Overview

• Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced a nationwide push on August 14 to force the Liberals to scrap the EV sales mandate through petitions, public events and House motions.
• He has dubbed the policy the “Carney tax,” arguing the 20 percent near-term ZEV requirement will drive up vehicle costs, eliminate jobs and undermine rural communities.
• Automakers and industry associations say U.S. tariffs and the lapse of the $5,000 federal EV rebate have driven market share down to 7.86 percent in May, making next year’s 20 percent target unachievable.
• The mandate mandates 20 percent zero-emission vehicle sales in 2026, rising to 100 percent by 2035, and imposes phased $20,000 penalties per non-compliant vehicle alongside a credit system for early ZEV sales and charging-infrastructure investments.
• Environment and Climate Change Canada says it is consulting stakeholders and exploring policy flexibility but has not announced any adjustments to the mandate.