Montreal, May 19, 2021 — Propulsion Québec, the cluster for electric and intelligent transportation (EIT), is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Mouvement Desjardins, the largest cooperative financial group in Canada. This one-year partnership will allow the Mouvement Desjardins to contribute to the objectives of its sustainable development policy, particularly regarding sustainable and connected mobility.
Desjardins, a commitment of more than 30 years to combating climate change
Desjardins has adhered for more than 30 years to the principles of sustainable development, and more specifically to the need to act on climate change. The financial cooperative is committed, among other things, to encouraging the electrification of its vehicle fleet and that of its members and clients. In this spirit, more than 270 electric vehicle charging stations have been installed in the parking lots of branches and corporate buildings across Quebec and Ontario.
The Mouvement Desjardins also announced on April 22 the implementation of an action plan with one objective: to achieve, by 2040, net-zero emissions for its extended operations and for the financing and investment activities of its own funds in three key carbon-intensive sectors: energy, transportation and real estate. Concrete measures are being implemented to achieve this objective, such as the creation of a $2 billion investment portfolio in renewable energy infrastructure and the establishment of mandatory sustainability training for 85% of its roughly 49,000 employees by 2023 to better support its members and clients.
As a Major partner of Propulsion Québec, the Mouvement Desjardins will support all of the cluster’s actions and activities in order to promote the growth and influence of Quebec’s electric and intelligent transportation ecosystem. The financial cooperative will notably sponsor a study on private financing in the intelligent electric transportation sector aimed at taking stock of financing in this industry according to the growth stages of its companies.
"The electric and intelligent transportation sector is an important driver of the energy and technological transition toward a markedly lower-carbon economy," emphasizes Jean-Yves Bourgeois, Senior Vice-President, Business Services at Desjardins. In this context, cooperating with the actors gathered under Propulsion Québec’s umbrella will allow Desjardins and the communities it serves to electrify our travel more quickly, both for our individual members and for businesses.
"I am delighted by the creation of this partnership with the Mouvement Desjardins! It highlights the shared values of sustainability and mobility of our two organizations and will enable collaboration between our respective communities. With the signing of this partnership, the Mouvement Desjardins sends a strong message about its commitment to reducing GHG emissions and its participation in electrifying the mobility of tomorrow," explains Sarah Houde, President and CEO of Propulsion Québec.
About the Mouvement Desjardins
The Mouvement Desjardins is the largest financial cooperative in North America and the fifth largest in the world, with assets of $377.0 billion. It was named among the 100 best employers worldwide for 2020 by the magazine Forbes. To meet the diverse needs of its members and clients, both individuals and businesses, its full range of products and services is offered through its extensive network of service points, its virtual platforms and its subsidiaries present across Canada. Ranked among the strongest banking institutions in the world by the magazine The Banker, Desjardins posts capital ratios and credit ratings among the best in the industry.
About Propulsion Québec
Quebec’s cluster for electric and intelligent transportation mobilizes all stakeholders in the sector around concerted projects aimed at positioning Quebec among the leaders in the development and deployment of land transport modes that favor electric and intelligent transportation. Created in 2017, Propulsion Québec today has nearly 215 members from different sectors and deploys its resources across six distinct workstreams aimed at developing and supporting innovative projects. The cluster benefits from the financial support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), ATTRIX, the Mouvement Desjardins, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Hydro-Québec and Québecor.
