Canada freezes vehicle emissions standard for three years, delays stricter targets

The Canadian government has announced a three-year freeze on its vehicle emissions mandates, delaying stricter targets while promising to still reach its goal of 75 percent of new car sales being electric by 2035. The current standard of 172 grams of greenhouse gas emissions per mile will remain in place until the end of 2029. After that, the standard is set to begin ratcheting down each year until it reaches 74 grams per mile. A joint release from Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford said maintaining the fleet average standard will provide manufacturers with near-term flexibility amid trade-related pressures. The federal and Ontario governments are also investing $2.5 billion over two years to support capital projects by Canadian auto manufacturers.

"We welcome the measures to support Canada’s auto industry through this challenging period," Brian Kingston, CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association, said in a statement. "Today’s announcement is an important step toward a more predictable, competitive, and achievable regulatory environment needed to protect Canadian auto jobs, production, and investment." Climate activists and clean energy advocates, however, criticized the move. The Pembina Institute said the delay makes the goal of 75 percent EVs by 2035 next to impossible. Clean Energy Canada said the pause puts significantly more pressure on the policy’s later years and could undermine success down the road.

The group said the delay will impact potential benefits like household fuel cost savings and up to $21 billion in charging industry investments, while communities will face increased health costs from worse air quality. In addition to the regulatory change, Canada has opened a door for up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to be imported with only a 6.1 percent tariff. Premier Doug Ford acknowledged political shifts in the United States but said Canada’s relationship with its neighbour has changed permanently. "As we stand here today, it’s clear that Canada’s relationship with the United States has changed permanently," Ford said. "No matter what happens in the midterms, no matter who sits in the White House, we’re not going back to the way things were, and we need to plan accordingly."

With files from CleanTechnica