The electric and intelligent transportation sector (EIT) is a lever for creating collective wealth in Quebec. In addition to contributing to the fight against climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the EIT ecosystem helps create jobs in forward-looking sectors and supports the development of research and innovation in cutting-edge technologies.
In the context of the COVID-19 crisis affecting Quebec and the rest of the world, investments to accelerate the electrification of transportation have the potential to help improve mobility, drive the economy and support economic recovery.
Thanks to its many assets, Quebec is regarded as a world leader in transportation electrification. The abundance of hydroelectricity and natural mineral resources, combined with research expertise and the industrial know-how of sector players, make Quebec’s EIT cluster a growing industry that attracts many investors each year.
- 99.5%of the energy produced in Quebec is clean and renewable[1]
- C$1.3Bthe sector’s contribution to Quebec’s GDP (direct and indirect)
- C$830Mof Quebec exports of products and services from the sector
- C$2.2Bin sales generated in the sector
- 6,240direct jobs in companies in the sector
In recent years, Quebec has developed advanced expertise in the design and manufacture of electric vehicles as well as in the systems and components that go into the production of electric and intelligent vehicles. This growing sector has many strengths that position it to succeed on the global stage.
This is explained by Gabriel Trottier-Hardy, Director, Business Development and Sales at Bombardier:
"For more than 40 years, Bombardier Transportation has been able to develop here a unique expertise in innovative and sustainable mobility. Whether in design, engineering, systems integration, manufacturing production, or operation and maintenance, we have, here in Quebec, all the necessary tools to offer integrated, high-quality solutions with a long-term orientation. Today, this ecosystem advantageously positions Quebec in a global industry firmly oriented toward the future: electric and intelligent transportation. It creates quality jobs, delivers substantial economic benefits, stimulates regional economies and showcases Quebec around the world. This ecosystem is a societal choice that we have built collectively. It is up to us to continue to give it every chance to flourish so it can remain at the forefront of this strategic sector."
Envisioning a green recovery through the electrification of transportation
To address the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis, federal and provincial governments are deploying investments unmatched since the post–World War II recovery plan. Many voices are calling for these investments to be part of a greener, more sustainable and more resilient economic transition. According to a recent report by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment[2]A green recovery could save 100,000 lives and create 1.5 million new sustainable jobs between 2030 and 2050.
In this context, decarbonizing many sectors of the economy, notably transportation and infrastructure, is considered a priority. Such goals must translate into strategic investments in industries related to clean and sustainable energy and technologies, particularly in the EIT sector.
However, one should not rely solely on investments to embark on this green economic shift. The lack of flexibility and openness to innovation in the legislative framework, notably in public procurement, represents a significant barrier to achieving these objectives. In the context of economic recovery, it is necessary to ensure that public markets can play the role of a critical engine of recovery, notably through adaptations in procurement rules and practices related to green transport products and services and technologies.
Propulsion Québec and the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal will unveil, during a virtual event on September 3, a new study on thestrategic role of public procurement in economic development and in strengthening innovation in Quebec. The study proposes a series of solutions to ensure that public procurement becomes a strategic lever for recovery toward a greener, more sustainable and prosperous Quebec economy.
[1] https://www.economie.gouv.qc.ca/bibliotheques/secteurs/transport-terrestre/presentation-de-lindustrie-des-vehicules-electriques/
[2] https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ACME_Rapport2020_FR_PlandeTraitementpouruneRelanceenSante.pdf
