Transportation Shift is a series of community conversations focused on the transition to electric vehicles, what it looks like for communities across Canada, and how to make sure it meets the needs of everyone in the community.
We are seeking partners (individuals or organisations) to host community conversations focused on the local implications of the transition to EVs. Your community could be defined by geography, or it could be a community of people connected by culture, health, economic status, livelihood, identity, faith, or other factors.
Who should host a conversation?
This project is focused primarily (but not exclusively) on Northern provinces and territories, Atlantic Canada, and the Prairie provinces, and is meant to engage with people in population groups that may experience barriers to participation in the EV transition or may be in a unique position to benefit from a transition to EV’s or micro-mobility solutions (e.g. e-bikes). Project partners hosting conversations do not need to have special knowledge of the EV transition, nor be enthusiastic about EV’s.
The GRP’s approach to this project starts with the understanding that local people know their communities best, so a local community partner should design the project experience.
Ideally, a local conversation about equitable access to a climate solution (in this case, EV’s) will support your ongoing work and will be useful for you, however, your existing work does not need to be in this specific issue area. As we learned with the Green Resilience Project conversations about climate change and income security, there are often connections between issues, even if they are not obvious. If you or your organisation have been working to strengthen your community, whether your focus is social justice, food security, healthcare, environmental protection, income security, or other areas, we’d like to hear from you.
What kinds of support will the Green Resilience Project provide?
The GRP, which is managed by Energy Mix Productions, will provide project partners with $3,000 in funding to offset the cost of hosting a conversation (this can include staff time, participant stipends, etc). We have resources available to support up to 12 partners across Canada. We have materials available to help you host the session, such as a customizable script. The use of our materials is optional. If you / your organisation choose to participate in this project, our staff will work with you to help ensure you have the resources needed to design your conversation in the way that best suits your community’s needs.
You can customise the content as well as the format of your conversation. Your conversation could be an in-person or online meeting, a series of kitchen table conversations, part of a larger event, or incorporated into an existing event. If you have another format in mind, drop us a line!
What does Energy Mix Productions / GRP get out of this?
We initiated this project because we know that the people most likely to be harmed by climate change are often the least able to participate in solutions for a variety of reasons, including systemic barriers. With the transition to electric vehicles upon us, community members must have the opportunity to discuss their unique needs and how to ensure a path forward that is fair and equitable to all.
We have prepared a few questions to discuss with your community and we ask that you share what was heard with us (while keeping participant identity anonymous). We will compile what was heard in conversations across the country and share the results with community leaders, industry stakeholders, government, and policy-makers. Ideally, the discussion generated by your conversation will be useful and informative within your community and outside of your community.
We can supply you with optional background information and prompts for each question. The questions can be reworded, combined, or added to in the way that will best -resonate with your conversation participants.
What are your transportation needs now, and how might they change in the future? How could your transportation needs be better met or reimagined?
What are some of the local conditions that you believe will lead to more or less adoption of EV’s (or micro mobility solutions like e-bikes) in our community?
How could the transition to electric vehicles be made more equitable in our community?
What impacts could a transition to electric vehicles have on you or the community as a whole?
Who should attend this conversation?
Knowledge of, and even interested in, EV’s is not required to be an active participant in this conversation. For many of us, household finances or logistical barriers put EV ownership (or even personal vehicle ownership) out of reach, or make it inappropriate for our abilities or lifestyle. Communities may have unique needs based on geographic location, cultural practices, livelihoods, or socio economic status. These are the kinds of day-to-day-realities that will help create a dynamic conversation about this topic and help inform the ideas and issues to be discussed.
Why now?
Electric vehicles are being promoted across Canada as a tool to help address climate change by reducing vehicle emissions. The federal government has mandated that all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sold in Canada after 2035 be zero emissions. This project asks community members to consider: what does this mean for us?
What is the timeline for these conversations?
Conversations (and reporting back on what was heard) must be complete by January 30, 2024.
I am (or might be) interested in hosting a conversation. What’s the next step?
There is no formal application process. Get in touch with us so we can figure out together whether this is a mutually beneficial fit. You can get started by sending a quick email to our Project Manager, Janet Patterfung (janet@greenresilience.ca). Briefly let her know:
Your name (and organisation, if applicable)
Why you may be interested in hosting a conversation
A brief description of who you’d like to invite to the conversation