MP Serr hopes to fix 'gaps' in northern Ontario EV charging network

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Nickel Belt MP Marc Serr is making a push for more businesses and municipalities in northern Ontario to open electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

Natural Resources Canada will seek requests for proposals for new chargers this winter part of a $280 million federal program to help build up the EV infrastructure across Canada and Serr saidhe hopes to see applications from northern groups and organizations.

"I want to make sure that northern Ontario is prepared, it's proactive to access these funds and that northern Ontario gets its fair share," Serr said. "But we have to work together to make sure we submit some of those proposals."

Electric vehicles can travel 200 kilometres on a single charge, non-profit group Plug'N Drive estimates, which can cause concern for drivers travelling between distant northern Ontario communities.

Serr said there are 15 charging stations in the region, with threein the Nickel Belt riding and 12 in the Sudbury riding.

"Going from Sudbury, to North Bay to Ottawa, there are gaps there," Serr said. "So I encourage municipalities, and mayors and the private sector to apply to make sure that there are enough of those EV stations.

"The more EV stations we can put in the region, the more it would give some comfort level to individuals to purchase EV vehicles."

The City of Greater Sudbury announced recently that its new EMS vehicles would be electric, and Sudbury post-secondary school Cambrian College has a program that helps mechanics learn and adapt to the EV technology.

The federal government has set a target that by 2035, all new cars and passenger trucks will be zero emission. But so far, the government hasn't established any timeline to have a strong, connected charging centre infrastructure in northern Ontario.

"It's hard to give a timeline," Serr said. "But the money is there and I'm hopeful and optimistic that we should be able to fill in those gaps within the next year. I think that's the opportunity here that we have."