Manitobans applaud federal government's decision to spend big on greener transportation

Kevin Celestino spends long hours sitting in front of a computer in his career as an architect, but he decided 10 years ago he needed exercise he would enjoy. That's when he began devoting time to riding his bicycle.

Now, Celestino continues to get around Winnipeg on his bicycle most of the time year round. He says while cycling infrastructure has come a long way since 2012, all forms of green infrastructure need to be prioritized.

"If the infrastructure is there it welcomes people to do it. It makes it easier for someone who hasn't tried it," Celestino said. "That safety net is so important getting into it for the first time in a long time. Infrastructure: build it; they will come."

Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault unveiled the federal government's plan to drastically curb greenhouse gas emissions for the next eight years to meet ambitious 2030 reduction targets, with plans for the country to be hit a zero-emission target by 2050.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that 60 per cent of all new personal vehicles sold in Canada will be zero-emission by 2030. The transportation sector is the second-leading source of emissions.

In Manitoba, transportation accounts for the largest portion of greenhouse gas emissions — about 40 per cent.

A greater reliance on zero-emissions vehicles will help curb emissions in the province, and Micah Boisjoli is all for it.

The owner of Greenway Motors in Transcona North, Boisjoli sells used electric vehicles. He is all for the federal government spending $1.7 billion to extend existing incentives that offer credits to people who buy zero-emissions vehicles, and promising $400 million in new funding to add 50,000 charging stations across Canada.

Boisjoli says 10 years ago there were only three charging stations in Manitoba. Today there are upwards of 100 with more being added every week.

"I think the charging infrastructure is certainly very important," he said. "I think it sounds like the federal announcement really hit a couple of key topics."

Incentives have worked particularly in some places outside Manitoba, including British Columbia, which offers a vehicle rebate of up to $3,000 after leasing or buying a new EV through the CleanBC Go Electric program.

"Incentives definitely do increase sales of the electric vehicles," Boisjoli said. "If you look at different jurisdictions across Canada, B.C. and Quebec have had provincial rebates for many years and they sell the vast majority of electric vehicles in Canada."

After gas prices shot up within the past month, Boisjoli says he has received more inquiries about electric vehicles.

There is a higher up-front cost for electric vehicles, but he says the average cost per kilometre is 1.5 cents for an electric vehicle, compared with a gas- or diesel-powered vehicle that ranges from 10 cents to 20 cents per kilometre.