Overview

• Transport Canada announced that the Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles (iZEV) Program has been paused as all allocated funds have been used.
• The program provided rebates of up to $5,000 for electric vehicle purchases or leases, contributing to a rise in zero-emission vehicle market share from 3.1% in 2019 to 11.7% in 2023.
• Over 546,000 zero-emission vehicles were sold or leased with the program’s support, according to Transport Minister Anita Anand.
• The pause comes as Canada aims for 20% of new vehicle sales to be electric by 2026 and 100% by 2035, raising concerns about meeting these ambitious targets without continued incentives.
• A separate incentive program for medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles remains active until March 31, 2026, subject to available funding.