The federal government will invest nearly $30 million to deliver more than 1,500 electric vehicle chargers across Québec, including over 400 fast chargers, as part of its project to build a coast-to-coast-to-coast network of charging stations in Canada.
The announcement was made by Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, on August 30; he had completed a zero-emissions vehicle tour from Montréal to Trois-Rivières and Québec City.
“Today, I announced federal investments to deliver over 1,500 new chargers across Québec, 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,” said Wilkinson in a statement.
Investments were provided to Hydro-Québec ($21.7 million) to install 1,194 chargers (385 fast chargers included), the Canadian National Railway Company ($4,4 million) to support 62 fast chargers at train stations across the country (with 12 in Québec), and $1.3 million was provided to Les Pétroles R.L. Inc. to deploy 57 chargers across the province.
Bell Canada received $375,000 to install 75 Level 2 chargers at workplaces in Québec, while the Syndicat des copropriétaires Lowney sur Ville received $300,000 to install 60 Level 2 chargers in multi-use residential buildings — known as MURBS — in Montréal. The Conseil régional de l’environnement et du développement durable de l’Outaouais and the Montréal-Trudeau International Airport also received financial support.
“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,” added Wilkinson in a statement. “It’s also, overall, a better driving experience.”
