The Children’s Clean Air Network has teamed up with EastLink to produce several memorable TV spots reminding Nova Scotians to go IDLE-FREE.

“Rachel”, the grade-two IDLE-FREE poster girl seen in newspaper ads across Nova Scotia, is bringing her message to television. She wants grown-ups to shut their cars off whenever possible – to save money, cut greenhouse gas and clear the air for kids.

IDLE-FREE messages with our mass-media partners are important for several reasons.

Canadians want to be reminded about the best ways to pitch in and go green. And, they want to know they’re not acting alone. When they see it on TV or in the newspaper, they know many folks are seeing it. And when they see kids with the message, change happens.

“We’re delighted to help produce and carry such an important message,” says Michael Smith, Director of EastLink Television. “When our viewers see Rachel and certified auto service reps talking about the benefits of going IDLE-FREE, this will have a big impact.”

Based on Statistics Canada numbers on vehicles and Natural Resources Canada numbers on fuel consumption, hypothetically, tens of millions of dollars could be saved from going up in smoke across even a small province like Nova Scotia each year if drivers all went IDLE-FREE as a habit.

IDLE-FREE would also cut thousands of tons of green house gas and improve air quality dramatically. The number-one reason kids miss school or are admitted to emergency rooms in Nova Scotia is because of asthma. And a leading asthma aggravator is poor air quality, often from needless emissions from cars and trucks around schools and public spaces.

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