The Pembina Institute has submitted recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada on proposed amendments to the Passenger Automobile and Light Truck Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulations.
The proposed changes would repeal Canada's Electric Vehicle Availability Standard (EVAS) and rely on the Vehicle Emissions Standard (VES), which regulates greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger cars and light trucks, to support electric vehicle (EV) adoption.
On October 21, 2026, the federal government announced that vehicle emissions standards would remain at 2026 levels through the 2029 model year, delaying stronger requirements it had previously committed to introducing in 2027 to increase EV adoption.
Strong vehicle emissions standards are one of the most cost-effective ways to increase EV adoption and give Canadians more vehicle choices. With stronger standards on hold, the federal government must take additional action to grow Canada's EV market and meet its goal of 75% EV sales by 2035.
We recommend that the federal government
- Develop a clear plan to increase EV adoption between now and 2030, including an ambitious national charging infrastructure strategy and greater access to lower-priced EVs.
- Ensure public investments in EV manufacturing benefit Canadian consumers by increasing access to affordable electric vehicles.
- Implement a single fleet-wide vehicle emissions target for passenger cars and light trucks to encourage smaller, more efficient vehicles.
- Set stronger vehicle emissions standards for 2030 to 2035 that support Canada's target of 75% EV sales by 2035.
