The province is putting its new Climate Change Strategy into action by investing $20 million this year from the Ontario Green Investment Fund to build more public charging stations for electric vehicles.
Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Glen Murray made the announcement while taking part in the United Nations’ 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) on climate change in Paris, France.
“Climate change is already costing the people of Ontario. It has devastated communities, damaged homes, businesses and crops, and increased insurance costs. Our government’s new Green Investment Fund will support concrete steps towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Building more charging stations will promote sustainable transportation while empowering people in Ontario who want to take action in the fight against climate change.,” stated Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario.
Through the $20 million grant program, the province is seeking public and private sector partners to create a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations in cities, along highways and at workplaces, apartments, condominiums and public places across Ontario. Full program details will be available later this month.
“This is great news for drivers in Ontario. By investing in charging infrastructure that is fast, reliable and affordable we will encourage more Ontarians to purchase electric vehicles, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and keeping our air clean,” commented Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation.
A shift to low- and zero-emission vehicles is vital to the fight against climate change and achieving Ontario’s greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 80 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050.
“Ontario’s new Green Investment Fund offers exciting opportunities to revolutionize how we live, work, move and play as we fight climate change. This initial investment is just the start of many more bold steps we’ll be taking to promote electric cars as a sustainable transportation choice and to reduce greenhouse gas pollution in other sectors,” said Glen Murray, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
Ontario’s new $325 million Green Investment Fund commits money for projects that fight climate change. These investments are part of the government’s plan for securing a healthy, clean and prosperous low-carbon future by transforming the way we live, move, work and adapt to our environment while ensuring strong, sustainable communities.
“Promoting the use and development of electric vehicles is part of Ontario’s approach to align our economy with future consumer and industry trends. Today’s announcement is another step towards harnessing our strengths in automotive, smart grid and energy storage technologies to benefit the environment while contributing to sustainable economic growth,” commented Brad Duguid, Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure.
Fighting climate change while supporting growth, efficiency and productivity is part of the government’s plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people’s talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
QUICK FACTS
- The government’s new $325 million Green Investment Fund was announced in the 2015 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review.
- While at COP21, Premier Wynne joined Québec Premier Philippe Couillard and Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger in signing a new MOU that lays out the intent to link the cap and trade programs in all three provinces under the Western Climate Initiative, further strengthening North America’s largest carbon market.
- Transportation in Ontario is the single-largest emitting sector in our economy. Greenhouse gases from cars account for more emissions than those from industries such as iron, steel, cement, and chemicals combined. With a growing population and expanding urban regions, transportation emissions pose one of the province’s greatest challenges in achieving its emissions targets.
- In just 10 years, Ontario has become a North American leader in the development, use and manufacturing of clean energy.
- A Canada 2020 poll shows that 84 per cent of Canadians believe that prosperous countries such as Canada have an obligation to show international leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- In May 2015, Ontario became the first province in Canada to set a mid-term greenhouse gas pollution reduction target of 37 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030.
- There are approximately 5,400 electric vehicles currently registered in Ontario.
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