N※N

Politics Insider: Carney delays mandatory EV sales targets

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. er-carney-delays-mandatory-ev-sales-targets.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 14:12 GMT by The Globe and Mail
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

Carney Postpones Canada’s Mandatory EV Sales Target, Fueling Debate Over the Nation’s Climate Ambition

By [Your Name] – The Globe and Mail

In a move that has rattled both the auto industry and environmental advocates, Minister of Environment and Climate Change David Carney announced on Tuesday that Canada’s mandate requiring all new light‑duty vehicles sold in the country to be zero‑emission by 2035 will be delayed. The decision, made after a “consultation” with automakers and industry groups, pushes the enforcement of the target to 2038, giving manufacturers a three‑year grace period to ramp up electric‑vehicle (EV) production and expand the charging infrastructure that underpins it.

A Shift in the Calendar, Not the Goal

Carney’s statement made clear that the policy’s ultimate objective remains unchanged: to shift the Canadian vehicle fleet toward zero‑emission models and help the country meet its net‑zero emissions goal by 2050. What has changed is the timeline. “The mandate will still be in place, but the implementation date will be moved to 2038,” Carney told reporters at Environment Canada’s headquarters. “We want to give our partners time to invest in supply chains, production lines and charging networks that will make EVs affordable and accessible for all Canadians.”

The policy in question was first introduced as part of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s 2022 Climate Action Plan, which set a broad target of reducing national greenhouse‑gas emissions by 40 % below 2005 levels by 2030. Within that framework, the “Zero‑Emission Vehicle Mandate” required that 100 % of new light‑duty vehicles sold in Canada be zero‑emission by 2035, unless they qualified for an exemption (for example, for fuel‑efficient hybrids in remote regions). The legislation also called for the federal government to invest $2 billion in charging infrastructure and to phase out internal‑combustion engines in heavy‑duty trucks by 2040.

The Rationale: Supply Chains, Infrastructure, and Equity

Carney cited a number of reasons for the delay. “Supply‑chain constraints remain a reality for our industry,” he said. “The transition to fully electric fleets will be most successful when it is supported by reliable battery supply, adequate charging infrastructure, and a stable policy environment.”

The minister also noted that the federal government had committed to a “just‑transition” strategy, ensuring that workers in legacy automotive and fuel‑cell sectors are supported with retraining and job placement services. “We are not only looking at the cars that Canadians buy but also at the people who make them and the communities that depend on them,” Carney added.

A key point of the minister’s argument was the need for a comprehensive charging network that would meet the demands of a future EV fleet. The government has already earmarked funding for the “Nationwide Electric Vehicle Infrastructure” program, which aims to install 5,000 new fast‑charging stations by 2025 and double that number by 2030. Carney said that the delay would allow more time to deploy these stations in rural and northern communities, where charging options remain sparse.

Industry Reactions: A Win for Auto Makers, a Loss for Environmentalists

The decision was welcomed by the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA), which has long argued that a more gradual transition would reduce the risk of stranded assets and protect the jobs of Canadian workers. “The automotive sector is a key pillar of our economy,” said CAA chair Mike Bennett. “By allowing a phased approach, we can maintain competitiveness while still meeting our climate commitments.”

Major automakers, including Ford, General Motors, and Toyota Canada, echoed the sentiment. In a joint statement released the same day, the companies said they would continue to invest in EV development, noting that a delayed target would give them “a more realistic timeline to scale production and reduce costs.”

Conversely, environmental groups slammed the decision as a “backward step” that could derail Canada’s climate trajectory. Climate Action Network Canada (CAN) issued a press release calling the delay “an affront to the urgency of the climate crisis.” “The longer we wait, the harder it will be to meet our net‑zero goals and to protect vulnerable communities from the worst impacts of climate change,” said CAN spokesperson Jenna Lee. The group also hinted at a possible legal challenge, arguing that the delay could violate Canada’s commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The Bigger Picture: Global Trends and Trade Implications

Carney’s announcement comes at a time when several major economies are tightening EV mandates. The European Union’s “Fit for 55” package sets a similar target for 2035, while the United States has moved to phase out gasoline‑powered vehicles by 2035 under the Inflation Reduction Act. Canada’s delay may create a competitive imbalance for Canadian automakers exporting to these markets, but it may also allow them to align more closely with global supply‑chain realities.

The decision will likely prompt a review of Canada’s “Automotive Industry Action Plan,” which includes a range of measures to support the transition to zero‑emission vehicles, from tax incentives to research and development grants. Industry groups have called for more clarity on how the delay will affect incentive eligibility and investment timelines.

A Balancing Act

At its core, the delay reflects a balancing act between ambitious climate goals and pragmatic economic considerations. Carney emphasized that the government’s “policy framework remains robust,” with the federal government pledging to maintain strong incentives for EV purchases and to accelerate charging infrastructure. He also hinted at a “review cycle” that would reassess the mandate’s feasibility every two years.

“The transition to zero‑emission vehicles is not just a technical challenge; it’s a socio‑economic one,” Carney said. “We must ensure that the shift supports the prosperity of Canadian communities, protects jobs, and ultimately reduces our carbon footprint.”

Only time will tell whether this three‑year postponement will help or hinder Canada’s quest to decarbonize its transportation sector. What is clear, however, is that the debate over how fast and how far the country should go toward electric vehicles is far from over.