Minister calls for feds to abandon EV mandate timeline

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

On Aug. 14, Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas, posted a public letter calling on the federal government to abandon its looming deadlines for electric vehicle (EV) mandates. The feds want 20 per cent of new cars sold in Canada to be zero-emission in 2026 and 100 per cent by 2035.

 Schulz said the immediate goal for next year is unattainable.“The federal government must face the inevitable and abandon the unrealistic, ineffective, and unwanted EV mandate before it kicks in next year,” she wrote. “This is another failed Trudeau policy, just like the carbon tax, which hurt Canadians from coast to coast.”

 She was basically stating the obvious when she said next year’s goal is “not realistic or possible.” Albertans purchased over 223,000 new vehicles over the last year, though fewer than 25,000 EVs were produced in Canada during that same period.

 “Albertans could purchase every single EV produced in this country and we still would not be close to meeting this unrealistic plan,” Schulz stated.

 The targets are made more unrealistic by the fact that the federal government currently has a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles produced in China, which accounts for 70 per cent of globally produced EVs.

 “These tariffs have a devastating impact on hard-working Albertan farmers, ranchers and food processors, who are caught up in political posturing they want no part in,” she continued.

 She said large automakers like Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, and Stellantis have issued warnings that the mandate will kill jobs and investment. In addition, the mayors of 48 towns and cities in Ontario – many of which are auto-manufacturing hubs – have also called on the feds to scrap this mandate.

 “And what about Canadians?” she asked. “Well, a new Leger poll released today found that 71 per cent of Canadians also want the mandate rolled back due to high costs and implementation concerns.”

 “Yet the federal government refuses to act. Earlier this year, federal environment minister Julie Dabrusin told the auto industry that they would not repeal the mandate under any circumstances.”

 Schulz derided the Trudeau government for ignoring the wishes of Canadians and pursuing “unrealistic and ideological policies like this.” She urged the Carney government to listen to Canadians and revoke the mandate immediately.

 “Ottawa needs to listen to Albertans, Canadians, and industry experts across the country and scrap the ridiculous EV mandate before it drives Canada off the road,” she said.