#EVWeek in Canada: PS Duguid Announces over $2.5 million in Funding for New Chargers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan

WINNIPEG, MB, July 12, 2022 /CNW/ - Reducing pollution from the transportation sector is critical to Canada achieving its climate targets. That's why the Government of Canada is making it easier for Canadians to purchase, charge and drive electric vehicles (EVs) in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and across the country.

Today as part of #EVWeek in Canada, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, on behalf of the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, announced a total investment of over $2.5-million in the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association and Eco-West Canada to help support the installation of up to 400 EV chargers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 

This investment, which will make EV charging more accessible to all, is funded through Natural Resources Canada's Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP). 

The Manitoba Motor Dealers Association selected recipients through a transparent process, based on demand. Through a similar process, Eco-West Canada is continuing to select recipients. The EV chargers will then be installed in public places, multi-unit residential buildings, on streets, at workplaces or at facilities for servicing light-duty vehicle fleets by the end of 2023.

Since 2015, Canada has invested a historic $1 billion to make EVs more affordable and chargers more accessible for Canadians. These investments are supporting the establishment of a nationwide network of chargers in local areas where Canadians live, work and play, while federal rebates of up to $5,000 are helping more Canadians make the switch to an EV.

Budget 2022 provided an additional $1.7 billion to extend the government's purchase incentive program until March 2025 and to expand the types of vehicle models eligible under the program, which would include more vans, trucks and SUVs. In support of the government's objective of adding 50,000 zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) chargers to Canada's network, Budget 2022 also provided an additional $400 million to Natural Resources Canada to continue deploying zero-emission vehicle infrastructure by extending the ZEVIP to March 2027, complemented by $500 million that Canada's Infrastructure Bank will invest in large-scale ZEV charging and refuelling infrastructure that is revenue-generating and in the public interest.

As part of the transition to net zero by 2050, Infrastructure Canada and the Canada Infrastructure Bank are supporting the decarbonization of public transit and school buses. The Government of Canada is on track to surpass the 2019 commitment supporting the procurement of over 5,000 zero-emissions buses, including nearly 4,000 school buses in B.C., Quebec and P.E.I. and over 1,200 public transit buses in 10 cities from coast to coast. These electric and hydrogen fuel-cell buses will be deployed on the road over approximately the next five years.

The government is also taking action on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which contribute to nearly 10 percent of Canada's emissions. In order to decarbonize this fleet, the Government of Canada is providing $547.5 million over four years. This program will support eligible recipient's purchase or lease medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles with incentives ranging from $10,000 up to $200,000 depending on the vehicle's class, helping businesses and communities make the switch to zero-emissions transportation, from coast to coast to coast.

These investments are yet another step in reaching Canada's target of ensuring all new passenger 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.

Quotes

"Happy EV Week, Canada. Our government is making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more accessible where Canadians live, work and play. Investing in more EV chargers across the country will put more Canadians in the driver's seat on the road to a net-zero future and help achieve our climate goals."

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson 
Minister of Natural Resources 

"Making it easier for Canadians to transition to electric vehicles is one of the most effective ways we can limit carbon pollution and combat climate change. Today's announcement shows that the Government of Canada is stepping up to the challenge by investing in a coast-to-coast network of charging stations. With more charging stations available, Canadians can rest assured that they will safely and reliably navigate our cities and highways when driving electric vehicles."

Terry Duguid
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"We at Manitoba Motor Dealers Association (MMDA) are excited to be a part of this journey to a net-zero future. Through our Lead The Charge Program and Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan) Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program, we will continue to support the development of the Electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Manitoba bringing us closer to our net-zero future."

Matt Walters 
President, Manitoba Motor Dealers Association

"With this significant investment in the Prairies, the federal government is reaffirming its confidence in Eco-Western Canada (EWC) to accelerate the shift to a green economy and build climate-resilient communities. Since 2008, EWC has partnered with the Government of Canada to provide leadership and implement sustainable development solutions in collaboration with many Canadian municipalities."

Ivan Normandeau
President, Eco-West Canada and the Association of Manitoba Bilingual Municipalities

Quick Facts

• Transportation accounts for 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.
• Moving to zero-emission vehicles through regulations and investments is a significant part of Canada's $9.1-billion Emissions Reduction Plan to meet Canada's Paris Agreement target for 2030 and get on track for net-zero emissions by 2050.
• Investments in charging infrastructure made so far will result in more than 33,000 new chargers coast to coast. 
• To date, over 150,000 Canadians and Canadian businesses have taken advantage of the federal incentive to purchase zero-emission vehicles. 

Related Links

• Advancing the future of electric vehicles
• Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program
• Zero-Emission Vehicle Awareness Initiative
• Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment Initiative
• 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan: Clean Air, Strong Economy 
• Travelling with an Electric Vehicle 
• Electric Charging and Alternative Fuelling Stations Locator
• Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program
• Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
• Green Infrastructure programs
• Zero-emission vehicles: Incentives
• Building a green economy: Government of Canada to require 100% of car and passenger truck sales be zero-emission by 2035 in Canada
• Incentives for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Program
• Manitoba Motor Dealers Association
• Eco-West Canada

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, [e-mail]; Keean Nembhard, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-323-7892, [e-mail]