MONTREAL, February 16, 2026 More than 300 participants from industry, government, the municipal sector and academia took part today in VEKTA 2026, the inaugural edition of the zero-emission transportation ecosystem mobilization event organized by Propulsion Québec. This first edition brought together more than 30 speakers around discussions with a common theme: accelerating the transition to zero-emission transportation that is competitive and value-creating for Quebec.
The participation of Mr. Carlos Leitão, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Member of Parliament for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin (Government of Canada), of Mr. Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for LaSalle–Émard–Verdun (Government of Canada), of Mr. Benoit Charette, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Minister Responsible for Infrastructure and Member for Deux-Montagnes (Government of Quebec), as well as Mr. Alexandre Teodoresco, member of the executive committee, responsible for artificial intelligence, innovation, optimization and municipal performance and Montreal City Councillor for the Loyola district of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough, was on hand to underscore the pivotal role of zero-emission transportation for Quebec’s economic, environmental and industrial future.
A new momentum for the zero-emission transport sector
The speeches and discussions held throughout the day confirmed that the sector is entering a phase of transformation. After a period marked by an uncertain geopolitical context, several recent announcements — notably regarding charging infrastructure, industry support, the return of incentives and the reinstatement of the Écocamionnage program — have helped revive the ecosystem’s confidence.
VEKTA 2026 thus highlighted a collective momentum. The decarbonization of transportation is underway in several international jurisdictions. It is irreversible and represents a major industrial opportunity for Quebec.
100% Electric Quebec–Toronto Corridor
VEKTA 2026 also hosted the unveiling of the initial results of a feasibility study on a 100% electric freight transport corridor between Quebec and Toronto, led by Propulsion Québec and its partners.
The study confirms that this project is technically feasible today, subject to the deployment of public charging infrastructure.
Discussions also showed that the ecosystem is well positioned to capitalize on upcoming investments — notably related to defense, critical minerals, the battery sector and strategic infrastructure — thereby helping strengthen the country’s resilience and economic security.
See the study
Vekta was made possible thanks to the support of the Montreal Metropolitan Community, the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, the Ministry of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility, the City of Montreal, Hydro-Québec, BDC, the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the Quebec Mining Association, KPMG, Nouveau Monde Graphite, Phoenix Contact, LDV Engineering Solutions, and the Volvo Group.
QUOTES
"What we saw at VEKTA 2026 was a united, clear-sighted ecosystem focused on action. Recent announcements on charging infrastructure, industry support and the return of incentives send encouraging signals that open the door to a sectoral recovery. Quebec is particularly well positioned to benefit thanks to the strength of its ecosystem, its integrated value chain and its recognized expertise. Today we have the necessary foundations to move to the next phase of this transformation, together." — Alexis Laprés-Paradis, President and CEO, Propulsion Québec
"Canada has everything needed to build a more resilient, more innovative automotive industry firmly rooted here. DEC’s support for Propulsion Québec since its inception has stimulated technological innovation and collaboration across the sector, enabling Quebec SMEs to showcase their cutting-edge products and services on global markets. Congratulations to the entire Propulsion Québec team for putting on VEKTA! It is by bringing together all actors in the ecosystem that we strengthen Quebec’s leadership in zero-emission transportation and advanced manufacturing." — Carlos Leitão, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Member of Parliament for Marc-Aurèle-Fortin
"The Government of Canada is proud to support the development of critical minerals in Quebec and across Canada. Critical minerals are essential to strengthen Canadian sovereignty, our national security and our resilience in the face of global instability. Our critical minerals will be a key asset in the development of clean technologies, including zero-emission vehicles, charging stations and renewable energy, to make Canada an energy superpower. Initiatives like those put forward at VEKTA 2026 show that Quebec and Canada have everything in hand to be global leaders, while creating good jobs in our communities. I thank the conference organizers for their leadership in the clean economy." — Claude Guay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for LaSalle–Émard–Verdun
"The success of VEKTA 2026 is proof of the strength and mobilization of our zero-emission transport ecosystem. With measures like the Écocamionnage program, we are giving businesses the tools needed to accelerate the transition. This transformation is essential environmentally, but it is also an important driver of economic development and innovation for Quebec. The recent announcements and the major projects presented today confirm that we have everything required to make Quebec a leader in this strategic sector." — Benoît Charette, Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Minister Responsible for Infrastructure and Member for Deux-Montagnes
"If we want to make Montreal a modern and competitive city, it is clear to our administration that we must ensure it has decarbonized, smooth, safe and inclusive mobility. We also need to collaborate more closely with all stakeholders. By aligning our public policies with the real needs of industry and the population, we strengthen the entire ecosystem. Thank you to Propulsion Québec for organizing this mobilizing gathering. Ultimately, it is all Montrealers who benefit from advances in smart mobility." — Alexandre Teodoresco, Member of the Executive Committee, responsible for Artificial Intelligence, innovation and the optimization of municipal performance, City Councillor for the Loyola district of the Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough
About Propulsion Québec
The Quebec cluster for electric and intelligent transportation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate the growth of Quebec’s zero-emission land transport industry and strengthen its international competitiveness. It was created in 2017 and today has more than 215 member organizations from the electric and intelligent transportation ecosystem that it represents and mobilizes around initiatives. Propulsion Québec currently focuses its initiatives around three streams: zero-emission vehicles, charging and batteries. The cluster benefits from the financial support of the Government of Quebec, the Government of Canada, the Montreal Metropolitan Community (CMM), Fasken, Hydro-Québec and the Fonds FTQ.
