Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, will receive an investment of C$181,000 (US$136,980) into its public transit system to purchase an electric vehicle, a hybrid wheelchair-accessible van and two charging stations. The Transit Association of Guysborough is looking to better manage the increased demand for its by-appointment, door-to-door and wheelchair-accessible transportation service.
"Across the province, we are making transportation more reliable and accessible for people in dozens of communities." said Nova Scotia Minister of Agriculture and Member of Legislative Assembly for Guysborough–Tracadie Greg Morrow. "This work is essential for making sure everyone has the ability to go to work, visit family and friends, go to appointments and enjoy many activities that would otherwise be out of reach. Mobility matters, and I am proud to be part of this important investment."
This investment will provide residents—particularly seniors, students and individuals with disabilities—with affordable and accessible transportation options that will enable them to go to school or work, attend medical appointments and take part in other activities.
The investment is a part of a bigger movement in Canada to make public transportation more accessible to even those in some of the more rural areas of the country. One in five Canadians live in rural communities. Rural communities in Canada account for nearly 30 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.
Through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund (RTSF), the government of Canada is investing C$144,807 (US$109,589) to this project while the government of Nova Scotia is investing C$36,202 (US$27,397). The RTSF helps Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.
A minimum of 10 percent of the total RTSF's C$250 million (US$189 million) funding envelope will be allocated to projects that benefit Indigenous populations and communities.
Applications to the RTSF– Capital Projects stream are accepted on a continuous basis. This stream helps cover capital costs like the purchase of vehicles or digital platforms, as well as support for the purchase of zero-emission vehicles.
Through the Capital Projects stream, eligible applicants can seek contributions of up to C$3 million (US$2.3 million) to help cover the capital costs of a new or expanded transit solution (purchase of vehicles or digital platforms) and up to C$5 million (US$3.8 million) to support zero-emission transit solutions (for the purchase of a zero-emission vehicles).
The RTSF complements Canada's strengthened climate plan: A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy. The plan commits the federal government to providing permanent federal funding for public transit in support of making clean and affordable transportation available in every community.
The government of Canada is investing C$14.9 billion (US$11.3 billion) over the next eight years in reliable, fast, affordable and clean public transit. This funding includes C$3 billion (US$2.3 billion) per year in permanent, predictable federal public transit funding, which will be available to support transit solutions beginning in 2026-27.
Since 2015, the government of Canada has invested over $24.8 billion (US$18.8 billion) in transit projects across the country, providing Canadians with cleaner and more efficient commuting options.
