Zero Emission Transit Fund [Umbrella Program]

The objective of the $2.75 billion Zero Emission Transit Fund (ZETF) is to advance the Government of Canada’s commitment to help procure zero emission public transit and school buses, in close partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). This funding will help communities to electrify their school and transit bus fleets, while reducing emissions and operational costs over the long-term. 

 

The ZETF targets investments across Canada that support clean transportation by investing in the vehicles, infrastructure and organizational readiness that make fleet electrification possible. The transportation sector accounts for 25% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and with Canada generating approximately 82% of its electricity from zero emission power sources, shifting vehicles away from fossil fuel powertrains towards zero emission powertrains presents an opportunity for GHG emissions reductions.

 

These investments are closely coordinated with the CIB’s commitment to invest in Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) as part of its three-year Growth Plan. 

 

1. Planning Projects: Eligible projects include studies, modelling and feasibility analysis that will support the development of future larger scale capital projects.
2. Capital Projects: Eligible capital projects include buses, charging and refueling infrastructure, and other ancillary infrastructure needs.

• Municipalities, local and regional governments established under provincial or territorial statute, including service districts 
• Public sector bodies that are established by or under provincial or territorial statute or by regulation or are wholly-owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government (including transit agencies and school boards).
• Indigenous governing bodies including but not limited to:
  • A band council within the meaning of section 2 of the Indian Act.
  • A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a Self Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada and Indigenous People of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation;
  • A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government that are established by or under legislation  whether federal or provincial that incorporates a governance structure. 

An eligible recipient can apply on behalf of multiple other eligible recipients, and would be considered the lead applicant. During the application process, it is the lead applicant’s responsibility to provide all of the necessary project information required for each of the eligible recipients they are representing.

• Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization whose mandate is to improve Indigenous outcomes, organizations serving Indigenous communities living in urban centers and First Nations living off reserve
• Indigenous development corporations 
• Private sector school bus operators, in partnership with a public school board, or municipal, regional or provincial/territorial government;
• Private sector accessible transit bus operators, in partnership with a transit agency, or municipal, regional or provincial/territorial government;
• Federally or Provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations, such as professional and industry associations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic institutions in partnership with an eligible recipient described above.

The maximum amount payable through the ZETF will be $350M for a project, unless otherwise agreed to by the Government of Canada.

Applications are received through a rolling intake process. Applicants may submit multiple applications over the course of the program; however, Infrastructure Canada reserves the right to review and assess only one application at a time.