The government is investing in the development of electric buses and trucks. They’ve earmarked $8.6 million for the project. The money is coming from the province’s Green Fund, which is revenue from Quebec’s carbon cap and trade program.
Both opposition parties, the CAQ and the Parti Quebecois, expressed concern about how the government is spending the money in the Green Fund, which is supposed to go to projects that will make the province more environmentally-friendly.
However, the opposition wants to see stronger criteria for which projects get approved and they want to see more proof that these projects are making a positive impact on the environment.
“On Monday night I met with about 30 companies doing business with the Fonds vert and they are unhappy,” CAQ leader Francois Legault said. “Right now, the Fonds vert is not being used in an efficient way.”
Economy Minister Dominique Anglade said the perfect illustration of how the system is working is Wednesday’s announcement. The electric vehicles will produce zero greenhouse gases and create 26 new jobs at a new factory in Boucherville.
“The criteria were quite well-established in order to support a project that is not only supporting a critical sector for us, but also supporting the three pillars of the economy,” she said.
The green fund currently has $1.2 billion. The government said they are in the process of strengthening the criteria with a bill already tabled in the National Assembly.