Overview
- Doug Ford sent March 17 letters to Premiers François Legault and David Eby asking them to repeal their provincial electric‑vehicle sales mandates.
- He argues provincial mandates create a fragmented market that weakens competitiveness and threatens tens of thousands of auto jobs, particularly with U.S. tariffs in play.
- Quebec currently targets 90% hybrid or electric new vehicle sales by 2035, while British Columbia has dropped its mandate and plans new legislation to set targets.
- Ottawa under Prime Minister Mark Carney has permanently repealed the federal EV sales mandate and launched a five‑year, C$2.3 billion affordability program with rebates up to C$5,000 for battery electric vehicles and C$2,500 for plug‑in hybrids, alongside revised national targets of 75% by 2035 and 90% by 2040.
- Ford says he supports electrification and cites Ontario’s nearly 100,000 auto jobs, a $13.3 billion annual contribution, and C$46 billion in EV battery investments, while offering support to Quebec and B.C. on tariffs in exchange for backing Ontario auto workers.