Author of the article: The Canadian Press Dirk Meisner Date of publication: April 11, 2022 • 10 hours ago • 3 minutes reading • 151 comments Prime Minister Justin Trinto, with Meran Smith of Clean Energy Canada, speaks to reporters at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC, April 11, 2022. Photo by Philip McLachlan / Reuters
Content of the article
VICTORIA – Prime Minister Justin Trinto says he wants to make it easier for more Canadians to drive electric vehicles and does not rule out nuclear power as a cleaner source of energy.
Advertising 2
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
Trinto said electric vehicles fight pollution, but are often too expensive for many Canadians. “We know we need to reduce emissions,” he told an open-air press conference Monday at Royal Roads University in the suburb of Victoria, Colwood. “We know we need to reduce pollution and one of the best ways to do that is to have more clean cars on the road,” he said. Last week’s federal budget highlighted the transition to a green economy, which included expanding the availability of zero-emission vehicles and charging stations, Trinto said. The federal government will expand an ongoing program that offers electric vehicle buyers up to $ 5,000 to help with purchases and will introduce mandatory sales targets that require 20 percent of all vehicles sold by 2026 to be electric, he said.
Advertising 3
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
“We know that electric vehicles are more expensive in advance, even if they prove to be cheaper in the long run,” Trindo said. “We know people need this help in advance.” The sales target program will be expanded in the coming years, Trudeau said, with 60% of vehicle sales being electric by 2030 and 100% by 2035. The 2022 budget includes $ 400 million over five years to expand the charging infrastructure. “Investing in this budget will allow thousands of others (charging stations),” Trinto said. “We know this is a key path forward to help families make the final decision to turn to electricity.” In order to charge these vehicles, Trinto said Canada needs to launch more electrification initiatives, including the potential for increased nuclear power.
Advertising 4
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
“It’s very clear, first of all, that we need to reduce our emissions, we need to reduce our dependence on oil and gas,” he said. “If we did not already know, the conflict in Ukraine right now with the illegal invasion of Russia underscores how much we need to be able to find cleaner energy sources for our communities, for our country.” Trinto did not elaborate on the possible expansion of nuclear power in Canada, saying: “Nuclear power is on the table, absolutely.” A spokeswoman for a Canadian clean energy think tank said that 5% of vehicle sales in Canada are already electric models, with BC at 13%. Merran Smith, chief executive of Clean Energy Canada, said recent figures show that 80 percent of Canadians are open to the possibility of an electric vehicle.
Advertising 5
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
Content of the article
“Despite the high price of an EV sticker, fuel economy and maintenance are so significant that the EV version often comes out tens of thousands of dollars cheaper,” he told a news conference. “This is the future.” Three senior cabinet ministers also met in BC and the Yukon on Monday to discuss the budget. International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan was due in Kelowna, BC for a clean economy announcement, and Natural Resources Secretary Jonathan Wilkinson was due in Whitehorse to announce a clean energy partnership with Yukon and native Tlingit Homeland Energy Limited. . Federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray was due in Richmond, BC, for an infrastructure announcement. Trinto’s tour also included scheduled meetings with Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and the Victoria City Youth Advisory Council.
Share this article on your social network
Advertising
This ad has not been uploaded yet, but your article continues below.
NP Posted
Sign up to receive daily top stories from National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. By clicking the subscribe button you agree to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300
Thank you for your registration!
A welcome email is on its way. If you do not see it, check the junk folder. The next issue of NP Posted will be in your inbox soon. We encountered a problem with your registration. PLEASE try again
Comments
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but political forum for discussion and encourages all readers to share their views on our articles. Comments may take up to an hour to monitor before appearing on the site. We ask that you retain your comments regarding and with respect. We’ve activated email notifications — you will now receive an email if you receive a reply to your comment, an update on a comment thread that follows, or if a user follows the comments. See the Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to customize your email settings.
