Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Quebec and British Columbia to end all provincial electric vehicle mandates. In letters sent to Quebec Premier François Legault and B.C. Premier David Eby on March 17, Ford argued that these policies are making the Canadian auto sector less competitive while U.S. tariffs loom.
“As workers and businesses across Canada face down the impact of U.S. tariffs, I know we are united in our efforts to do everything we can to protect Canadian workers and their jobs,” Ford wrote in the letter obtained by The Canadian Press.
Ford stated that provincial mandates create a fragmented market that could push investment and production out of Canada and into the United States. He noted that the provincial rules are particularly risky now that the U.S. is rolling back its own EV policies.
“Unfortunately, existing EV mandates in Canada are making our auto sector less competitive and threatening the livelihoods of tens of thousands of Canadian workers,” Ford said.
The push comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney moved in February to scrap a previous federal plan that would have required all new vehicle sales to be electric by 2035. The new federal goal aims for 75 per cent EV sales by 2035 and 90 per cent by 2040. Ottawa also launched a $2.3 billion affordability program offering incentives up to $5,000 for battery electric vehicles.
“While I was pleased to see the federal government remove its EV mandate, I will continue to push for the removal of the remaining federal regulations that continue to undermine our auto sector,” Ford wrote.
Quebec has already partially lifted its ban on gas powered cars for 2035, shifting to a target where 90 per cent of new sales are hybrid or electric. However, Ford is asking the province to go further and fully repeal its mandate. He made a similar request to British Columbia, which previously announced it was revising its own zero emission targets.
“In that same spirit, I am now urging you to align British Columbia’s approach with that of the federal government’s new direction by repealing your province’s EV mandates altogether,” Ford said.
Ford said that Ontario would support BC and Quebec against U.S. tariffs on industries like forestry, steel, and aluminum. In return, he asked for their support for Ontario auto workers whose “jobs and paychecks are under direct attack.”
Right now, the new $5,000 federal EV rebate applies to numerous vehicles, with the most recent addition being Tesla’s entry Model Y RWD, which also gets another $2,000 rebate in Quebec, for a total of $7,000 in rebates (your tax dollars at work).
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Drop dead, Doug.
You want a car industry in Ontario – get the companies (and new ones) to build EVs. Not just to build vehicles to placate US Administration and yourself.