Presenters: Heidi Dempster, General Manager, Transit, Ivana Tomas, Director, Transit Services, and Dr. Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Research and Innovation Consortium (CUTRIC)
Item 11.2.1 was brought forward and dealt with at this time.
Heidi Dempster, General Manager, Transit, introduced the presentation and thanked Transit staff and the CUTRIC team for their efforts in completing this strategy.
Ivana Tomas, Director, Transit Services, and Dr. Josipa Petrunić, President and CEO, CUTRIC, provided a presentation entitled "Zero Emission Bus Strategy".
Committee discussion took place regarding Transit's transition to an environmentally sustainable service, the desire to lead and move quickly on this initiative, and the timeline for a report back to Council with options in this regard.
The following motion was introduced.
Whereas the City of Brampton continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental actions, such as strategies and/or plans, that are commitments to take action against climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG);
Whereas the City of Brampton declared a climate change emergency in 2019, one of more than 2,300 governments worldwide to do so, and subsequently the City’s Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan (CEERP) was developed;
Whereas in 2020 City of Brampton Council endorsed CEERP, which creates a roadmap that will improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create economic advantage, ensure energy security, and increase Brampton’s resilience to climate change;
Whereas the CEERP identified greenhouse gas emissions reductions, with the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions being the transportation sector;
Whereas to meet the goals identified in CEERP, Brampton Transit started to work on various feasibility studies exploring the possibility and roadmap to reduce its environmental impact by decarbonizing its fleet;
Whereas the City of Brampton launched its Electric Bus Demonstration & Integration Trial in 2021, at the time, the largest single global deployment of standardized and fully interoperable battery electric buses and high-powered overhead on-route charging systems, which builds on Brampton's commitment to sustainability by greening its fleet; and
Whereas in 2022, the City of Brampton engaged the Canada Infrastructure Bank and achieved financial close on an investment wherein the CIB will commit up to $400 million to support Brampton Transit’s purchase of up to 450 zero-emission buses, the CIB’s largest zero emission bus financing commitment with a municipality to date, supporting one of the largest public transit fleet conversions in Canada;
Therefore, be it resolved that City staff be directed to:
1. Continue to advocate with all levels of governments on funding and extensions to current funding deadlines to align with industry electrification timelines;
2. Engage with Energy service providers as a Service partners to gain information on possible solutions to deliver on Transit's electrification strategy and implementation plan that is practical, cost efficient and focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and report back to Council; and
3. Work with CUTRIC and Metrolinx on the integration of electrifications at GO stations.
Further discussion took place with respect to the following:
- Partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank
- Urgency to move this project forward and potential impacts of delays
- Information from Dr. Josipa Petrunić on the various types and availability of hydrogen
- Potential future hydrogen capabilities for Brampton
- Additional interviews with service providers
- Factors for sole source contracts (e.g. limited qualified service providers, speed, pricing)
- Ensuring transparency throughout this process
At this time in the meeting, on a two-thirds majority vote to reopen the question, the Approval of Agenda was reopened and Item 15.5 was added, as follows:
Open Meeting exception under Section 239 (2) (k) of the Municipal Act, 2001:
A position, plan, procedure, criteria, or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board.
Regional Councillor Santos, Chair, advised that the motion introduced above and staff report Item 11.2.1 would be dealt with after closed session.
The following motion was considered.