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Transit & Transportation platforms

Here's what the Canada 2021 parties are promising.

Active Transportation

We don't have any Liberal policies on Active Transportation.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Active Transportation.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Active Transportation.
We don't have any NDP policies on Active Transportation.

Green

  • Expand cycling & walking infrastructure.
  • Work with municipalities & provincial governments to develop infrastructure that is accessible to all communities & individuals.
  • Create a national cycling & walking infrastructure fund.

Ferries

We don't have any Liberal policies on Ferries.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Ferries.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Ferries.
We don't have any NDP policies on Ferries.

Green

Convert all passenger ferries to electric or hybrid systems by 2030.

Freight

We don't have any Liberal policies on Freight.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Freight.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Freight.
We don't have any NDP policies on Freight.

Green

Develop a Green Freight Transport program to address greenhouse gas emissions & pollution, in partnership with the freight industry, shipping companies, & delivery businesses.

Intercity Transportation

Liberal

  • Commit to developing high-frequency rail.
  • Move forward with the rail project in the Toronto/Quebec City corridor, with stops in Trois-Rivieres & Peterborough, using electrified technology.
  • Explore opportunities to extend rail toward London & Windsor.

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Committing to make High Frequency Rail a reality. We will move forward with the project in the Toronto to Quebec City corridor, with stops in Trois-Rivieres and Peterborough, among others, using electrified technology. We will launch a procurement process by the end of 2021 and also explore other opportunities to extend the rail toward London and Windsor.

—  Forward. For Everyone., retrieved 2021-09-02

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We don't have any Conservative policies on Intercity Transportation.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Intercity Transportation.

NDP

  • Develop a public intercity bus system.
  • Support creating high-frequency rail along the Quebec-Windsor corridor.
  • Expand rail service options in other regions.
  • Work to restore the Ontario Northlander.

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For provinces and municipalities that identify it as a priority, we will help them build towards fare-free transit to ease commutes, help people make ends meet and lower emissions. To help replace the loss of Greyhound routes, we’ll develop a public inter-city bus system. We will also support creating high-frequency rail along the Quebec-Windsor corridor, expand rail service options in other regions, and work to restore the Ontario Northlander to support the crucial transportation link for communities and businesses alike in Northern Ontario.

Ready for Better, retrieved 2021-08-27

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Green

  • Expand VIA Rail to a rail & bus system.
  • Enact a VIA Rail Act to ensure the VIA Rail mandate for a national passenger transportation network.
  • Ensure access to zero-carbon public transportation, with high-speed rail networks between major cities.
  • Exempt rural & intercity public transport from sales taxes.

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● Ensure access to zero-carbon public transportation, with high-speed rail networks between major cities, and spokes of light rail and electric bus connections across the country.

● Guarantee every Canadian safe, reliable and accessible access to affordable, net zero ground transportation by expanding VIA Rail to a rail and bus system. Enact a VIA Rail Act to ensure the VIA Rail mandate for a national passenger transportation network.

Be Daring., retrieved 2021-09-11

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Rail

We don't have any Liberal policies on Rail.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Rail.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Rail.
We don't have any NDP policies on Rail.

Green

  • Strengthen Canada's rail safety rules.
  • Enact a Via Rail Canada Act.
  • Invest $500M in 2022-23, rising to $720M by 2024 to develop regional rail networks & strengthen rail connections between regions.
  • Build electrified, 200km/h or faster, high-speed rail in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City triangle, & the Calgary-Edmonton corridor.

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● Enact a Via Rail Canada Act to implement a passenger rail transportation policy and protect services from future cuts.

● Invest $500 million in 2022-23, rising to $720 million by 2024 to develop regional rail networks and strengthen rail connections between regions. This will include building several sections of additional track along existing routes to avoid bottlenecks where heavy freight pushes passenger rail to the siding

● Build electrified, 200 km/h or faster, high-speed rail in the Toronto-Ottawa-Montreal-Quebec City triangle and the Calgary-Edmonton corridor.

● Exempt rural and intercity public transport from sales taxes, just like urban transit.

