“Net-Zero Tyranny”

As the iron door of reality slams onto the toe of even the most fervent advocates of climate change action, the Carney government has walked back its electric vehicle (EV) mandate, which would have banned the sale of new conventionally powered vehicles in Canada by 2035.

However, the government will not abandon its push to switch Canadians to EVs. It’s bringing back rebates of $5,000 for EVs under $50,000 (for vehicles made in Canada or in countries where we have free-trade agreements) and plans to offer billions in subsidies to automakers. The continued push for EVs highlights the significant discrepancy between how individual Canadians want to spend their money and how the federal government thinks they ought to spend it.

The federal government’s plan to replace electric vehicle sales quotas with a reduced emissions standard is unrealistic and could saddle Canadians with massive costs, according to the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI).

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that instead of gradually banning conventional vehicles by 2035, 75% of new vehicles sold in that year would need to meet an electric-equivalent emissions standard.

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For heaven’s sake, can we just admit the painfully obvious point that Canada’s federal and provincial governments committed a massive strategic blunder when they went whole hog into subsidizing the production and sale of EV vehicles and batteries?

Despite widespread approval from provinces and auto manufacturers, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s auto plan might not accelerate the transition to electric vehicles as fast as he says.

On Thursday, Carney ended Canada’s electric vehicle mandate, resumed purchase incentives and said higher standards for fuel efficiency were coming. Ontario and Alberta’s premiers said they were both “pleased” and car manufacturers said the move provided “welcome policy stability.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he will abolish the electric vehicle mandate while replacing it with emissions regulations that he says will achieve a similar objective of reaching widespread EV adoption by consumers.

Carney announced on Feb. 5 that Ottawa will repeal the electric vehicle mandate that would have required automakers to produce and sell only electric vehicles by 2035. Instead, Carney said the government will put in place tougher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2027 to 2032. The revised aim is to reach an EV adoption rate of 75 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2040.

The electric vehicle mandate that would have forced 100 per cent of all new cars sold in Canada to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035 was a typical Trudeau-era policy. It had more to do with preening self-righteousness than anything else. It sacrificed economic growth for green fantasies and was extremely paternalistic. As with most climate-change policies, the objective seemed to be more about control than actually accomplishing anything.

The federal government is expected to announce its national automotive strategy on Thursday that includes scrapping Canada’s electric vehicle mandate and replacing it with a new system of fuel efficiency standards and credits, CBC News has learned.

Two sources say Ottawa is also expected to bring back popular electric vehicle incentives for consumers purchasing electric vehicles.

Money will also be announced to build more charging stations for EVs across Canada to help consumers, a source said.

The federal government is considering bringing back consumer incentives for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids as it finalizes its national automotive strategy, CBC News has learned.

Sources with knowledge of the plans, whom CBC News has agreed not to name because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly, say that a decision on the incentives — and whether they would be similar to a suspended rebate program — has not yet been made.

Canada’s incentive program for zero-emissions vehicles, known as iZEV, was suspended more than a year ago after it ran out of money due to high demand.