Canada is nearing the deadline for public feedback on its proposed repeal of the electric vehicle sales mandate, following Ottawa’s latest changes to vehicle emissions standards announced last week.
According to a Canada Gazette notice published by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Canadians have until Thursday, October 29, to submit comments on the proposed regulations.
The changes would formally eliminate the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EVAS), under which zero-emission vehicles must make up at least 20% of the new light-duty vehicles automakers offer for the 2026 model year.
That requirement was scheduled to increase to 60% for the 2030 model year and reach 100% for 2035 and beyond, effectively requiring all new vehicles offered for sale to be zero-emission.
However, Ottawa is moving away from those requirements in favour of enhanced greenhouse gas emissions standards, which it says will cut emissions in a technology-neutral way.
The government still wants electric vehicles to account for 75% of new vehicle sales by 2035 and 90% by 2040, although those targets would be pursued through a different regulatory approach.
The repeal also comes with a substantial estimated cost, according to the federal government’s own analysis covering the period from 2026 through 2050.
Ottawa estimates consumers would avoid $57.6 billion in higher upfront vehicle and home charging costs, but would also lose $53.8 billion in potential fuel savings.
The analysis also projects 326 megatonnes of forgone greenhouse gas emission reductions compared to keeping the mandate, representing $94.2 billion in estimated climate damages.
Combined, the government estimates the repeal would result in a net economic cost of $90.3 billion, although that figure varies depending on the discount rate used.
Ottawa says its planned enhanced emissions standards could recover approximately 145 megatonnes of those lost emissions reductions under an illustrative scenario.
The proposed repeal comes just days after Ottawa and Ontario announced a combined $2.5 billion investment in the province’s auto sector, along with a temporary freeze on vehicle emissions standards. The funding includes up to $1.5 billion from the federal government and $1 billion from Ontario to help automakers modernize their facilities and upgrade production lines.
As part of the announcement, Ottawa confirmed that fleet-average greenhouse gas emissions standards for new light-duty vehicles will remain frozen at 172 grams per mile through the 2029 model year. The requirements will begin tightening again in 2030, eventually reaching 74 grams per mile, as the government continues pursuing its target of 75% electric vehicle sales by 2035.
Canadians can submit their feedback through the ECCC Environmental Protection Registry until October 29. An earlier 60-day review of the EV mandate received 42 written submissions.
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