Be Daring., retrieved 2021-09-11

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Rural Transit

We don't have any Liberal policies on Rural Transit.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Rural Transit.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Rural Transit.
We don't have any NDP policies on Rural Transit.

Green

  • Make investments to expand rural transit services & infrastructure.
  • Exempt rural & intercity public transport from sales taxes.

Transit Investment

We don't have any Liberal policies on Transit Investment.
We don't have any Conservative policies on Transit Investment.
We don't have any Bloc policies on Transit Investment.

NDP

  • Permanently double the Canada Community-Building Fund.
  • Emphasise scaling low carbon transit projects, including electrifying transit by 2030.
  • Help provinces & municipalities build toward fare-free transit.
  • Promote smart community planning & active transportation.
  • Implement a permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism for modern public transit.

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Municipalities are already making investments in public transit in their communities, but they need a federal partner to champion public transit throughout the country. New Democrats will modernize and expand public transit within and between communities across Canada, and ensure that federal transit funding flows with an emphasis on scaling up low carbon transit projects like zero-emissions buses and electric trains with the goal of electrifying transit and other municipal fleets by 2030.

For provinces and municipalities that identify it as a priority, we will help them build towards fare-free transit to ease commutes, help people make ends meet and lower emissions. To help replace the loss of Greyhound routes, we’ll develop a public inter-city bus system. We will also support creating high-frequency rail along the Quebec-Windsor corridor, expand rail service options in other regions, and work to restore the Ontario Northlander to support the crucial transportation link for communities and businesses alike in Northern Ontario.

Ready for Better, retrieved 2021-08-27

Lastly, we will promote smart community planning and active transportation like walking and cycling, helping Canadians make choices that are healthier and more affordable for everyone. And we will work with other levels of government to encourage the use of electric bikes and their safe integration into our active transportation network.

Ready for Better, retrieved 2021-08-27

When it comes to getting around, public transit should be a convenient and affordable option that makes your commute easier – all while taking cars off the road, cutting emissions and reducing gridlock. New Democrats understand that getting our communities moving is critical for our economy and our quality of life – that’s why we’ll put in place a permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism for modern public transit across Canada for the long run. We’ll also step up investments now to help cities transition their bus fleets to electric, and to expand affordable rail and bus options in all parts of the country. And for municipalities that make it a priority, the federal government should work with them towards fare-free transit to ease commutes and make life more affordable.

Ready for Better, retrieved 2021-08-27

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Green

  • Create a permanent, dedicated federal transit fund with $3.4B/year starting in 2026-2027.
  • Commit to a multi-year solution to transit operating shortfalls. .

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● Answer the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ and Vancouver Mayor’s Council’s call for a permanent, dedicated federal public transit fund of $3.4 billion annually starting in 2026-2027, once the existing transit program expires.

● Commit to a multi-year solution to transit operating shortfalls in order to protect and secure shared investments in building out Canada’s transit networks for the decades to come.

Be Daring., retrieved 2021-09-11

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Zero-Emission Vehicles

Liberal

  • Invest an extra $1.5B in iZEV rebates & expand eligibility to more vehicle types, including used vehicles.
  • Invest an extra $700M to add 50K new EV chargers & hydrogen stations, & $100M for existing buildings to install chargers.
  • Require at least 50% of new light vehicles sold be zero-emissions by 2030.
  • Electrify all government light vehicles by 2030.
  • Provide $200M to retrofit large in-use trucks.

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Invest an additional $1.5 billion in the iZev rebate program and broaden eligibility to a wider range of vehicle types, including used vehicles, to help over 500,000 Canadians get into a zero emissions vehicle.

Invest an additional $700 million to add 50,000 new electric vehicle chargers and hydrogen stations to Canada’s network.

Work with industry, labour, and other stakeholders to develop a regulated sales requirement that at least 50% of all new light duty vehicle sales be zero emissions vehicles in 2030.

Provide $100 million to make sure existing buildings can install charging stations, removing a barrier to adopting a clean car.

