The Government of Canada is building a coast-to-coast-to-coast network of charging stations where they are most needed. The Honorable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s minister of energy and natural resources, concluded a zero-emissions vehicle tour from Montréal to Trois-Rivières and Québec City. He was joined by representatives from the industry to announce nearly $30 million in federal investment to deliver over 1,500 additional EV chargers across Quebec, including over 400 fast chargers.
To date, the federal government has committed its support to installing over 45,000 chargers across the country.
The investments will provide chargers for a varety of projects including: $21.7 million to Hydro-Québec to install 1194 chargers, including 385 fast chargers; $4.4 million to the Canadian National Railway Company to support 62 fast chargers at train stations across Canada, including 12 in Quebec; $1.3 million to Les Pétroles R.L. Inc. to deploy 57 chargers across Quebec; $375,000 to Bell Canada to install 75 Level 2 chargers at workplaces across Quebec; and more.
In addition to supporting charger deployment, the Government of Canada is helping consumers move toward more clean transportation. Almost 260,000 incentives to buy or lease a zero-emission vehicle have been provided to Canadians and Canadian businesses — including almost 137,000 from Quebec.
The Government of Canada is also delivering investments in the future of electrified public transportation. In May, the Government of Canada announced an investment of over $780 million to support the purchase of 1,229 electric buses in Quebec and enhance the provincial network of electric public transit, the office of energy and national resources said.
The Government of Canada said it is working to create good jobs and economic opportunities in clean industries. One example is chargers manufactured at FLO’s facility in Shawinigan, lithium responsibly produced in James Bay and batteries made at Ford’s new facility in Bécancour.
“Canadians are making the switch to EVs because it is a great way to save money while ensuring clean air in our communities and fighting climate change,” Wilkinson said. “It’s also, overall, a better driving experience. We’re making electric vehicles more affordable and charging more available where Canadians live, work and play. Today, I announced federal investments to deliver over 1,500 new chargers across Quebec, from Rimouski to Gatineau and beyond. This will put more Canadians in the driver’s seat on the road to a prosperous net-zero future.
THE $30 million investment represents a combined federal investment of over $29.4 million in 18 projects to install 1,151 Level 2 and 481 Level 3 EV chargers, of which 1,578 of those are located throughout Quebec. Funding was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
