MONTREAL - Owners of older cars say they're being unfairly targeted by the Quebec government over a new plan for mandatory emissions testing for cars eight years old and older.

The new initiative, tabled Wednesday, is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but critics argue it's nothing more than a cash grab.

Bill 48 will require older vehicles to undergo emissions testing, and will be phased in in three steps:

- In the first phase of the plan, all cars eight years old and older will require an inspection certificate before they can be sold.

- In the second phase, all older cars will require an inspection certificate, whether they're being resold or not.

- In the final phase, all cars - including new ones - would be forced to undergo inspections.

The proposed system irks Phil D'Amour, a mechanic who owns four cars, all more than eight years old.

"It's always cheaper to buy an older car than it is to buy and maintain a new car," he said. "(The new law) has a huge impact on me because I can't afford a new car."

D'Amour began a Facebook group against Bill 48 that now has more than 1,700 members and counting.

"That's definitely huge, because the more people we pack behind this, the better we are, and the more we're going to be taken seriously," he said.

When Environment Minister Pierre Arcand rolled out the new law on Wednesday, he said it was about protecting the environment.

"I think we need a program to make sure that we have less pollution in this province," he said.

D'Amour said forcing owners of older cars to pay for regular inspections is unfair.

"Absolutely, it's a cash grab. You cannot look at it any other way than it's a cash grab," he said.

Lisa Christensen, also a mechanic and owner of multiple older cars, said she has no problem with the idea behind Bill 48, but felt the initiative goes too far.

"Emission control is really important. I'm very much in favour of emission control. My only concern is, are the people going to be taken advantage of when they go into the garage for the repair?" she said.

Christensen said she wants to know how the government will execute its plan.

"I don't feel that the technicians here in Quebec are properly trained yet for it; the equipment necessary to do the job right is not in place," she said.

The law is set to take effect in 2013.