Federal government and Switzer-Carty Transportation Services invest in school bus electrification

BURLINGTON, ON, Sept. 2, 2026 /CNW/ -- As Canada transitions to a net-zero carbon future, the federal government is partnering with public transit and school bus operators to help electrify their fleets and reduce carbon emissions.

The Government of Canada provided an investment of $300,000 to Switzer-Carty Transportation Services through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) to support the company's plan to transition their school bus fleet from diesel to electric. The planning project included a whole-fleet assessment to determine the cost of the transition and necessary adjustments to routes, operations and vehicle maintenance. The project was completed in December 2023.

Switzer-Carty transports over 125,000 students for 16 school districts every day. The company is committed to providing superior transportation services and reducing carbon emissions. This investment has supported Switzer-Carty as they plan for a future transition to a zero-emission bus fleet.

Quotes

"Across Ontario, hundreds of thousands of young students ride on school buses. By working with school bus operators to electrify their fleets, we are helping them cut carbon emissions and reduce the environmental impact of getting our kids to school safely. The federal government is proud to support public transit and school bus operators as they transition to a zero-emission bus fleet."

The Honourable Karina Gould, Member of Parliament for Burlington

"Electrifying a school bus fleet is about more than replacing diesel buses with electric ones--it requires careful planning across routes, operations, infrastructure and maintenance. This investment has helped us understand what that transition will look like for our fleet and how we can do it responsibly, while continuing to provide safe and reliable transportation for the more than 125,000 students we serve every day."

Dan Maradin, President and CEO, Switzer-Carty Transportation Services

Quick Facts

• The federal government invested $300,000 in this project through the Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF). Switzer-Carty Transportation Services contributed $75,000.
• The ZETF helps communities invest in zero emission transit and school transportation options to support a cleaner environment while increasing the mobility of Canadians.
• The ZETF also complements Canada's strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, through which the federal government has committed to providing funding for public transit to support making clean and affordable transportation options available in every community.
• The Government of Canada is taking concrete actions to strengthen the economy by investing in Canadians and supporting Canadian businesses.
• Federal actions are creating good jobs, accelerating home building and helping communities grow across the country.

Associated Links

Zero Emission Transit Fund
https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/zero-emissions-trans-zero-emissions/index-eng.html 

Strengthened Climate Plan
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/weather/climatechange/climate-plan/climate-plan-overview.html 

Housing and Infrastructure Project Map
https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html 

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SOURCE Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

Contacts: For more information (media only), please contact: Arianna Durgerian, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, [email protected]; Media Relations, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Rich Bagdonas, Vice President of Business Development, Switzer-CARTY Transportation Services, 289-288-1366 ext. 121, [email protected]