National

Automakers 'cautiously optimistic' on EV mandate changes after meeting with PM

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Jul, 2025 09:56 AM

The head of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association says he's "cautiously optimistic" the federal government will repeal its electric vehicle sales mandate.

Brian Kingston was among several auto industry executives who met with Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday in Ottawa.

Along with discussing the impact of U.S. tariffs, the automakers urged Carney to get rid of the EV mandate, saying there's no way the industry can meet the targets it sets out.

The mandate policy states that, as of next year, 20 per cent of all new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada must be zero-emission, and that target rises annually to 100 per cent by 2035.

Kingston said if automakers can't meet the 2026 target, they'll have to pull about one million gas-powered vehicles from the market in order to comply with the sales mandate.

The most recent data from Statistics Canada shows EV sales in Canada dropped to 7.5 per cent in April.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. task force aims to grow agriculture, food processing industries

Agriculture Minister Lana Popham says the task force will provide recommendations to government in the next 10 months on topics such as access to water, land and labour, as well as competitiveness and investment.

B.C. task force aims to grow agriculture, food processing industries

Two drivers accused of hitting same pedestrian then leaving B.C. crash site

Mounties in Coquitlam say charges have been approved against two drivers who are accused of leaving the scene after allegedly running over the same pedestrian. Police say a lone female had the right of way at the intersection of Pinetree Way and Guildford Way in January last year when she was hit by a vehicle.

Two drivers accused of hitting same pedestrian then leaving B.C. crash site

As Trump flags timber tariffs soon, B.C. minister says impact would be 'devastating'

B.C.'s Forests Minister Ravi Parmar says the expectation of more duties and additional tariffs piled onto Canadian softwood lumber would "absolutely be devastating" for the country's industry. Parmar says the government expects the U.S. Commerce Department will issue anti-dumping duties by Friday of as much as 14 per cent, on top of the current 14.4 per cent duty.

As Trump flags timber tariffs soon, B.C. minister says impact would be 'devastating'

B.C. Conservative MLA says drug crisis cost lives of her brothers, niece and nephew

The House Leader of the Opposition B.C. Conservatives has described the "unsurmountable" personal impact of the toxic drug crisis, which she says claimed the lives of two of her brothers, a niece and a nephew. A'aliya Warbus says that just last week she attended a memorial for one brother who died from "a lethal dose of drugs" a year ago.

B.C. Conservative MLA says drug crisis cost lives of her brothers, niece and nephew

No damages reported after earthquake shakes parts of Alberta, B.C.

Earthquakes Canada says some Alberta and B.C. residents may have felt the ground shake Thursday morning. A 5.2 magnitude earthquake was detected roughly 63 kilometres northeast of Grande Cache, Alta., but it isn't believed to have caused any damage.

No damages reported after earthquake shakes parts of Alberta, B.C.

New poll says 27% of Canadians view the United States as an 'enemy' country

A new poll suggests that more than a quarter of Canadians — 27 per cent — now see the United States as an "enemy" country, while another 30 per cent still say they consider the U.S. an ally. Another 27 per cent of respondents to the Leger survey said they consider the United States to be a "neutral" country.