“Pausing the EV mandate is simply not enough — the mandate must be scrapped entirely.”
– Dan McTeague, President of Canadians for Affordable Energy

The federal government’s decision to delay the EV sales mandate—20 percent zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales by 2026—is a weak concession under pressure from U.S. tariffs and an ailing auto sector. It fails to address the deeper issues: affordability, infrastructure readiness, and consumer demand.

The mandate was never realistic. As McTeague warns, “If we are going to hit the 2026 mandated target… you would have to grow Zero‑Emission‑Vehicle (ZEV) sales by 180,000 units” — a target out of reach, given just 40,000 EVs have been built in Canada to date.

CAE’s Position on Energy & EV Regulation:

• We prioritize energy affordability, not regulation that raises vehicle costs or threatens everyday choices.
• An EV mandate ignores cold‑weather performance, charging infrastructure gaps, and the realities of our electricity grid.
• As McTeague puts it, “EVs should not be mandated—Canadians must be free to choose which car to drive,” without being forced to buy more expensive, less reliable vehicle.

You know that when you speak up you can make a difference, but it’s even more effective to unite your voice with others. Together let’s tell the Liberals to scrap their 2035 electric vehicle policy entirely.