Quebec raises doubts about electrification as it refuses to reinvest in Lion Electric [Video]

The Quebec government says it is rethinking the pace of its plan to electrify the transportation sector and will not pump any more public money into vehicle maker Lion Electric.

Economy Minister Christine Fréchette told reporters in Quebec City on Thursday that the government had to make a “difficult decision” about whether to invest more government dollars in the beleaguered company, which manufactured electric school buses and trucks.

She said the governing Coalition Avenir Québec had received a proposal from a group of buyers interested in Lion Electric, which sought creditor protection in December amid financial struggles. News reports this week said the group was seeking government aid of about $24 million to relaunch the company.

“It would have been irresponsible to go ahead with another significant injection of public funds into Lion, based on the plan that was presented to us,” the minister said. “I would have expected the …