Across Ontario, approximately 20,000 school buses transport 833,000 students 1.8 million kilometers a day.

Electric school bus adoption in Ontario has been slower than in some other provinces - but with the provincial election around the corner, now is the time to put electric buses back on the agenda. 

How it works

In Ontario, student transportation is (usually) contracted out to private companies. 

Funding comes from the provincial government through the Department of Education, which gives funding to School Boards based on their transportation needs. Districts band together into regional student transportation consortium, who then issue contracts to private contractors. Contracts vary in length but generally run for approximately 6 + 2 years.

Progress so far

In 2017, the Ontario government funded an Electric School Bus Pilot Program - but after the initial 13 buses were bought, government support or follow-up stalled.

The good news is momentum for electric school buses is building all over North America, and private bus contractors are paying attention. In 2021, Langs Bus Lines in southern Ontario purchased 200 electric school buses, and other large companies that operate in Ontario, like First Student, are also investing in electric school buses and actively encouraging districts to switch.

And with new funding now available to private contractors across Canada from the Federal government's Zero Emission Transit Fund, more buses could be on the way.

In May 2022, a white paper on school bus electrification in Ontario was released, and identified opportunities and benefits.

Want to see electric school buses in your district?

Parent voices do make a difference. Let your school district and your MPP know that you want Ontario school kids riding electric school buses - consider writing or calling both to let them know this issue is important to you, and that you'd like to see more funding and clear policy direction. 

With the Ontario election just around the corner, we suggesting making sure you ask candidates in your area about this issue - you can find some sample questions here.