Canada’s Electric Vehicle Mandate Is a Mistake That Needs Repeal

When a government tells you what kind of car to buy, it’s gone too far. That’s exactly what Canada’s electric vehicle (EV) sales mandate is doing. Ottawa has declared that by 2035, all new passenger vehicles sold must be zero-emission. No hybrids. No gas. Just EVs.

It might sound like progress on paper. In practice, it’s anything but.

Let’s begin with geography. Canada is the second-largest country in the world by landmass. Our weather is extreme. Many of our communities are remote, and long-distance travel isn’t optional—it’s essential. Yet the current EV infrastructure doesn’t match our reality. According to Natural Resources Canada, there are just under 10,000 public charging stations nationwide, with only 2,300 of them being fast chargers. Compare that to over 12,000 gas stations, each with multiple pumps capable of fueling a car in minutes.

Range anxiety is real in rural and northern Canada. Cold weather cuts EV battery performance dramatically—by up to 40%, according to Consumer Reports. Charging takes longer in the cold, and chargers often underperform or fail outright in freezing conditions. That might be manageable in downtown Toronto, but not in Thompson, Manitoba.

Then there’s the supply chain issue. The push for EVs requires massive amounts of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth metals. Mining those materials leaves a significant environmental footprint, much of it happening in countries with poor environmental and labour standards. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), EVs require six times more mineral input than gas-powered vehicles. Cobalt mining, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is linked to serious human rights abuses, including child labour.

Let’s also be honest about the emissions equation. Yes, EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions. But their environmental benefits depend heavily on how electricity is generated. In provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, where power still comes largely from natural gas and coal, EVs are simply relocating emissions, not eliminating them. A study by the University of Toronto found that in certain provinces, the lifecycle emissions of EVs were comparable to or only marginally lower than those of efficient gas-powered vehicles.

So the “green” label isn’t as clean as it looks.

But there’s a more fundamental issue at play here—freedom of choice.

Governments shouldn’t dictate what kind of car you’re allowed to drive. That’s not their role. Markets, not mandates, should guide innovation and consumer adoption. If EVs become more affordable, more reliable, and more practical, people will buy them. But forcing Canadians into EVs through regulation, regardless of their needs or where they live, is heavy-handed and wrong.

It's a slippery slope. Today it’s EVs. What’s next? Government bans on meat to reduce emissions? Restrictions on how often you can fly? The logic of this kind of command-and-control thinking has no real limit.

Let’s not forget the economic implications. Building out the EV infrastructure will cost taxpayers billions—while most of the vehicles being subsidized are priced well above what an average working Canadian can afford. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average EV price in North America in 2023 was over $60,000. That’s not a solution for the middle class—it’s a subsidy for the well-off.

Meanwhile, our economy is slowing. Business investment is falling. Productivity is stagnant. We need policy focused on growth, not more regulation. The EV mandate restricts choice, distorts the market, and pulls resources away from areas where Canada could actually lead—like nuclear energy, natural gas, or cleaner oil production.

Look at Norway, often held up as a model for EV adoption. The country has generous subsidies, high taxes on gas vehicles, and extensive infrastructure—but they also have one of the highest per-capita incomes in the world and abundant hydroelectric power. We’re not Norway. Pretending we are is naïve at best.

There is a better way. Let Canadians decide what vehicle is best for them. Let the market determine the pace of EV adoption. Invest in infrastructure where it makes sense, but stop using mandates to engineer consumer behaviour.

Prime Minister Careny, repeal the EV mandate. Give Canadians back the right to choose.

That’s how we foster innovation without imposing ideology. That’s how we honor both the environment and its residents. And most importantly, that’s how we keep our economy thriving—by trusting individuals, not commanding them.