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Federal government and the FCM invest in the electrification of public transit in St. Catharines

ST. CATHARINES — On Jul. 15, the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announce that they are investing in smart sustainable solutions in St. Catharines, Ont.

Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Taneen Rudyk, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, announced a $98,500 investment to the St. Catharines Transit Commission (SCTC) through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to support the electrification of its transit fleet.

The SCTC, which provides bus services to the city of St. Catharines and the neighbouring city of Thorold, will conduct a technical and financial assessment to create an efficient and impactful plan for converting the conventional diesel-dependent fleet to battery-powered electric buses. Electrifying SCTC’s fixed-route conventional fleet will improve air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95 percent and lower operating and energy costs with projected annual savings of up to $900,000 ion diesel fuel and up to $50,000 on maintenance for each bus. Going electric will also reduce noise pollution compared to combustion-engine buses.

The Green Municipal Fund, administered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, is funded through an endowment by the Government of Canada. GMF helps local governments switch to sustainable practices faster. Its unique mix of funding, resources and training gives municipalities the tools they need to build resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Today’s investments will provide St. Catharines and Thorold with the support needed to undertake a crucial step toward an electrified public transit network. The Government of Canada is pleased to be supporting these innovative and important assessments to ensure that the increased deployment of zero-emission vehicles and buses is completed in the most impactful manner – to lower emissions and build cleaner, more affordable neighbourhoods.” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources.