71 Percent of Canadians Say EV Mandates ‘Unrealistic,’ Want it Scrapped: Survey

A majority of Canadians say the federal government’s Electric Vehicle (EV) mandate that prohibits the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035 is “unrealistic” and should be scrapped, according to a new survey.

The national poll conducted by Leger heard from 1,617 respondents, and found that 71 percent agreed with a statement that said, “This target is unrealistic and will cost too much. It should be rolled back.” Meanwhile, 29 percent of respondents agreed with a statement supportive of the mandate that said, “This target is necessary and should be kept in place despite the challenges it poses.”

The federal government’s EV mandate requires that at least 20 percent of new light-duty vehicles sold in 2026 must be zero-emission, with that share rising each year until it reaches 100 percent in 2035. Automakers unable to meet the 2026 target can purchase compliance credits from competitors and limit sales of internal combustion vehicles.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents said it was “not at all realistic” to keep the mandate, while 30 percent said it was “not very realistic.” A total of 20 percent of respondents said it was “somewhat realistic,” and 6 percent said it was “very realistic.”

A majority of both Liberal and Conservative voters said they thought the EV mandate needed to be scrapped, with 59 percent of Liberals agreeing with that statement compared to 89 percent of Conservative voters.

Respondents were also asked why they thought EV sales had declined over the last year, making up just 5 percent of overall new vehicle sales, compared to the target of 20 percent by 2026.

A total of 48 percent said the vehicles are “still too expensive” even with the help of government subsidies, while 39 percent cited a lack of existing EV charging infrastructure in Canada. Thirty-seven percent said the vehicles were not suitable for “many people’s needs,” and 32 percent cited a “lack of confidence” in the vehicles.

The CEOs of five automakers sent a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney shortly after he won the federal election in April, saying that the EV mandate would inflict “serious damage” on automakers, vehicle dealers, and Canadians employed in the sector. The heads of Ford Canada, General Motors Canada, Honda Canada, Stellantis Canada, and Toyota Canada, as well as the head of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association, also met with Carney at his office on July 2 to discuss the mandate.

The Conservative Party has also been calling for the EV mandate to be overturned for several months. On Aug. 14, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced his party will be kicking off a “massive nationwide campaign” to overturn the mandate, which would include motions in the House of Commons, press conferences, and events at car dealerships across Canada, petitions, and “pressure campaigns” in Liberal-held ridings.

The Liberal government has said its zero-emission vehicle sales targets are needed to “decarbonize the transportation sector,” with Transport Canada saying in a statement that Ottawa is making investments to make EVs more affordable and charging stations more accessible.