Metro Vancouver Faces Backlash Over EV Subsidies Amid Miscommunication on Corporate Funding
At a recent Metro Vancouver board meeting it appeared to be suggested that regional tax dollars were helping The Brick and IKEA purchase electric vehicles for their delivery fleets.
Board members started asking questions about why taxpayers were seemingly subsidizing electric vehicles for large corporations. However, the provincial government is now clarifying that the funds were actually directed to a delivery service provider (Bolt), not IKEA itself.
“The IKEA reference I think, is to a company called Bolt, which does delivery service for IKEA,” Energy Minister Adrian Dix told Global News.
It was not IKEA that received the money. I think that was a mistake in the briefing note that was provided to Metro Vancouver.
The provincial government says the Fraser Basin Council administers its EV program. And, Metro Vancouver was providing $300,000 in funding to the Fraser Basin Council.
“And it appears that no one in Metro Vancouver or others were able to clarify that,” Dix added.
“And as a result, there was confusion, both at Metro Vancouver, I think, and and in the response to the story.”
On Friday, February 21st, directors voted to end that contribution.
Source: Global News
