The government of Ontario is committing $19 million to boost the development and manufacturing of electric vehicles in the province.
This comes after Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault proposed a new regulation that one-fifth of all passenger cars, SUVs, and trucks sold in Canada in 2026 will need to run on electricity.
The funding will go to regional tech development sites. RTDS enable physical sites across Ontario that bring together academic institutions, regional innovation centers, incubators, accelerators, as well as regional and industry sources to support companies in the development, testing, and commercialization of automotive technology and smart mobility solutions. Each RTDS offers access to physical space, tools, and advisory support.
Ontario’s seven RTDS are located in Waterloo, Ottawa, Hamilton, Durham, Windsor-Essex, Toronto, and the newly established Northern RTDS which includes Greater Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Temiskaming Shores, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay.
Made through the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), the funding went to several tech hubs connected to Ontario’s RTDS: ventureLAB, Communitech, Spark Centre, Invest WindsorEssex, Innovation Factory, Invest Ottawa, and NORCAT(formerly Northern Centre for Advanced Technology).
By 2030, the mandate will hit 60 percent of all sales and by 2035, every passenger vehicle sold in Canada will need to be electric.
Manufacturers or importers who don’t meet the sales targets could face penalties under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act through a phased-in approach.
