a year, they would
save:
- some 200,000 tonnes
of air pollution or gas emissions;
- some 81 million litres of fuel;
- about 1 billion fewer kilometers of mileage on our highways and streets; and,
- the daily gridlock value of over 1 million cars and other forms of transport.
As a side-benefit,
Canadians would save $34 million in fuel costs, and some 50 million hours of time, which
they could spend with their families, or on their non-work lives.
There are many other
reasons for considering telework, such as helping further Canada's goals in employment and
youth, education, natural resources, industry and transport (the latter by building
inexpensive connections to our homes rather than expensive concrete highways). Telework
underscores Canada's role in leading the development of information technology solutions.
Furthermore, its proven ability to significantly reduce public and private-sector
operating costs would help improve Canada's economy and our level of global
competitiveness.
What is unfortunate is
that for every teleworker, there are many more 'teleworkable' jobs occupied by employees
who wish to telework but are not permitted to. This is often due to managerial resistance
at the work unit or organizational level -- originating from such factors as inadequate
information about telework, lack of time to examine its feasibility within their
organizations, old-fashioned attitudes about work. Because of the potential of telework
for our country, we urge you to:
recognize telework
as part of the environmental solution to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution;
consider promoting
telework as part of Canada's national energy strategy; and,
support CTA's goals
and objectives. Our mandate and objective are on the World Wide Web at
The Canadian Telework
Association and its consultants would be willing to work with your designated
representatives on the development of telework strategies. Should you or your staff wish
to meet to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Bob Fortier
President
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