Three Wins, One School Bus

Every school day, nearly 70,000 children in Ottawa climb aboard a yellow bus idling at the curb, releasing diesel exhaust into the morning air. By 8 a.m., our neighbourhoods are already polluted.

It doesn’t have to be this way. School buses are ready for a cleaner, greener future, one that can help Ottawa cut emissions, protect children’s health, support green manufacturing, and build the kind of community-centered, climate resilient city we all deserve. And yet, despite these clear benefits, Ottawa is behind the curve, even as our neighbours in Gatineau advance.

Transportation accounts for nearly half of Ottawa’s greenhouse gas emissions; we must tackle this from every angle. 

For many families, these buses are the only reliable way for children to get to school. The commute is, unfortunately, directly exposing them to a toxic mix of diesel fumes linked to asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and long term developmental impacts. Studies show that, just like private vehicles, children inside diesel school buses are exposed to more air pollution inside the vehicle than outside it – up to four times more. 

In many neighbourhoods, poor planning and exclusionary zoning make walking or cycling to school unsafe or impractical, forcing students into vehicles that put their respiratory health at risk. Switching to electric school buses would eliminate these harmful emissions at the source, dramatically improving air quality both inside the bus and throughout the community

Beyond public health, electrifying school buses can help build a green economy. Whereas provinces like Quebec and BC have valiantly kick-started the transition towards electric school buses with public subsidies, with 1,606 already rolled out in Quebec alone, Ontario only has 25 across its 20,000 strong fleet, the largest in the country. With auto manufacturing jobs especially vulnerable to Trump’s tariffs, we have a real opportunity to expand green manufacturing capacity by building buses by and for the people of Ontario. Investing in Electric School Buses (ESBs) supports well-paying green jobs, regional supply chains, and a clean industrial future that Canada is already poised to lead.

Electric school buses also offer a practical financial advantage. The province currently subsidizes almost all the fuel that diesel school buses use—about $100 million each year. These funds could be much better spent on healthcare and education if buses ran on electricity instead.

One of the most electrifying possibilities with electric school buses is their use as battery storage. Ottawa has about 550 school buses that sit idle most of the summer. If they were all electric, that would represent enough battery storage to power 9,500 homes during evening peak hours. By charging them up on off peak hours, when rates are lower, and plugging them into the grid during high demand hours, we can save residents on their home energy bills.

Such “vehicle to grid” (V2G) systems can make our grid more resilient in the face of climate shocks. These benefits grow exponentially when applied at scale, making pilot projects essential first steps.

Other Canadian cities are already acting. Montreal and Vancouver have both launched pilot programs to test ESBs and integrate them into broader climate plans. Ottawa has the knowledge, the need, and the momentum, it just lacks political will.

The climate emergency demands that we move boldly, not incrementally. Electric school buses offer a rare win-win-win: they’re healthier for children, better for the climate, and smarter for our economy. Yet without public pressure, we will remain stuck in neutral.

Ecology Ottawa is calling on the City of Ottawa, local school boards, and the provincial government to fund and implement a pilot project to test out the benefits of ESBs in our wide variety of geographic settings. We’re organizing community support, speaking with elected officials, and engaging parents, educators and youth to help drive this transition.

A local electric school bus pilot project would demonstrate feasibility and build public confidence. It could prioritize routes that serve low-income, racialized, and rural communities where environmental harms are often felt the most. A successful rollout would provide a blueprint not only for Ottawa’s full transition, but for communities across Ontario.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, student, or simply someone who cares about clean air and a liveable future, now is the time to talk to local MPs and sign petitions to push ESB pilot programs as climate, economic and health concerns. Together, we can make Ottawa a leader in clean, equitable transportation, and ensure the next generation breathes easier because of it. 

Kay Taghdi is the Community Organizer for Ecology Ottawa’s electric school bus program. To learn more about our campaign and how to get involved, visit our website.