Today, Tony Van Bynen, Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora, and His Worship Alex Nuttall, Mayor of the City of Barrie, announced $3.3 million in joint funding for a battery electric bus pilot program.
"To reach our emissions reduction target of net-zero by 2050, we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. Our investment in Barrie's battery electric bus pilot program marks the first step in the city's transition to a fully electric public transit fleet. Our Government will continue to work with partners to invest in sustainable transit options in communities," said Tony Van Bynen, Member of Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
"The City of Barrie is committed to reducing Barrie's corporate emissions to net-zero by the year 2050. This investment from the federal government will help us move closer to that goal by enabling us to move quicker towards a greener transit system for our community," said His Worship Alex Nuttall, Mayor of the City of Barrie.
Funding will support the purchase of two battery electric buses and the necessary charging infrastructure. Barrie Transit will study their operation to gather data on future electricity demand and infrastructure requirements. This will ultimately inform the City of Barrie's plans for the full electrification of their transit fleet.
The Government of Canada and the City of Barrie are investing a combined total of $3.3 million towards this pilot project.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
