Imagine an urban landscape where vehicles putter about noiselessly in the pristine air, where the only sounds to be heard amidst downtown gridlock are high heels kissing the sidewalk, hushed conversation and the contented sigh of motorists as they pass abandoned fueling stations no longer in use.

Well, Liberal Transportation Minister Jim Bradley doesn't share this vision. He has again deemed the Zenn car, the most promising electric vehicle ever, unfit for Ontario's roads.

Apparently they aren't safe enough, despite the fact that more progressive provinces and states, such as British Columbia and California, have welcomed the Zenn with open arms, and wallets, to no ill effect. Are our roads that dangerous, our motorists that stupid or are our politicians just that much slower to react to the demands of their constituents? How embarrassing to be a citizen of Ontario.

Evidently our government's perception of us is nothing but baboons behind steering wheels, unable to navigate slower moving vehicles on the road. I don't know about you, but I'm slamming into city buses and garbage trucks left and right. I just can't seem to figure it out. But enough vitriol and sarcasm.

In a time when North American automakers are in the red for not responding to market demands, we are obstructing one that is poised to bring a great deal of wealth and environmental credibility to Canada. My wife and I are in the market for a second car and an electric one would be the perfect complement to our conventional gas-guzzler. In addition to the lower initial investment, driving electric in the city would save hundreds, if not thousands, every year on the lunatic price of gas. And let's not forget the environmental benefits. Everybody wins.

So, my fellow Ontarians, join me in urging our esteemed premier, Dalton McGuinty, Minister of Transportation, Jim Bradley, and our local members of parliament into wading through the red tape so we can have these machines on our streets as soon as possible.

And car dealers, if you can help expedite this process, I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is. In fact, I'm willing to put my money in my mouth if it helps. And I know I'm not alone. There is serious money to be made here. Someone sidestep the politics and come get it.

Matt Weingartner

Dundas