VANCOUVER — Joanna Kyriazis, director of policy and strategy at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the federal government’s repeal of the EV Availability Standard and delay of its tailpipe emissions standards.
“Today’s repeal of the EV Availability Standard, without the promised new tailpipe emissions standards in its place, puts billions of dollars in private sector investment at risk and threatens to undermine EV adoption at a moment when Canadians badly need a break from the gas pump.
“The announcement comes as Canada navigates the complex and ongoing CUSMA renegotiations with the U.S., a country with which our auto sector has historically linked. With the U.S. repealing its own EV policies, Canada must strike a balance between managing the relationship with our neighbours and safeguarding our own auto future. If the federal government wishes to fulfil the aims of its auto strategy, specifically for our auto industry to be less reliant on the U.S. and gas-powered vehicles while positioning Canada as a global leader in EV production, Canada needs to chart its own path on EV policy.
“After all, the rest of the world is going electric. This year, EVs are set to make up three in 10 cars sold in Europe and more than half in China, the world’s biggest car market. Meanwhile, in the U.S., just 8% of new cars are on track to be electric.
“Maintaining strong EV policy here in Canada will ensure more Canadians are able to skip the gas pump for good. A typical Canadian driver will save between $23,000 and $32,000 over 10 years of EV ownership even at last year’s lower gas prices, according to our analysis. And carmakers are rolling out cheaper electric models every year. Strong tailpipe emission standards will ensure Canadians have access to these options too.
“The repeal, without the aforementioned tailpipe regulations, also creates major uncertainty for charging companies and investors, putting some $20 billion in potential investment at risk. Cumulatively, the build-out of a reliable national EV charging network supported by strong standards would be a nation-building project with a value that dwarfs many others being fast-tracked. And it is one that Canadians want to see: A Clean Energy Canada poll from earlier this year found that nearly 70% of Canadians support designating the expansion of the country’s EV charging network as a project of national interest.
“This uncertainty also puts jobs at risk in Canada’s fast-growing EV sector, which already employs over 130,000 workers and was on track to triple by 2035 as of last year.
“We look forward to working closely with the federal government on the swift finalization of these standards in the coming months. Done right, the policy will improve access to electric and fuel-efficient vehicles while providing much-needed certainty for investors and cost savings for Canadians.”
