To build a cleaner, more prosperous economy that fights climate change and creates good jobs, the Government of Canada is taking action to cut pollution from all sectors of the economy — including from the transportation sector — which accounts for one-quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
On June 29, Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson, and Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, announced that the Government of Canada is setting a mandatory target for all new light-duty cars and passenger trucks sales to be zero-emission by 2035, accelerating Canada’s previous goal of 100 per cent sales by 2040.
“Only bold climate policies lead to bold results. Through measures aimed at accelerating the transition to 100 percent zero-emission vehicles sales, we will continue building a cleaner and more resilient economy, while also creating good jobs and opportunities for all Canadians,” said Alghabra. “We will also continue to support the automotive sector, including through our investment of $8 billion to accelerate the industrial transition thanks to the Net Zero Accelerator.”
To ensure Canada gets to this goal, and to provide certainty about the pathway to get there, the federal government will pursue a combination of investments and regulations to help Canadians and industry transition to achieve the 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales by 2035. It will work also with partners to develop interim 2025 and 2030 targets, and additional mandatory measures that may be needed beyond Canada’s light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emissions regulations.
The announcement is coupled with existing measures to support increased zero-emission vehicle adoption — from incentives that help with the upfront costs of zero-emission vehicles, to investments in zero-emission charging infrastructure, to partnerships with auto manufacturers which are helping them re-tool and produce zero-emission vehicles right here in Canada. Taken together, the government is setting the country on a path towards Canada’s new 100 per cent zero-emission vehicle sales goal and a prosperous net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
The Government of Canada also remains committed to aligning with the most ambitious light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas emission regulations in the United States. Supporting a strong and unified North American automotive sector to transition towards zero-emission vehicles contributes to Canada’s climate change goals, and positions Canadian and American workers alike to benefit economically from this global shift.
“Cutting our transportation emissions is one of the most readily achievable and economically beneficial paths Canada can take on the road to net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Wilkinson. “That’s why we are committed to aligning Canada’s zero-emission vehicles sales targets with those of the most ambitious North American jurisdictions. We will work with the United States to harmonize performance-based greenhouse gas regulations and greenhouse gas emission standards.
“We’re investing in consumer rebates, charging stations, business tax breaks and industry transition costs to make the shift to zero-emission vehicles as seamless as possible for drivers, workers and entrepreneurs.”
According to Guilbeault, the Advisory Council on Climate Action, which he co-chaired, made the uptake of zero emission vehicles across Canada a key element of its recommendations in 2019. “By increasing our ambitions on zero-emission vehicles, and by taking the measures needed to achieve them, we’re joining an increasing number of other jurisdictions, including Quebec, which have set 100 percent zero-emission vehicle sales targets.”
For further information, visit Transport Canada’s Incentives for Zero-Emission Vehicles program
