8,000 people on waitlist for B.C. e-bike rebate
One day after applications opened for e-bike rebates in B.C. there are 8,000 people on a waitlist, according to the Ministry of Transportation.
The provincial program, which offers income-based rebates between $300 and $1,400 was announced last week.
On Friday the application page displayed a message saying applications have been closed and a waitlist has been opened.
"There has been an incredible response to the B.C. e-bike rebate program," the website says.
"Please be aware that we are currently only adding names to the waitlist as current applications are being assessed for approval. Please be aware that being on the waitlist does not guarantee you will receive a rebate."
The Ministry of Transportation, in an email, told CTV News that applications closed after 4,000 were received so that staff would be able to assess eligibility and calculate how much each applicant would be entitled to. That move was made fewer than eight hours after applications opened.
"I’m very pleased to see that people are so enthusiastic about our new BC E-bike Rebate program. With almost 12,000 applications in the first 24 hours, the massive success of this program is unprecedented," Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said.
By comparison, the former e-bike rebate program received an average of 16 applications per month, according to the ministry.
With a budget of $6 million, the province estimated that up to 9,000 people will be able to access the rebates this year. If every applicant qualified for the maximum, the number of rebates the budget allows for would be about 4,250. If every applicant qualified for the minimum, 20,000 could be given out.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.