The NDP is pledging to drastically change how Canadians move around in its climate platform unveiled today, promising to help cities move toward “fare-free” public transit and providing larger federal rebates for zero-emission vehicles.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, alongside party environment critic Alexandre Boulerice, unveiled their $15-billion, 22-page election climate plan in Montreal this morning.

Singh said in his speech he’s been inspired by those who want to bring a “Green New Deal” to Canada, in reference to proposals by progressive American politicians calling for major investments to fight climate change and stimulate the economy. The term dates back to major New Deal spending undertaken by the Depression-era Roosevelt administration.

The NDP plan prioritizes transportation as one of the key areas for reducing Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions, and includes $6.5 billion in spending for cleaner transportation and transit. Currently, transportation accounts for roughly a quarter of the country’s emissions.

Perhaps the boldest pledge in the plan’s transit element is its pledge to offer federal support to cities interested in making their transit systems fare free.

The platform document cites the Quebec communities of Candiac and Ste. Julie, which already offer free transit, as well as Victoria, B.C., which recently endorsed a phaseout of transit fares.

“I want a future where … you will go to school or go to work on free and accessible public transit or in your own zero-emission car, all built in Canada to build our economy,” Singh said today.

The party is also pledging to create a “permanent, direct, allocation-based funding mechanism” to expand public transit in Canada, with federal dollars being prioritized for low carbon projects such as zero-emission buses and electric trains.

While many public transit systems have adopted hybrid and electric vehicles already, the NDP says it will provide “low-cost” financing to local governments to support full electrification of transit fleets by 2030.

The NDP have also endorsed high-frequency rail along the Quebec City-Windsor corridor. The Liberal government is now reviewing Via Rail’s multibillion-dollar plan for dedicated passenger-rail tracks along the densely populated route and spent almost $1 billion in 2018 for the Crown corporation to replace its old fleet of rail cars.

The plan also calls for re-establishing rural bus routes abandoned by Greyhound and expanding bus service in rural areas.

The NDP are also betting big on zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) in its climate vision, promising to increase the value of the federal rebate for such automobiles to $15,000 over the next few years. The rebate would target Canadian-made vehicles.

The Liberals announced a purchasing incentive of up to $5,000 for ZEVs in the 2019 budget, and the NDP is promising to also waive federal sales taxes on such purchases.

Currently, the only ZEV manufactured in Canada is the Chrysler Pacifica Plug hybrid, which is built in Windsor, Ont., and qualifies for the federal rebate.

The NDP is promising to expand fast-charging infrastructure using federal buildings that include Canada Post locations. Homeowners could be provided up to $600 to install a plug-in charger at home under the plan.

The platform also includes a centre of excellence for ZEV research and development to help develop better batteries and alternative fuels and a call for provincial and municipal governments to ensure charging stations are built into community development plans

The NDP is also promising to implement the Liberal government’s aspirational target of 100 per cent ZEV sales by 2040, which require the provinces and territories signing on.

The platform also includes making commercial truck freight fleets cleaner “through the development of new technology and by expanding the use of zero-emissions trucks.”

A “Canadian cycling strategy” is being proposed; the plan also encourages urban planning that’s safer for cyclists.

The $15-billion plan ultimately proposes more ambitious 2030 emissions reduction targets, the creation of 300,000 new jobs in clean energy and a $3.5 billion Canadian Climate Bank.