This came up in one of the regional forums, thought it deserved a thread here since there isnt a general canada forum.
It seems the 2008 HHR automatic is considered a fuel efficient SUV, and is eligible for a $1000 rebate if you send in a short application with your bill of sale and registration. The dealer where I bought mine made me aware of it, but another dealer closest to my home had no clue. I hope nobody who is eligible misses out on it.
How they came up with the list of eligible vehicles is a mystery to me, the HHR isnt on the 2006-2007 lists. However the volkswagen turbodiesels are on the 2006 list, but not 07-08. Some of the jeep compass/patriot models are also eligible.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/programs/environ...rt/ecoauto.htm

 

Only the 2.2 L qualifies. Here's a related article:

32 more 2008 vehicles qualify for Canadian ecoAuto rebate, including Fit and HHR
Posted Dec 9th 2007 8:23PM by Sam Abuelsamid
Filed under: MPG, Legislation and Policy

The list of vehicles eligible for Canada's controversial ecoAuto program has been updated with thirty-two more 2008 models added. The program pays Canadian car-buyers rebates of $1,000-2,000 when they buy vehicles on the list. To qualify, the cars and trucks have to meet a minimum mileage threshold. Among the vehicles added to the list this year are the Honda Fit and the non-hybrid Civic models. Previously they fell just shy of the threshold but were modified for the new model year to be eligible.

There are some dubious inclusions on the list however. Similar to US CAFE regulations where cars and trucks are counted separately, the same is true for the ecoAuto program. This leads to some creative decisions about qualifies as a truck. Few would argue about the Ford Escape or Toyota Highlander Hybrids being trucks. Most drivers of the Chevrolet HHR or Jeep Compass (are there actually any Compass drivers?) might be surprised to here the government considers them trucks. If the 36 mpg 2007 Honda Fit didn't qualify for a rebate, it seems odd now that the 29 mpg HHR or Compass do, based solely on their truck classifications. Compared to Tahoe or Commander they are certainly more fuel efficient, but the whole definition of cars and trucks need to be re-examined if we are going to keeps separate thresholds for each. Check out the full list here.

 

And the 5 speed is not?

 

When I bought my 2008 LS (man. trans) in August, there was already a
government rebate offer of $1,000.00 if you were trading up from a PRE-1995 model (any make or model). They did this in order to keep older polluting cars off the road and out of circulation. I had a 1991 Buick LeSabre and they knocked off a grand from the sticker price on the HHR......sweeeeeet
Now all I need to do is keep the HHR for about 17 years until they bring back the offer mouahahahaaaa.....

 

Yup, I have a '97 cavalier that almost qualified for the car heaven program. That would have been another 1000 off. Would have almost brought it down to US prices.
Why the manual trans 2.2 HHR is not on the ecoauto list is anyones guess. I can see why its classified as a truck, as you can carry a significant load in the back. If businesses bought these instead of pickups or full size SUVs, there would be a significant reduction in fuel and emissions.