Manitoba accused of ‘wasting taxpayers' money’ with electric vehicle chargers
An advocacy group says the Manitoba government has spent nearly a third of a million dollars on electric vehicle (EV) chargers in the past two years, but hasn’t tracked if the chargers are actually being used.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) said a freedom of information request revealed the province spent $326,000 over the past two fiscal years – from April 2022 to March 2024 – to install EV chargers.
“That might not sound like that big of an issue, but the problem is that the government didn’t do any follow-up,” Gage Haubrich, CTF’s prairie director told CTV News Thursday.
Haubrich said the CTF asked the province for usage data, but the group was told it didn’t exist. He called the expenditure a waste of government money.
“You know, any regular Manitoban would be fired from the job for [spending] $100,000 on a project and then failing to check up whether it worked or not,” Haubrich said.
Now, the federation is calling on the province to cancel the green technology program.
“When Manitobans send their thousands of dollars every year to Broadway, they expect it to be used in some sort of sensible way,” Haubrich explained. “When you see projects like this without even stopping to check what happened after they spent the money, that’s a real big negative sign.”
The CTF is also criticizing the province for spending $25 million on an Electric Vehicle Rebate Program. It offers a $4,000 incentive on new electric vehicle purchases and $2,500 on used EV purchases.
However, Haubrich said people buying electric vehicles aren’t “regular everyday Manitobans.”
He said data shows EVs only account for one per cent of vehicles in Manitoba and adds buyers take home around $100,000 each year – much higher than the $60,000 average income in the province.
“It’s kind of a big problem for the government to be wasting taxpayers’ money – paid for by taxpayers of all income levels – to help subsidize those who are more well off,” Haubrich said.
In an emailed statement, Environment and Climate Change Minister Tracy Schmidt said the province’s delivery partners track usage data on EV chargers once they are installed.
“Our government is working alongside partners to enhance EV charging infrastructure across the province, including rural and northern Manitoba, to support Manitobans who want to switch to EVs to save on fuel and protect the environment.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tensions flare between Poilievre and Singh in the House after NDP says it will back Trudeau Liberals
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh got into a heated exchange in the House of Commons on Thursday, just minutes after Singh announced his party would not be supporting the Conservatives' first non-confidence motion against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government.
'It's disgusting': Quebec minister reacts after body of boy, 14, found near Hells Angels hideout
The province's public security minister said he was "shocked" Thursday amid reports that a body believed to be that of a 14-year-old boy was found this week near a Hells Angels hideout near Quebec City.
Missing six-year-old boy disappeared after school breakfast program: Manitoba RCMP
Shamattawa RCMP are searching for a missing six-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since Wednesday morning.
Woman dead, toddler uninjured following B.C. police shooting, watchdog says
B.C.'s police watchdog is investigating the death of a woman who was shot by the RCMP after allegedly barricading herself in a room with a toddler early Thursday morning.
PM Trudeau names Anita Anand transport minister after Pablo Rodriguez quits cabinet
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tapped Treasury Board President Anita Anand to take on additional duties as Canada's minister of transport on Thursday.
Canadian women among those who allege Harrods boss sexually abused them
CTV News has learned there are multiple Canadian women alleging they were victims of sexual abuse at the hands of the late Harrods boss Mohamed Al Fayed.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including machine-guns
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has lost 205 firearms since 2020, including more than 120 handguns and at least five fully automatic weapons like machine-guns.
Shohei Ohtani becomes the first major league player with 50 homers, 50 stolen bases in a season
Shohei Ohtani became the first major league player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season, with the Los Angeles Dodgers star going deep twice to reach the half-century mark and swiping two bags to get to 51 against the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
Francois Legault wants the Trudeau government to fall
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is calling on the Bloc Quebecois to topple the Trudeau government next Wednesday and trigger a federal election.