Three in five Canadians oppose the federal government’s legislation that requires zero-emissions vehicles account for all light-duty vehicles sales by 2035, according to a new Leger survey.
Under the Electric Vehicle Availability Standard, ZEVs must account for an escalating percentage of sales every year, beginning at 20 per cent for 2026 and arriving at 100 per cent in 2035. The legislation effectively bans the sale of vehicles powered by an internal combustion engine.
The Leger survey, commissioned by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation CTF), found that 59 per cent of Canadians disapprove of the mandate.
“The results of the poll are clear: Canadians don’t want the government to ban new gas and diesel vehicles,” CTF Federal Director Franco Terrazzano said in a statement. “Canadians want the option to buy new gas-powered minivans and diesel work trucks, and taxpayers know this ban will cost us a fortune.”
The Leger poll asked Canadians if they support or oppose the federal ban on the sale of new gas and diesel vehicles. The results of the poll show:
- 59 per cent oppose the ban
- 29 per cent support the ban
- 12 per cent don’t know
But the results showed a divide among Canadians.
Disagreement with the legislation, which was passed in December 2023 and tweaked in March 2024, is highest among Canadians aged 35 and older (63 per cent), Western Canadians (66 per cent), where truck sales dominate, and rural residents (72 per cent), where charging infrastructure and range anxiety remain concerns.
In contrast, the biggest swath of support comes from those aged 18-34 and urban residents, both of which saw 37 per cent approve of the idea.
CONSUMERS COOL ON EVS
The Leger survey comes just three months after J.D. Power Canada released its own study, showing Canadians are cooling to the idea of EV ownership.
Little more than a quarter of new-vehicle shoppers in Canada said they would consider an EV for their next purchase, according to the study released May 30, with 10.9 per cent of those surveyed saying they are “very likely” to consider an EV and a further 17.6 per cent “somewhat likely” to consider one.
By contrast, 52 per cent of would-be buyers said they are “very unlikely” to consider an EV and 19.6 per cent said they were “somewhat unlikely.”
Range anxiety, limited charging infrastructure and cost are the main sticking points cited by skeptics in the J.D. Power survey.
Under the new legislation, automakers will be awarded credits for their ZEV sales.
Companies that perform better than their ZEV targets generate credits which can be traded or banked for up to five model years. Companies that do not meet their targets generate a deficit, which must be discharged within three model years. No accumulated or banked credits can be used to offset a deficit in model year 2035 and beyond.
The penalties for automakers who don’t sell enough ZEVs is monetary, but the actual cost is unknown at this time.
Automakers that are in a credit-deficit situation can purchase credits from other automakers — the price will be determined by the market at that time.
Another compliance pathway is to invest in charging infrastructure. Automakers will be given one credit for every $20,000 invested. The idea is to incentivize construction of fast-charging EV infrastructure.
Terrazzano is concerned the policy — and everything that comes with EV ownership and building an EV ecosystem — will cost consumers.
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is going full throttle with his new gas and diesel vehicle ban without talking about the massive costs this ban will impose on taxpayers,” Terrazzano said. “Canadians have every reason to worry their tax and power bills will increase to pay for all the subsidies, charging stations, power plants and transmission lines required for Trudeau’s ban.
“Trudeau should listen to Canadians, take this poll as a wake-up call and scrap his ban on new gas and diesel vehicles.”
Leger’s online survey polled 1,612 Canadians over the age of 18 between Sept. 20 and 22, inclusive. The survey had a margin of error no greater than ±2.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
— With files from Automotive News Canada
