In its continuous efforts to achieve climate targets by reducing pollution from the transportation sector, the Government of Canada is making it easier for Canadians to buy, charge, and drive electric vehicles (EVs) across Ontario in Canada and throughout the country.
As per a press release, last Thursday, The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced an investment of over CA$3.5 million in Baseload Power Corp. to install 31 Level 2 EV chargers and 67 fast chargers across Ontario and Quebec.
Through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP), all chargers will be available by November 2022. The total cost of the project is more than CA$10.5 million.
Since 2015, Canada has invested a record CA$1 billion to help make EVs cheaper and chargers more accessible to Canadians.
These investments have helped create a coast-to-coast network of charging stations in the local areas where Canadians reside, work, and play, and federal rebates of up to CA$5,000 are helping more Canadians make the switch to an EV.
Budget 2022 proposes investing an extra CA$1.7 billion to extend the purchase incentive program through March 2025. It also proposes broadening the kinds of vehicles eligible for the program, which will include more trucks, vans, and SUVs.
To support the goal of the government to add 500,00 zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) chargers to Canada’s network, Budget 2022 provides the additional amount of CA$400 million to Natural Resources Canada to continue installing zero-emission infrastructure by extending the ZEVIP until March 2027.
Complemented by CA$500 million, Canada’s Infrastructure Bank will invest in large-scale ZEV charging and refueling infrastructure that is revenue-generating and in the public interest.
These initiatives are yet another step toward achieving Canada’s goal of ensuring that all new vehicles sold in Canada are zero-emission by 2035. And just like investments in everything from clean technology to nature protection, today’s announcement is part of achieving Canada’s ambitious climate change goals to build a cleaner, healthier and affordable future for all Canadians.
“Making zero-emission vehicles more affordable and investing in charging stations and infrastructure will mean cleaner air and a healthier environment for future generations. Our government will continue to make innovative investments to fight climate change in Burlington and across the country,” said The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and Member of Parliament for Burlington.