Double down to attract investments and jobs in manufacturing zero emissions vehicles in Canada through the $8 billion Net Zero Accelerator

Accelerate our Greening Government commitments to electrify the entire federal fleet of light duty vehicles by 2030, up from our existing target of 80% by 2030.

Require 100% of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sales to be zero emission by 2040, where feasible.

Invest $200 million to retrofit large trucks currently on the road to cut pollution now.

Forward. For Everyone., retrieved 2021-09-02

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Conservative

  • Require 30% of light-duty vehicles sold to be zero-emissions by 2030.
  • Invest $1 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada.
  • Add mandatory charging stations or wiring for chargers to the national building code.
  • Require every federal government building to have a charging station by 2025.
  • Support improved electric vehicle battery repurposing and recycling.

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• Introducing a zero emission vehicle mandate based on British Columbia’s, requiring 30% of light duty vehicles sold to be zero emissions by 2030;

• Working with the Biden administration to strengthen vehicle emission standards in North America;

• Investing in transmission infrastructure to bring clean energy to where it’s needed and ensure that our electricity grid can support the growth in electric vehicles;

• Investing a billion dollars in building out electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada, including investing in battery production, parts manufacturing, micro-mobility solutions and electric trucks;

• Investing a billion dollars in deploying hydrogen technology including hydrogen vehicles;

• Working with the U.S. to set a standard for charging and then add mandatory charging stations or wiring required for chargers to the national building code;

• Working with provinces, territories and municipalities to encourage the inclusion of a minimum number of EV charging spaces for new developments;

• Requiring that every building where the federal government has employees or offers services to the public and provides parking to have a charging station by 2025; and

• Supporting improved electric vehicle battery repurposing and recycling in order to lower the environmental impact of these batteries and lower the cost of vehicles on the resale market.

Secure the Environment, retrieved 2021-08-29

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We don't have any Bloc policies on Zero-Emission Vehicles.

NDP

  • Extend federal incentives for zero-emissions vehicles, and expand incentives to $15k per family for made-in-Canada vehicles.
  • Waive federal sales tax on zero-emissions vehicle purchases.
  • Move all federal government vehicle fleets to Electric Vehicles by 2025, using vehicles made in Canada where possible.
  • Build out charging infrastructure.

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Because we know Canadians want to do their part, we will make it easier to get and use a zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV). As Canada moves towards 100% of all new car sales being zero-emissions by 2035, we will make sure that more of these vehicles are built here in Canada. A New Democrat government will extend federal incentives for ZEVs and provide a break for working families by waiving the federal sales tax on ZEV purchases, and grow these incentives up to $15,000 per family for made-in-Canada vehicles. We will expand the use of ZEVs in the public sector – including Crown Corporations – and by freight vehicles. To make ZEV use easier for Canadians in all regions, we’ll build out Canada’s charging infrastructure and help people purchasing new or used ZEVs cover the cost of installing a plug- in charger. We will create a centre of excellence for research and development of ZEVs to move forward related technologies such as hydrogen, batteries, and energy storage solutions. We will look for further opportunities related to green hydrogen fuel cell technology which could help reduce emissions for heavy trucks, freight, marine and aviation sectors. And we will look at ways to strengthen the low-carbon fuel standard.

Ready for Better, retrieved 2021-08-27

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Green

  • Ban the sale of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles by 2030.
  • Expand charging stations for electric vehicles, including in smaller communities & rural areas.
  • Fund grants for purchasing new & used electric vehicles.
  • Fund buy-back programs for old vehicles.
  • Exempt new & used electric & zero-emission vehicles from federal sales tax.

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● Ban the sale of all internal combustion engine passenger vehicles by 2030, and expand charging stations for electric vehicles, including charging stations in smaller communities and rural areas.

● Develop programs to encourage the retirement of existing gas-powered vehicles, including government-funded grants for the purchase of new and used electric vehicles and ‘buy-back’ programs to encourage vehicle users to give up their existing vehicle.

Be Daring., retrieved 2021-09-11

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