Horwath lays out Ontario’s first electric vehicle strategy in Lakefield

LAKEFIELD — Andrea Horwath, Leader of the Official Opposition New Democrats, has released Ontario’s first zero-emissions vehicles strategy, which will mean that by 2035 every new car sold in Ontario will be electric.

“We’re going to make it easy and affordable for people to buy, charge and ride electric,” said Horwath. “The climate crisis is the greatest threat our world faces. But with how we respond to that crisis, we can create an incredible opportunity for Ontario’s auto industry, and for families here in Lakefield who want to make the switch.

“Families here in this community have definitely been doing their part to reduce Ontario’s carbon footprint. It’s time for a government that’s here for you, to make it affordable for everyday families to go electric.”

Last week Trent University announced a partnership to take on energy efficiency upgrades, including a Battery Energy Storage System on campus, and a proposed electric vehicle charging station. Peterborough residents have also planted 11,275 trees and plants through Otonabee Conservation’s tree seedling sales program to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The city has also been examining electric transportation options.

Horwath and the NDP have released a comprehensive platform to tackle the climate crisis and create jobs. It’s the boldest and most effective climate plan Ontario has ever had and includes an expansive zero emissions vehicles strategy. An NDP government will invest in retooling auto plants in Ontario to design and manufacture electric vehicles, introduce world-leading incentives to help people buy electric cars, require charging stations to come standard in all new homes, and give families $600 to install a charging station at home.

With Horwath’s strategy, all new vehicle sales in Ontario will be zero-emissions cars and trucks by 2035, and all transit fleets will get provincial support to be electrified by 2040.

The Liberals had 15 years to start the shift to electric, and chose not to. Then Doug Ford launched his war on the environment. In 2018 he cancelled Ontario’s electric auto incentive program, cutting sales by more than 50 per cent and putting electric vehicles out of reach for a lot of working families. He also paid to have electric vehicle charging stations ripped out of the ground.

“Being a leader on zero emissions vehicles will create thousands of great jobs, make life more affordable for families, and help deliver the future our kids and grandkids deserve,” said Horwath.

Background

The electric vehicle package is a part of the environmental platform released by Andrea Horwath and the NDP. Climate. Jobs. Justice. A Green New Democratic Deal. The zero-emissions vehicle strategy includes:

Auto manufacturing, sales and purchases

• Provide world-leading financial incentives for Ontario auto manufacturing plants to re-tool to produce electric vehicles
• Set a province-wide electric vehicle sales target of 15 per cent by 2025, 45 per cent by 2030, and 100 per cent by 2035
• Offer strong incentives to buy an electric vehicle, excluding luxury vehicles but with added incentive to buy manufactured-in-Canada electric vehicles
• Completely electrify government fleets by 2030

Charging

• Give $600 to households to install a charging station at home
• Require builders to put vehicle charging capacity in new homes
• Build charging stations on public properties, like GO Train stations and along roadways

Public Transit

• Work with municipalities to electrify all municipal transit fleets by 2040
• Take immediate steps to electrify the GO Train network on an accelerated timeline to replace dirty diesel trains along all lines
• Reverse the provincial funding cuts the former Conservative and Liberal governments made to municipal transit and paratransit services

Quote

Bill Bruesch, Kawartha Chapter Lead, Electric Vehicle Society
“As a long-time Electric Vehicle owner, I know that accelerating the transition to this cleaner, better form of transportation is essential in facing the challenges of climate change. Government incentives that help families acquire EVs and make their homes EV-ready as well as investment in the on-going expansion of convenient roadside and destination charging facilities are crucial to our success. We need action now!”